Give your finances a spring makeover
8 September 2017 –
We have now officially said goodbye to winter and are enjoying the first days of spring. Now is the time to take a fresh look at your finances to ensure you are on track to achieve your financial goals. Talk with us about your financial plan but, before doing so, consider the following:
Are you... Read more
Family trust law reform
8 September 2017 –
Trusts are an important part of New Zealand society and the economy. It is estimated there are between 300,000 to 500,000 trusts in New Zealand. The Government is moving to update and improve the general law governing trusts for the first time in 60 years.
Generally, the proposed reforms seek to... Read more
Good insurance advisers secure big payouts for clients
4 July 2017 –
Insurance can often turn a terrible situation into something more tolerable. However, when an insurer declines a claim, then it tends to magnify the unpleasantness and compound an already stressful situation. This is when a good insurance adviser is worth their weight in gold.
Recently, two of our... Read more
Have you insured your largest asset?
3 April 2017 –
For those of us still in paid employment, our largest asset is often our future income. Our financial security, and that of our families, is dependent on one single factor - our income. Take that away and our ability to pay for all the things we need, and some of the extras that make life more... Read more
Are you prepared to wait?
3 October 2016 –
Medical insurance is a product that everyone who is young enough and healthy enough to obtain, should consider purchasing sooner rather than later. Everyone has heard about the length of public hospital waiting lists, but did you know that people often have to go on a waiting list just to get on... Read more
Good news re SIL and MFL
30 May 2016 –
Those of you invested in SIL (Superannuation Investments Ltd) and MFL (Mutual Funds Ltd) schemes would recently have received a letter from the trustees advising that the management contract of these schemes has been renewed with ANZ. This is good news for investors in that the schemes:
Are two... Read more
Investment lessons from the Nepalese earthquake disaster
30 April 2015 –
The recent Nepalese earthquake is nothing short of a humanitarian disaster and our hearts go out to those who have suffered a loss. Nepal is at the other end of the economic scale to New Zealand. Its people are desperately poor whilst New Zealanders live in relative luxury. However,... Read more
The classic insurance trap
27 February 2015 –
Life insurance has a definite cycle. We need different amounts at different stages of our life but sadly, the majority of New Zealanders get it wrong and end up having insufficient cover when they most need it, then pay too much when their insurance needs are reduced. When we most need... Read more
When income protection insurance gets too expensive – think laterally - do not just cancel it
29 April 2014 –
One of the most important personal insurance products one should have is income protection insurance, or income replacement insurance. This can provide either an agreed amount per month or a set percentage of one’s income in the event one suffers an illness or accident and is unable to... Read more
6 Reasons to reassess your life insurance needs
26 February 2014 –
When was the last time you had a sparkling conversation about life insurance? To be fair, it is not something most of us want to think about too often. However, despite our reluctance to discuss them, protection policies such as life insurance are not insurances we should buy once and never think... Read more
How small events can trigger massive change
26 February 2014 –
I was recently away on a four day dirt bike ride with a group of friends. We had all been riding for donkeys’ years and felt bullet proof. We might all be in the 50-65 age bracket but we were good riders, we were sensible people and all had successful businesses where we were making more than... Read more
The terrible truth about our insurance buying habits
23 October 2012 –
AIA conducted extensive research in early 2012 into why New Zealanders don’t buy life insurance and other personal insurances. This survey revealed:
New Zealand has a significant underinsurance challenge with one of the lowest take up rates of life insurance in the OECD.
Christchurch was... Read more
