Smart Money

One of the biggest costs elderly people face is retirement living costs.

There's no set number for how much money is needed, no benchmark. It's frustratingly personal. So how much do you need to retire?

Martin Hawes joins Tim Beveridge to discuss the costs of retireing, and how much should be tucked away.

And with the election round the corner we'll take a look at what policies could affect investments, wealth transfers, and the like. 

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What you leave behind when you're gone is probably on a lot of peoples' minds, regardless of age. 

But is a will something everyone should have? Or is it something to think about once you have a family, or reach a certain age? 

Managing Director for NZ Family Trust Services Janet Xuccoa joins Tim Beveridge for Smart Money.

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Australian data-centre developer - Firmus - have stalled in securing funds for more build-outs, with investors unsure of the pricepoint, and how much of the growth depends on earnings that are yet to arrive.

So has the value of AI had its reality check? Investors have happily funded AI chips, AI software and AI infrastructure for years, but are public markets finally pushing back on valuations?

Given the money that's closely tied to AI and its promises to improve everyday life, are we walking into a bubble that's bound to pop, or running late on...

More New Zealanders are looking to their Kiwisaver to get them to the future, or to their first-home with the property market on a down-turn. 

Because of that, the election's become a more vested interest for voters, with the future of their KiwiSaver determined by what Government forms. So what are parties promising, where do they differ, and what would it mean for our funds?

ACT's proposed tax cuts on our Kiwisaver at the cost of the scrapping Government contribution, National's proposed an incremental increase on the default contribution, and Labour wants to boost employer c...

It seems like New Zealand's fallen out of love with the property-market hype - the pre-election economic and fiscal update last week basically confirmed it. 

So where should we start looking when it comes to investing, and saving up? You've heard about people doing the age-old method of buying antique collectibles, luxury watches, gold, and art-pieces - and you've heard about the newer investment crazes like crypto, NFTs, and even trading cards - and you just think... this has to be a bubble that's bound to pop, right?

How do we go about shifting a b...

There has been a lot of supermarket chat over the past couple of years, and it's ramping up now that we are headed into the election. 

National wants to split up Food Stuffs, the Greens want to build KiwiMart, ACT wants regulatory barriers reduced so new competitors can enter, and Labour has proposed separating the wholesale and retail operations of both major supermarket groups.

But, Koura Founder Rupert Carlyon says messing with supermarkets will not help the average kiwi household, it is instead banks we need to focus on

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The workplace is often dynamic - young people make their way in, technology change how things are done, new talent shift the team culture, and dress codes can differ from strict to casual.

With the rise of remote and hybrid-jobs these days, what do employers and employees need to see eye-to-eye on? How much flexibility should both sides expect, and where can they compromise?

And with people these days staying for a shorter time with their employer, before finding another job, how can they secure the best reference?

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The election is 55 still days away, and it's looking like a tight one. And in the US the midterms are around the corner.

America has a much bigger economy, and one that we have a lot of ties to. So how will these elections influence our domestic markets, if at all?

Harbour Asset Management Co-CEO Chris Wilson joins Tim Beveridge to break down the facts. 

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Earlier this week, an interesting proposal was made to shake up the way we use Superannuation.

A report from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand indicates a flexible choice of when people can start receiving NZ Super could improve affordability.

Would this be worth it? And who should be considering this as an option?

Financial Author Martin Hawes joins Tim Beveridge on Smart Money to discuss.

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One of the first lessons mum and dad teach you is "it's rude to talk about money". 

But when it comes to family life, it's important to be open about financial matters with your spouse. And in the workplace, talking about wages is often the way to make sure you're getting the same treatment as everyone else.

So how do you go about it? How do you break the taboo? 

Managing Director at The Private Office Nick Crawford joins Tim Beveridge on Smart Money to discuss.

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Trusts are no doubt a complicated thing. 

There's a lot of moving parts, a lot of different parties involved, and most will be close to the Settlor, which can create it's own problems. So should you be thinking about getting a trust set up for your family?

Managing Director for NZ Family Trust Services Janet Xuccoa joins Tim Beveridge to discuss when you should think about a trust, and what assets should be included.

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The RBNZ recently hiked the OCR from 2.25% to 2.5%, and experts are expecting around another 1% of hikes over the next year, as managing inflation risks take priority over the weaker economy.

But when will our economy start turning around? Hamish Pepper from Harbour Asset Management joins Tim Beveridge to discuss.

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The Cost of Living Crisis has driven a lot of Kiwis to look for financial advice, and many turn to AI over a financial advisor. But is AI really that reliable as a source of financial advice?

And investing in AI seems to be the thing to do at the moment, is it somethng you should be getting in to or watching with caution?

Money Coach Amanda Morrall joins Tim Beveridge on Smart Money to discuss. 

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When the cost of living crisis is driving your day-to-day costs up, putting money in to a Kiwisaver might not seem appealing. 

But is it still important to keep the flow of money in to Kiwisaver going? And what do you do when you want to get started investing in an index fund?

Founder and Managing director of Koura wealth Rupert Carlyon joins Tim Beveridge for Smart Money to discuss. 

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Electricity and money go hand-in-hand. Every house needs power, and everything costs money. 

So how do you balance the two in the midst of a Cost of Living Crisis? And what should you keep an eye out for that might impact the number on your energy bills?

Harbour Asset Management Co-CEO Andrew Bascand & Harbour Asset Management Senior Manager Sue Walker join Tim Beveridge on Smart Money. 

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More than 7800 divorces were granted last year, with nearly 6000 underage children seeing their parents split - that's about 8 divorces for every 1000 marriages. 

Looking deeper, about 5 percent of marriages end in 5 years, 15 percent end within 10, and more than a third dissolve within 25 years.

With marriage numbers already declining, and the cost-of-living crisis still biting, how does a couple go about splitting up amicably? What paperwork needs to be sorted? and how can we ensure our assets aren't treated as collateral?

Family and Relationship Property Lawyer, Sharon Chandra, joins Smart Money to unpack what options t...

Everyone has an employment contract, but what should you be aware of when presented with a new one? 

Some key parts that you'd think are a given may also be missing, so what shoud you make sure you have?

MyHR's Chief Evangelist Sylvie Thrush-Marsh joins Tim Beveridge to answer your employment questions. 

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With Property becoming less of the golden-goose egg we've made it out to be, people are focusing more on how else they can be financially stable - and with that stability, comes being disciplined with your money - and keeping your spending affairs in order.

But how can we do that with loyalty programmes encouraging us to save? and mid-year sales going around?

How do we keep our eyes on the long-term goal, and stay on track with our savings?

Where should we even start, if we're so far behind?

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Generate Kiwisaver's Nathan Stanners joins Tim Beveridge to chat National's compulsory Kiwisaver policy - and whether it's a good policy for the our retirement savings pool. 

They also talk how your risk profile should change the closer your get to retirement. 

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Earlier this year, a Christchurch businessman was found borrowing millions of dollars against his family trusts for his clothing company - racking up a $3-million dollar spend.

His sister prompted legal action, and two homes had to be sold as collateral.

But that brings up a question - what can we leave behind for our children and family that won't just be squandered or swindled?

Trusts and inheritance is a something most families will have to deal with when older-relatives pass, so how assured can we be that assets are protected?

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This week's budget announcement had a focus on sorting out the books, and no straight sugar hits for individuals.
Infrastructure, healthcare and education seemed to be the clear priority of our fiscal plan, but three  relief for the cost-of-living pressure many face. 

Along with that, council rates have gone up for Auckland and the South Island's West Coast, and the Reserve Bank's signalled that there will be an increase to the OCR shortly - so the period we've seen of low interest rates on a mortgage is coming to an end. 

So how can we...

Retirement is the time most people dream of, the days where you no longer need to work or study, and you can enjoy a slow and simple life. But what does it actually take to retire?

And, when Super is under threat, and the only stable thing about the global economic climate is its instability, can we rely on the pension being there when we're ready to retire?

Author of Money Matters Amanda Morrall chats to Tim Beveridge about how much money you really need to retire.

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The age of retirement is back in the forefront of news this week after a report from the OECD recommended means testing the age of eligibility for NZ Super or risk an unsustainable rise in public debt. 

The agency says New Zealand's ageing population will continue to become a prevalent issue as the government tries to pull the economy out of the red. 

But some finance experts say we shouldn't be relying on the government to fund our retirements, and super should be treated as a bonus rather than a survivable income. 

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All investment accounts are a bit touch and go at the moment. 

If you're checking your KiwiSaver more than a few times a year, the amount of movement could really start to get to your head. 

But for those close to or at retirement age, or about to withdraw for whatever reason - a volatile market can make all the difference. 

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Divorce is still one of those taboo topics we tend to avoid, but up to 40% of marriages end that way here in New Zealand, so it's probably about time we become a bit more comfortable with it. 

It's not always a hostile end, some couples are even able to "DIY" their split in a sense - but is that really a good idea? 

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We often think of trusts as a way to protect your assets, especially if you work in certain fields - but a surprising number of regular families use them for a range of reasons. 

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The hot topic on everyone's minds right now is the price of petrol and diesel. 

It seems to be impacting the price of just about everything else, and we're staring down the barrel of a major risk of high inflation. 

The OCR remains steady for now, but it's only a matter of time before interest rates are on the up once again. 

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Prices are going up. 

Food prices are up, and will keep going up alongside fuel. Practically any goods that travel by land air or ocean to get to you will become increasingly unaffordable for the foreseeable future. 

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Tensions are high for everyone right now, and I know most people will either be nervously checking their KiwiSaver balance on the daily, or completely ignoring it until things calm down a bit. 

The most repeated advice advisors will be giving right now is to simply ignore your balance for the time being - that by the time the first bomb dropped, it was too late to change anything. But is that really true? 

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From April 1st, the KiwiSaver minimum default contribution rate will move up to 3.5%. 

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We've all found ourselves day dreaming about where we'd spend a big Lotto win at one point or another. 

Realistically, many of us will come into a major windfall - but it's likely to come in the form of a bonus at work, or an inheritance. 

Is it okay to buy a new car and go on holiday? Or should we invest it all? 

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Ethical investing seems to be a hot topic when it comes to choosing an investment fund or KiwiSaver provider. 

I've often heard providers boast that their fund is ethical - they avoid weapons manufacturers, focus on renewable and sustainable energy - you won't feel a possible sense of guilt around where your money is going. 

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We've started to see spots of what looks to be recovery in our economy over recent months. 

It's not consistent, but it's frequent enough to give us some hope for the year to come. 

Westpac is picking a whole lot of OCR hikes from the end of this year, and other forecasts seem to set a similar scene - a better economy is coming, and rates will have to reflect that when the time comes. 

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Growing older is expensive - much more expensive than most people realise. 

When you or a loved one either decides to move into aged care or is forced to do so, the Ministry of Social Development will quickly swoop in to flip through all their finances. 

Any assets, gifted funds, trusts, even living rent free - it's all looked at and impacts their chances of government-subsidised care. 

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Relationships cost money. 

It's not just about date nights at expensive restaurants, fancy shoes, or a new watch for Valentine's Day. 

It's moving in together, splitting the power bill, signing on to the rent. At what point in the relationship should you join your finances, and how should you go about it? 

Then there's the other side of the relationship - the part no one tends to plan for. The end of it. 

Are prenups just for the ultra-wealthy, or should we all have gotten one? 

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As you get older, your health becomes more and more of a worry, so life insurance seems like a no-brainer. But is it? Do you really need it after the mortgage is paid and the kids are on their own?

And what policies are must-haves, against ones that are just nice to have? 

Financial Author Martin Hawes joins Tim Beveridge to give his insurance advice and explain the pros and cons of different policies. 

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Confidence in New Zealand's rural sector has really started recovering over the past year or so. 

Stabilising interest rates, great dairy results, and promising meat exports have formed a foundation for what will hopefully be a successful 2026. 

Confidence dropped slightly in the last quarter of last year, but it's still much higher than it has been over previous years. 

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Often trust have been seen to be province of the uber wealthy. But are they? And often people don't think about this issue until it is too late

So when should we think about these issues - our family. inheritances and what's gonna happen to our money when we aren't around to look after it?

Managing Director for New Zealand Family Trust Services Limited Janet Xuccoa joins Tim Beveridge to give her advice on trust accounts, and how they should be used.

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Last week the Reserve Bank dropped the OCR 25 basis points to 2.25%, but their tone was a bit more hawkish than usual. 

Some analysts are thinking it's a signal that rates have gone as low as the RBNZ is willing to drop them - and the new Governor may be wanting to turn a new leaf in 2026. 

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We got another OCR cut this week - now down to 2.25% - the lowest it's been since June of 2022. 

That was the last one for the year, so a lot of us mortgage holders are trying to figure out whether things are slowing down, and if it's time to fix for a longer term this time around. 

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