http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.decisionmakers.co.nz en-us Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:35:30 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/171075/how-much-money-do-i-need-financial-adviser-nz/ There is no minimum amount of money you need before seeing a financial adviser. What matters is your overall financial position, including what you have now, what you spend, your KiwiSaver and investments, your future income and the lifestyle you want your money to support. A financial adviser can help you put those pieces together and work out whether you’re on track.“How much money do I need before I see a financial adviser?” is something quite a few people wonder about, and to be honest... Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:05:00 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post171075 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/171333/first-time-seeing-a-financial-adviser/ The first time you see a financial adviser, expect to be asked a lot of questions about your life, your goals and what’s really important to you before the conversation gets to your finances. There shouldn’t be any talk of products or solutions in that first meeting, and you’re under no obligation to go any further.Wednesday 7 October is World Financial Planning Day, now in its tenth year. Plenty of people need financial planning and either can’t access it or don’t know who to talk to,... Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:28:14 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post171333 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/171074/what-happens-to-your-kiwisaver-when-you-turn-65/ When you turn 65, you don't have to do anything with your KiwiSaver straight away. You can leave it exactly where it is, keep contributing in some cases, or start drawing on it, and none of those choices happen automatically on your birthday. A lot of people assume turning 65 means they have to cash everything up, and that's simply not the case.You Don't Have to Cash It UpPlenty of people think that once they hit 65, their KiwiSaver gets sold up and paid out whether they like it or not. You can ... Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:43:08 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post171074 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/165792/how-to-choose-the-right-kiwisaver-fund-for-your-risk-profile/ One of the questions I get asked most often is:"How do I know if I'm in the right KiwiSaver fund?"It's a good question, because choosing a KiwiSaver fund isn't really about finding the "best" fund. It's about finding the fund that is appropriate for you, your goals, and your timeframe.That's where your risk profile comes in.What Is a Risk Profile?A risk profile helps determine how much risk is appropriate for you when investing.At DecisionMakers, we ask clients to complete a risk profiling quest... Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:02:16 +1200 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post165792 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/163894/how-much-money-to-retire-nz/ Most people want a number when it comes to retirement. In reality, it’s more about the life you want to live. Here’s how to think about what you’ll actually need and where KiwiSaver fits into the picture.This is one of the most common questions I get asked, and it’s easy to understand why. People want certainty. They want to know if they’re on track and whether they’re going to be okay. The honest answer, though, is that it depends. That’s not always what people want to hear, but i... Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:32:12 +1200 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post163894 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/163280/quarterly-economic-commentary-march-2026/ Main points:Markets took a large hit when war broke out in Iran.Most equity markets were relatively resilient over the quarter, reflecting a view that the war and its impact will be temporary.Emerging markets, ex-US equities outperformed, as did smaller-cap stocks, reflecting a rotation from US large caps.Fixed income returns were soft while real assets and alternatives performed well.Markets delivered mixed performances in the March 2026 quarter. January and most of February were strong, but th... Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:18:46 +1200 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post163280 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/162954/divorce-financial-planning-nz/ This article covers divorce financial planning in New Zealand, including KiwiSaver, asset division, and how to plan financially after separation.Going through a divorce or separation is one of the more difficult times in someone’s life.There is a lot to process, and finances often become one of the most stressful parts of it.What I see quite often is that people are trying to make long-term financial decisions at a time when they are under pressure. That can make it harder to think clearly or ... Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:00:16 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post162954 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/161544/kiwisaver-contribution-changes-2026-new-zealand/ From 1 April 2026, the KiwiSaver contribution rate in New Zealand increases to 3.5% for employees, with employers also contributing 3.5%.The contribution rate is scheduled to increase again to 4% on 1 April 2028.You do have the option to apply for a temporary rate reduction. The important thing is not to ignore it. Not making a choice is still a choice.What is KiwiSaver?KiwiSaver is a voluntary retirement savings scheme in New Zealand where employees contribute a percentage of their salary and e... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:34:38 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post161544 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/158976/the-moment-most-people-realise/ Most people don’t come and see me because it’s January and they’ve decided this is the year they’ll finally get organised.It usually starts much more quietly than that.Often it’s over the Christmas break. People have a bit of space. They’re not rushing off to work. Conversations happen that don’t usually fit into everyday life. And somewhere in those conversations, they realise something needs to change.Not necessarily everything. Just something.Sometimes it’s finances. Sometimes... Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:42:41 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post158976 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/158703/quarterly-economic-commentary-december-2025/ Equities rose while bonds and property lagged, as global inflation eased and central banks began winding down tightening cycles. Currency effects narrowed the gap between hedged and unhedged returns, with emerging markets leading and New Zealand equities lagging.Fixed income and real assets faced headwinds from rising yields, while alternatives like gold and trend strategies added diversification value.Broad-based equity gains across regions equities rose while bonds and property lagged, as... Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:53:20 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post158703