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As the new year approaches, you may be thinking about setting some resolutions. But what if this year, you revamped your approach to goal setting? What if, instead of aiming for the sort of targets you imagine other people might think are worthy, you prioritised what you want most – and what might have the …

New year, new goals Read More »

A slow recovery appears to be taking hold in the property market, new data from the Real Estate Institute. Chief executive Jen Baird said October was a more positive month in the market, with a lift in sales and small increases in the median sale prices recorded. “There seems to be light at the end …

Signs of pre-Christmas lift in housing market Read More »

With rising cost of living, you may be taking a closer look at your spending – including your insurance premiums. Especially when the budget gets tighter, the key thing is to balance keeping an appropriate level of cover with managing the cost.  And here’s how we could help in this space.   Understanding your changing …

How we can help you manage your insurance spending Read More »

For lots of people, their home loan is one of their longest-standing financial commitments. When we take out a mortgage, we often sign up to pay it off over 25 or even 30 years. But a lot can happen over three decades, and sometimes it makes sense to restructure the loan. There can be sound …

The pros and cons of restructuring your mortgage Read More »

If you own a home, you’ve probably noticed something in recent months. Your mortgage repayments, which might have got quite low for a while, have started to increase again. While interest rates are still expected to settle below historical averages, the adjustment in repayments has been a tricky one for some households, who’ve had to …

How rising mortgage rates affect your insurance Read More »

According to a recent survey by Finder NZ, 73 per cent of experts surveyed expect a recession before 2025. It’s one of the thoughts shared by a panel of 13 experts and economists, who also weighed in on property prices and interest rates.  Here are some key takeaways.  Further mortgage rate increases on the cards …

New Zealand economy: 13 experts share their thoughts Read More »

Insurance is something most of us think we are fairly familiar with. But some common misconceptions might be standing in the way of you getting the maximum protection possible from your insurance policies. How many of these have you heard? #1: I don’t need insurance, ACC will help New Zealand’s ACC scheme is great if …

Six insurance misconceptions to watch out for Read More »

In late May, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 2% from 1.5% – the second 0.5% increase in a row. And it now expects the OCR to peak at 3.9% by June next year, to try and curb rampant inflation.  If you have a mortgage, here’s what …

OCR rate up to 2% – and more interest rate hikes are on the cards Read More »

More and more people in New Zealand are getting personal insurance – including health, life, income protection, trauma insurance and more. And according to the Financial Services Council (FSC), it might a ‘side effect’ of the pandemic. A safety net for people’s financial future Recent data from the FSC revealed that, in the three months …

Personal insurance uptake on the rise Read More »

Property prices continue to grow but at a more moderate pace, the latest residential market data from REINZ revealed. According to the report, sales activity was down in February and supply outweighed demand.  Read on to learn more about what’s happening in this space.  “Market sentiment has shifted” REINZ February data shows that market sentiment …

Property market slows due to ‘restraining factors’ Read More »