Smart Money

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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