We are sometimes asked about dollar cost averaging when investing client funds and whether this is a good idea. It is certainly something which should be considered, particularly for first time investors, and those whom are introducing a substantial lump sum deposit into their investment portfolio.
Will I run out of money in retirement?
Bill Gates wisely pointed out that "most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years".
Seven simple lessons on volatility
Renewed volatility in markets has awoken the investors from summertime slumber.
News directors drag out dated file footage of frantic traders and summon talking-head experts to explain what it all means. Well, what does it mean? More importantly, does it matter?
AI and real-time risk decisions in wealth management
This promises to be the year we see the culmination of some key technologies — from blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), to design thinking and the cloud.
FAANG and the catchphrase investing
The financial media is drawn to catchphrases, acronyms, and buzzwords that can be sold as the new thing. FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) is the latest of these. But does this constitute an investment strategy?
It's not all smashed avocado for millennials – Part II
In New Zealand, trend pieces often depict millennials in the context of young urban professionals spending too much money on avocado-based brunches and too little time saving for a deposit on a house.
Millennials, take charge of your financial future – Part I
We have all read about the financial plight of millennials, who are not only drowning in student loan debt but other loans and expenses as well. They include car payments, rents or mortgages, and credit card bills.
Reading the tea leaves
Investors at year-end are inclined to reflect on the 12 months gone and muse on what the coming year might bring.Aware of this appetite for speculation, the media tends to feed it with forecasts. These articles can be fun to read but are even more so a year later.
The seven virtues of process
Success as an investor starts with the key questions of why, what, where, when and how. But it’s the “how” that’s often overlooked.
‘Tis season to set yourself good financial goals
This New Year it is also a great time to start making solid financial resolutions that can help get you closer to your money goals, whether it’s increasing your retirement savings or setting enough money aside for a down payment on a house.
The rise of robo-advice in wealth management
The concept of “robot-advice”, the use of automation and digital techniques to build and manage portfolios of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other instruments for investors, has gained significant attention within the wealth management industry.
Don Brash joins Stewart Group as advisory board member
Former Act Party leader and former Minister of Finance Don Brash have been appointed as Stewart Group's advisory board member. Dr. Brash’s appointment expands the board to three, with two existing board members, Peter Mancell and Milton Jennings.
Get insurance application right or blow your cover
When you apply for personal risk insurance, the insurer seeks answers to questions about your health, occupation and insurance needs.
This is so that the insurer can assess the likelihood of you making a claim and to assess the premium cost. You must answer all questions completely and honestly.
Advisory firms law changes look like Aussie model
Smaller advice firms in New Zealand could find the new legislative regime is harder to deal with than they expect if the Australian experience is anything to go by. The Financial Markets Authority has indicated that it will allow the requirements of licensing to be tailored to fit the needs of smaller firms.
Seven ways to tighten your Christmas spending
Last year, New Zealanders managed to spend a record $6 billion shopping in December, which was the highest monthly figure recorded by Statistics New Zealand.
Hawke's Bay enjoyed the highest holiday splurge, with a near 11 per cent increase on the previous year.
Bitcoin bubble, the new tulip mania Part II
ver the years there have been numerous economic bubbles and subsequent crashes, for example, the dot-com bubble, the stock-market bubble, and the real estate bubble.
But the one few may be aware of is the tulip bulb market bubble (also known as tulip mania) of the 17th century in the Netherlands.
The bitcoin bubble – Part I
What if there is a technological advancement so powerful that it transforms the fundamental pillars of our society?
A technology that fundamentally influences the way our economy, governance systems and business functions, and could change our conceptual understandings of trade, ownership, and trust.
Online security a work in progress
In an increasingly online world, we are sharing and disclosing more and more online, and that information is being held digitally.
New Zealand's attempt to reform it's Privacy Act and make security breaches public has yet to make it through Parliament, though the reform was first proposed in 2014.
Ponzi schemes and fools' gold
You've probably heard the saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." This rings particularly true in the case on Ponzi schemes.
A Ponzi scheme is not a new wonder drug or an Italian beach resort, it's terrible for your financial health.
Trust Law reform Part III - Implications for trustees
Their disclosure obligations in the new trust act will increase the reputational and liability risk of not properly engaging with investment governance practices.
