A topic we can all understand is coffee, wouldn’t it be great if making financial decisions were as simple as buying a cup of coffee? This is where financial advisors come to play and become the answer booklets to these questions. Their primary goal is to help clients determine whether they are on the right track to meet their goals and outline their path to overall financial success.
Why you should not lose sleep over market volatility
We’d all love for the market to go on a winning streak forever. Reaching record highs and blowing minds; but the truth is, downturns are a reality, particularly if you are a long-term investor.
Vote with your Dollars
Reusable bags, paper straws and recycling are great initiatives, but many have elevated their thinking to sustainable investing. Kiwis are increasingly interested in how they can make their investment decisions in accord with their views about human rights, climate change and environmental sustainability. But where does one start?
Are Concerns About Inflation Inflated?
Okay, the annual inflation is now running at 3.3%. In the June 2021 quarter compared with the March 2021 quarter, the New Zealand Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.3%. A much stronger lift than the market expectations. So what does it mean to us?
All Roads Lead to Rome
No matter the vehicle was chosen to navigate, once a company enters the public marketplace, it becomes subject to the same interactions between the supply and demand for securities that shape equity prices each day.
Coffee Conversations
Over the course of our lives, there are many uncomfortable questions and conversations to be had. But it is safe to say, those dealing with financial well-being are perhaps the most persistent and difficult.
Be wary of Finfluencers
Rob Everett, CEO of Financial Markets Authority (FMA), says: In New Zealand, many people now offer their thoughts and perspectives on financial matters, and some have built strong followings on social media. But sometimes talking about money or investing can cross over into providing financial advice.
Good and getting better
Why would the couple in their 50’s have such a different outlook to the man in his 30’s? It’s hard to be a successful investor unless you’re an optimist. Firstly, if everyone does well, you’re likely to do better as an investor.
One Simple Thing
For most of us, KiwiSaver is the primary vehicle that will help us reach our retirement goals. So it is a good idea to spend some time reviewing your KiwiSaver with the help of a financial adviser and make sure you are maximising your returns.
To Bit or Not to Bit
What are investors to make of all this media attention around Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? What place, if any, should bitcoin play in a diversified portfolio? Recently, the value of bitcoin has risen sharply, but that is the past. What about its future value?
Are you on track to get an extra $521 into your KiwiSaver?
Wouldn't it be great to get an extra $521 into your KiwiSaver? As your KiwiSaver adviser, we want to ensure you don’t miss out! You may already know that the government pays 50 cents for every dollar you contribute to your KiwiSaver account each year, up to $521.43.
The lesser-known link between investment and return
"Investment" actually has two interrelated meanings: a physical investment (machinery, building, cars etc.) and financial investment (stocks and bonds), which lays claim on physical investment and the income (aka "return") it generates. So what is the lesser-known link between investment and return? Productivity.
Recognising the Social Purpose of Investing
Climate change is all over the news. Today more than ever, many of us are making small changes to our lifestyle. From recycling to going vegan or using the car less often, we are changing our ways to reduce harm to the planet. As an island country reliant on primary production and tourism for much of its economic wealth, New Zealand is particularly vulnerable to the economic and environmental impacts of climate change.
Spilled Milk
Jumping in the deep end before you can swim investment questions aren't a new thing. People have always contacted us to ask questions that only prompt more questions. Ones they haven't considered. It's only natural that if your job involves money, someone will inevitably ask you about their stock or want a financial forecast. More and more, these questions have gravitated to the internet. A little anonymity means you don't have to feel embarrassed to ask a straightforward question.
For the 200th Time
This is our 200th op-ed article for the weekly 'Canny View' column that began in 2017. It is a massive milestone for us, and we thought it's worth sharing with the readers of the Canny View column. We have to say this is NOT a humble brag about how we managed to write one article per week for the past three and a half years.
Beware of shiny things
The influence of advertising is undeniably far-reaching, and the world of investing is no exception. New advertising mediums are creating avenues for financial companies to target and reach a broader audience. But the reality is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to financial planning.
Lazy Money
In its latest interest rate decision on 14 April, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's Monetary Policy Committee maintained its official cash rate at a historic low of 0.25 per cent, introduced earlier in 2020, and its medium-term outlook remains highly uncertain, determined in large part by both health-related restrictions, and business and consumer confidence.
Beat the Burnout
Kiwis have a world-famous work ethic; there’s a reason why our ex-pats in London are so employable! However, the hard-working, dig deep approach, with all its positives, can spill over into over-working. Add to that record debt levels, the cost of health care, slow wage growth and little work-life balance, and you have a recipe for emotional exhaustion.
Diversification a great luxury
Horticulture is forever an unfortunate lesson about diversification. Small orchard owners often have to concentrate their operations around one or two commodities or varieties. This is no criticism; their options are quite often limited. It leaves them highly vulnerable to variances such as weather, government policy and consumer behaviour.
Your Sustainability Choices
Reusable bags, paper straws and recycling are great initiatives, but many have elevated their thinking to sustainable investing. Kiwis are increasingly interested in how they can make their investment decisions in accord with their views about human rights, climate change and environmental sustainability. But where does one start? A good first step is to define goals around sustainable investing.
