Here's a Netflix-pilot episode that never came to be. Imagine the scene of a retired person living alone in government-funded housing, aka the 'council flats'. It's where people who can't afford much go when they're old. Like the 30-square metre dwelling with poor ventilation I can still remember from almost 30 years ago. The inside
When you "invest" in a bond, you're effectively becoming a lender. You part with a sum of money with the expectation that you'll get it back in the future, along with interest. When you lend to the government by buying bonds, you're essentially lending to an entity considered risk-free. A Bitcoin bond, where 80% goes
The recent drop in the official cash rate (OCR) by 0.25% has sparked a flurry of speculation about the future of the property market. Those hanging on for dear life are desperate for good news and recency bias is at work here - many believe lower interest rates signal a return to the boom times.
A prophet is seldom welcome in their hometown. Similarly, Kiwi's have to make it big, before they're acknowledged locally. When it comes to many types of investments, you spot a similar theme. It's not until you see things succeeding overseas, that Kiwi's sit up and take notice. Recently some research came up that showed NZ
Warning: Most of this post contains an investment strategy with a high probability of failure. Considering the spectrum between 'safe' and 'volatile' in terms of expected outcomes, this one's off the charts. It's not investment advice, or even a good idea. Investments, whether in property, shares, or crypto, follow cycles, and occasionally, someone claims to
When it comes to retirement, or 'transitionment' if you prefer, KiwiSaver can be a core ingredient, but many of us treat it as the bit on the side. It's important to consider the most common pitfalls that can undermine your efforts and leave you short at your retirement . In a new world now more
18th century French economist, Richard Cantillon observed that those closest to the money printer, benefited the most financially. Governments, banks, businesses, and asset owners like you and me, can take advantage of the Cantillon Effect too. How? We invest. Investing works, because the money’s broken. It doesn't sound 'right', and how can money be broken
When should you pay off the mortgage, and when should you invest? Â Over the last few years, this question rolls around frequently on social media. Â One view suggests that mortgages should be eliminated ASAP. The benefits include not worrying about interest rates, and the ability to invest larger amounts of money into assets
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has seemingly been on a quest to 'bring down' the property market over recent years, in conjunction with our previous government. The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), higher taxes for property investors, increased interest rates, and stricter deposit requirements via Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) restrictions have all
Time to 'push through', or 'stand strong'? I wanted to get stuff done this past Saturday. I was picking up a mini-excavator to finish some drainage. I wanted to get the kids on a working bee, and I had to get a couple reports out before Monday too. I had it all planned out. But
