our top five financial podcasts

our top five financial podcasts

Finance-focused podcasts are a total game changer. Not only do they make a long commute feel like less of a drag, but they can also help you become financially savvy with practical advice and inspiration. Here are five entertaining yet educational recommendations:

how to avoid investment scams

how to avoid investment scams

Investment scams can happen to anyone. They’re often very sophisticated. The people involved sound credible and the websites look very professional, usually including testimonials from other investors. It can be hard to tell a scam apart from a genuine investment opportunity.

why bananas are banned from fishing boats

why bananas are banned from fishing boats

If you’re not familiar with the life of a mariner, then it might sound a little strange why they don’t allow bananas on the boat.

The reason is quite simple: bananas are bad luck.

Lotto vs KiwiSaver

Lotto vs KiwiSaver

Are you a regular Lotto player? Think you’re in with a chance of being the next millionaire? Let’s have a look at the numbers..

The NZ Lotteries Commission estimate your chances of winning first division Lotto at one in 3.8 million (or one in 38 million for Powerball!) ie. – not likely!

are you relying on other drivers' insurance?

are you relying on other drivers' insurance?

When you drive, you’re constantly checking your surroundings. You’re keeping an eye on other motorists around you, and making a mental note of who’s speeding up, slowing down or turning.

You rely on other motorists to do the same thing – but accidents still happen.

If someone else makes a mistake and causes an accident – are you also relying on them to have insurance?

are you a bulletproof superhero?

are you a bulletproof superhero?

We have experienced rapidly increasing house prices over the past few years, increasing the value of what for many of us will be our biggest asset. But does this mean we are actually any wealthier and are we making the same smart decisions we made when our properties were worth less?

willpower

willpower

We know it's hard to resist spending now in order to have something more to use in the future. Retirement can seem like such a long time away but a little bit saved now can make a big difference later. 

Kids find it just as hard as adults.

cancer continues to lead claims

cancer continues to lead claims

Recent figures from Sovereign show that cancer continues to be the leading cause of life and trauma insurance claims.

Cancer made up 49.6% of Sovereign life insurance claims and 68.3% of trauma claims in the 12 months to 30 June 2016. with over $115 million paid out during this time frame. 

more KiwiSaver changes possible

more KiwiSaver changes possible

The Government is cautiously supportive of including higher KiwiSaver contribution rate options and “increasing KiwiSaver coverage” but cannot say yet what that might mean.

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Jacqui Dean has released the Government’s response to the Retirement Commissioner, Diane Maxwell’s, review of retirement income policies.

planning to retire or to survive retirement?

planning to retire or to survive retirement?

There is a difference! The costs of living are constantly increasing – food, rates, power and heating, phone, rent or mortgage repayments – you name it, just covering the basic bills is getting expensive. Which means that once you retire and income reduces, keeping up with things becomes even harder.

how much life insurance do you need?

how much life insurance do you need?

Even if you are in a higher income bracket, you might be surprised to learn that studies show you fall into a group that is most likely underestimating your life insurance needs

rising cancer rates and treatment costs

rising cancer rates and treatment costs

Living down here at the bottom of the world in New Zealand, we as a nation pride ourselves on our ‘self reliance’, our ‘resourcefulness’ and ‘independence’, yet a glance at the news headlines shows that too many Kiwis still rely on Government to bail us out when things go wrong.

Everyday 60 Kiwi's will hear the words “I am sorry you have cancer”

Everyday 60 Kiwi's will hear the words “I am sorry you have cancer”

You’ve probably made a smart decision to protect those dearest to you with Life Insurance. But could you afford to pay the bills and medical fees if you were debilitated by a life threatening illness or injury? - You may need to consider 'Trauma Cover' or known as Critical Illness cover.

Landlords - you’re in business...

Landlords - you’re in business...

Your rental property might be the result of a clever investment plan or something you just fell into. Either way, if you collect rent on a rental home, you’re running a business and there are rules you’ll need to comply with. 

Do I need Landlords Insurance?

Do I need Landlords Insurance?

Owning a rental property is usually the result of many years of saving and planning, and it's important to protect your property investments. While you need to insure the actual house, this does not provide you with any cover for landlord’s contents which may include dishwashers, stoves, washing machines, curtains, blinds and fixed light fittings.

KiwiSaver strategies for the Self-Employed

KiwiSaver strategies for the Self-Employed

If you are self-employed, ten-to-one you see freedom and money as tools to achieve your goals. That freedom you enjoy as someone who is self-employed extends to your participation in retirement schemes like KiwiSaver and that means you have to make some conscious decisions that an employed person might not ordinarily need to think about.