Financial

ROB STOCK • MONEY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS REPORTER This means either being taught about it, carefully reading the manual, and these days, watching some YouTube videos of professionals at work. Sadly, a “she’ll be right” attitude can lead to disaster. The same goes for financial tools, including the supposedly simple …

Research by the Financial Services Council suggests that a New Zealand financial advisor is worth the impressive sum of $1.5 million over 25 years to every person they assist. If you haven’t already received the backing of an advisor, what better time than now? The Financial Markets Authority has developed …

The typical Kiwi family of a heterosexual married couple and two or three children is no longer the norm. In his new book, The New New Zealand, Professor Paul Spoonley of Massey University looks at how our families have changed. These trends include: Increased divorce rates. More single parents. Same-sex …

Jane Wrightson, our new Retirement Commissioner, tells Eldernet about her priorities for the role, and what she is looking forward to when her turn comes. What was it about the role of Retirement Commissioner that attracted you to it? I had a leadership background in media, regulation and industry advocacy …

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 – …