Financial

Like a pack of sharks who smell blood, the scammers are already circling. A decade or so ago, during the Global Financial Crisis, investment fraud and other consumer scams were rampant. Today it’s the COVID-19 crisis, and it’s no surprise the scammers are back in force to prey on people’s …

Having a will or EPA is as important as having insurance and a savings plan. Not having them can mean a lot of stress and uncertainty for loved ones. Our friends at Public Trust have launched a new online service which lets you create a will or EPA from the …

New Zealanders are being warned of a raft of scams and frauds exploiting the spread of coronavirus. Bronwyn Groot, CFFC’s Fraud Education Manager, says scammers overseas are preying on people’s concern about the virus and targetting them in a variety of ways. While reports of coronavirus scams in New Zealand …

The great depression of the 1930’s spurred a “waste not want not” attitude that defined consumer patterns for a generation. Decades later, the oil supply shock in the 70’s led to the first efforts of energy conservation and efficiency. In more recent times, over the period of just a few …

The gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger. This has vast implications for the whole of the population. Oxfam reported that the richest 1 per cent of Kiwis have 28 per cent — $42 billion — of the wealth created in a single year. Meanwhile, the poorest …

A reserve mortgage is a loan that can enable an ‘asset rich, cash poor’ older homeowner to access the value held in their property by taking out a loan secured against their home. There are usually no regular repayments on the loan. This means the homeowner will receive capital – …

The increased awareness of the gender pay gap over recent years is an important step in being able to close it. Time taken off to care for and raise children and care for older relatives is one of the largest impacts on pay. While it is clear to see the …

Many millennials are having a tough time launching their adult lives. The usual blame for this is placed on burdensome student loans, job insecurity, high housing or rent costs, and – of course –surplus cash regularly devoted to smashed avocado on toast and the latest iPhone! As a result, perhaps it’s no …

People of all ages across New Zealand can unwittingly become money mules for international fraudsters, and many of those targeted are elders. Now the office of the Retirement Commissioner has partnered with the Police to produce a booklet to help people protect themselves from becoming unwitting accomplices in moving money …

A wise man once said: ‘the only constant in life is change’. Of course, a part of change is uncertainty. While you may not be able to prevent yourself from all forms of uncertainty, you can surely prepare well in advance for any kind of financial uncertainty that may occur …