http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.decisionmakers.co.nz en-us Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:31:44 +1200 Rocketspark 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 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/156806/nationals-kiwisaver-contribution-increases/ IntroductionThe National Party's recent announcement to gradually increase KiwiSaver contributions to match Australia's 12% rate represents a significant step forward for New Zealand's retirement savings landscape. At DecisionMakers, we believe this policy change will benefit both individuals and the country as a whole, despite some understandable concerns about affordability.Historical perspective: Overcoming contribution concernsWhen KiwiSaver first launched, there were widespread fears that N... Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:20:25 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post156806 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/156066/from-atm-to-ai/ It’s easy to feel uneasy about artificial intelligence. Headlines shout about robots taking jobs, software replacing professionals, and algorithms doing work once thought uniquely human. Yet if you’ve lived through even a few decades of technological change, you’ve seen this story unfold before. Every new wave of innovation and technology brings disruption, yes, but it also brings opportunity, adaptation, and often entirely new types of work we couldn’t have imagined beforehand.The truth... Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:58:20 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post156066 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/156038/what-lower-interest-rates-mean-for-you/ When the official cash rate (OCR) drops, it often sounds like good news for everyone, but the real impact depends on whether you’re borrowing or saving.The Reserve Bank recently lowered the OCR to 2.5%, and some economists think it could drop further to 2% to boost the economy. That’s positive for anyone with a mortgage, but less helpful for people relying on term deposits for income.Here’s what it means for both groups and how you can make the most of the shift.If you have a mortgageLower... Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:52:19 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post156038 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/154462/special-feature-global-equities/ Why global equities feature in portfoliosGlobal equities (including developed markets, emerging markets, and Australian equities) are the growth engine of our clients’ portfolios, at around 85% or so of the equities holdings. The high weight we recommend to global equities reflects several factors:First and foremost, it reflects our very high conviction that a globally diversified exposure to global listed companies will earn a significantly higher return than NZ cash or bonds over medium to l... Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:02:02 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post154462 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/post/154461/economic-and-market-commentary-sept-2025/ Most asset classes enjoyed a strong September quarterThe NZ dollar continued its fall over the quarter, leading to materially higher unhedged equity returns.Positive equity returns were broad-based, with Emerging Markets keeping pace with the blistering performance of developed market equities.While NZ’s poor economic performance hampered our share market, it helped NZ bond returnsTo read the full article, please click on the link above.... Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:57:31 +1300 http://www.decisionmakers.co.nz/blog/#post154461