Independent research conducted for the annual Cigna 360° Wellbeing Score found that of the study comparing 11 countries New Zealanders were not only the chubbiest, but were “wildly off the mark” in estimating how fat they were. “I think it’s normal to be overweight now,” New Zealand Nutrition Foundation dietitian Sarah Hanrahan said. “More than half the population is overweight. You…
The Financial Advisers Act 2008 was enacted to increase the responsibility of Financial Advisers towards their clients. The current legislation is complicated with a number of definitions that confuse people. To understand the legislation, you need to understand: An Authorised Financial Adviser (AFA) is a higher designation than a Registered Financial Adviser (RFA) Personalised advice…
Most of us know that your ‘body language’ can be read, with several TV series using an understanding of body language cues to tell when people are uncomfortable or telling lies. For many years, you have been able to attend training courses to learn about what your body language says about you and how to…
In New Zealand, NZ Superannuation is a generous after tax income provided by the Government. At present, this is $30,000 after tax for a couple where both qualify with no means or asset testing. However, most people wish to have additional income each year, and this is where their investments come in. Well diversified…
Over the last few years, we have noticed the increasing risks of bonds and capital notes issued through stockbrokers. As the risk free (and reference) interest rates have been low, the returns that have been offered in return for the risk involved has been very low. (Refer to Fixed interest – risk and return – CoCo’s…
Part of the volatility on international financial markets since the start of 2016 has been related to the concern about the highly leveraged European banks and whether they will be able to pay the interest on the CoCo’s (Contingent Convertible bonds) that they have issued. See Bernard Hickeys excellent summary of the issue here. …
Suspicious emails: unclaimed insurance bonds, diamond-encrusted safe deposit boxes, close friends marooned in a foreign country. They pop up in our inboxes, and standard procedure is to delete on sight. But what happens when you reply? Follow along as writer and comedian James Veitch narrates a hilarious, weeks-long exchange with a spammer who offered to…
In the Financial Advisory industry, the biggest insult that you can receive from one of your peers is to be accused of ‘churning’. Churning generally relates to insurance products, but in recent years, also applies to KiwiSaver. The insult of being a ‘churner’ suggests that you are putting in place an insurance policy for your…
Unless it is supported by facts. “No one is interested in your opinion – unless it is supported by facts.” This is the quote that sticks in my brain from my first year of Law Study. Our society is driven by the law, and legislation and judge made law create the framework that our world works in. …
I was going to write an indepth article on insurance churning (which has been topical in the media for the last few weeks), but… its been a long year, and I wanted to watch this beautiful dancing again. So – I’m taking the easy way out and sharing this with you instead! I hope that…
At Moneyworks, our advisers spend a lot of time reading information on the economic and investment situation and outlook. This involves reading and understanding what is happening with different statistical measures in New Zealand, as well as having a knowledge of the general trends internationally. This helps us understand what is likely to happen with…
I’ve heard that time gets faster as you get older, and that it flies by. Based on how quickly this year has gone, I am becoming a true believer. Long gone are those days when the hours stretched ahead to be filled at leisure. At Moneyworks, we are closing down the office to spend…