Resources

The financial world is increasingly complex and as we age we will come across new situations that we may not be ready for, including: changes to how we access our money; where it’s held and how we can use it; changing technology; emerging financial concepts and yet to be identified …

People may know that they are entitled to have funds set aside for a pre-paid funeral. What many people may not be aware of are the different options that exist and the amount that each person is allowed to set aside for their funeral which will not be included in …

Imagine if what we know now about finances, we knew back in our teen years – how much better off would we all be? When most of us were in high school, we didn’t learn anything about money, budgeting, or investing. However, nowadays, by the time you leave your teenage …

New Zealand Superannuation (‘NZ Super’ or ‘pension’) is the government pension paid to Kiwis over the age of 65. Any eligible New Zealander receives NZ Super regardless of how much they earn through paid work, savings and investments, what other assets they own or what taxes they have paid. Who can get NZ …

Now is a good time to clean your heat pump filters before they start working hard! Simply pull the internal filters out and vacuum them. We recommend cleaning them every month. Should you use the door to door heat pump cleaning companies? Householders are being charged $135 to clean a …

With winter nearly upon us it is essential to check whether your insulation is up to standard. If you’ve had contractors or someone who has been in your roof/underfloor recently, it is best to make sure the insulation hasn’t been compromised or moved. CEA can do a free insulation scope …

Friday 5 April is Advance Care Planning Day, which encourages New Zealanders to think about, talk about and plan for their future and end-of-life care. A key message this year is ‘Start your plan today!’ Discussing end-of-life can make it easier to understand and less frightening for you and your …

The current legal landscape in New Zealand For many years trusts have been used as an important tool for asset protection and estate planning in New Zealand. In the 1990s there was a boom in the number of family trusts established in New Zealand. A significant reason for this was …

Be water wise for summer, and check your shower flow rate! Using a stopwatch, time how long it takes to fill up a 10 litre bucket. If it fills in less than a minute when set at your regular shower temperature, you could consider installing a more efficient shower head …

With winter approaching, and a number of cases already confirmed, you should put flu vaccinations at the top of your list of priorities. Around one in four New Zealanders are infected with influenza each year. Many people won’t feel sick at all, but can still pass it on to others. Influenza …