An adviser once said he did not so much have people with investment problems as he had investments with people problems. Your assumed rationality can vanish in a crisis. So why not build your human imperfections into your game plan?
Convictions are great until they arn't
Neil Woodford has a neck thick like a rugby player and a head shaped like it was chiselled out of granite, it could be mounted somewhere on Easter Island. Imposing is an appropriate word to describe his appearance. Woodford is a man screaming conviction.
The Siren's Songs
In Greek mythology Sirens were beautiful half-bird/half female creatures, but you couldn’t trust their appearance. They lured passing sailors with beautiful music and melody toward their island home. While not quite as dramatic, the world of investing has never been short of sirens and their songs. These mostly manifest, not in tune, but in story.
John & Alice's Story
“Like me, I’ve got mates who were dubious about the value of insurance and whether claims will actually be paid. But right from the beginning, working with Scott and our insurer has been completely hassle-free.”
Where there's a Will, but no way
Is your will drawn up? Do you have a power of attorney? Aside from ensuring your investments are right for you, your financial adviser should have a healthy interest in ensuring a few other things in your life are addressed.
Disruption and Diversification
Any company can run into difficulty. Most potential good news is already built into the stock price of a blue-chip favourite. Bad news tends to be unexpected and can cause significant damage to the share price.
Three Wise Birds
As a topic of conversation, investment is like sports. Everyone has an opinion. And the strongest opinions often come from those who spend more time in front of the TV than out on the field. Practitioners, meanwhile, are wary of anything labelled a sure thing.
How much do you need to retire?
Determining how much you will need to save for retirement will depend upon several variables, including your current age, health, income and level of debt. Here are a few guidelines to help you evaluate your retirement needs.
Déjà vu all over again
Investment fads are nothing new. When selecting strategies for their portfolios, investors are often tempted to seek out the latest and greatest investment opportunities.
Take the rough with the smooth
A key to a successful investment experience is understanding how markets behave and developing the discipline to avoid rash decisions based on short time periods.
Better investment decision making
Making sensible investment decisions is difficult. We are subject to a range of behavioural biases. We have to cope with incessant noise around financial markets. We behave in ways that are inconsistent with our long-term investment objectives. So, what can we do about it?
Key Changes to KiwiSaver in April 2019
Some positive KiwiSaver changes are coming into effect from 1 April 2019 and later in the year. These changes will provide greater options for New Zealanders to see their retirement savings increase over time.
Conflict versus Transparency
When we obtain advice from a financial adviser, the fee charged should be transparent, and the fee in transparent dollar amounts is for the advice received, not for a product.
Living on the Edge
Digital innovation has democratised access to financial information to the point where anyone with a smartphone, a few apps and real-time news and data feeds can be like a pro trader. But who wants to do that? And do you need to?
Picking Winners
Finance journalists tend to write lots of articles about industries or sectors because these stories fit a current narrative. In the tech stock boom, it was the information revolution. In the mining boom, it was the rise of China.
Why do we make stupid investment decisions?
Although financial markets are awash with randomness and uncertainty, there are obvious, vital and, often simple, cues that as investors we seemingly choose to ignore or disregard. This results in poor choices and often disappointing outcomes.
More money lost to scammers In 2018
If someone cold called offering the opportunity to double your money with a great opportunity in the burgeoning North Korean share market, most people would hang up the phone without question. Temper those claims a little and the cold caller might hook a fish.
Should you rent a home, or buy?
So, renting a home always equals throwing money down the drain, and buying a home is key to building equity … right? Nope. That rule is as outdated as a horse and carriage. In fact, more people are deciding to keep on renting — indefinitely. Why? People have different financial goals.
Alarm bells over insurers conduct and culture
Purchasing life insurance is one of the most important financial decisions people will make in their lives. There are approximately four million life insurance policies in force in New Zealand, with consumers paying $2.54 billion in annual premiums.
Three smart money moves to make in your 30s
Those of you in your 30s know it's the decade when a lot of significant things happen. Along the way, there are some smart money moves you can make now that "Future You" will seriously thank you for.
