How to prepare for a market downturn
News of the Coronavirus has dominated media at home and overseas. On top of the human cost is the economic cost and questions around what an event like this means for the share market and investors. If a significant crash happens due to the virus, where would that leave most Kiwis? There is one thing all New Zealanders with KiwiSaver investments can do in advance… prepare by checking they are in the right fund. Joe Bishop, Kiwi...
Looking westward
A trans-Tasman trading bubble won’t cure all our economic boggles The idea of an economic ‘bubble’ between New Zealand, Australia and potentially more Pacific Island nations presents exciting opportunities for some sectors, but we must be clear that it is not a cure for the entire economy. Many key export industries, such as manufacturing, will still be affected by the slowdown in global growth. Businesses should act now to get their...
Shooting yourself in the foot
The five biggest mistakes small businesses make and how to avoid them Stacey Price, financial coach, accountant and the founder of Healthy Business Finances shares the biggest mistakes small business owners make and how to avoid them. With the evolution of cloud accounting software (think MYOB, Xero, Quickbooks Online), business owners tend to sign up to a software subscription under the impression that because they have chosen...
Mortgage holidays – what you need to know
Banks are taking applications for mortgage holidays from consumers affected by COVID-19. So, Consumer NZ looks at the pros and cons of deferring mortgage repayments. What is a mortgage holiday? A mortgage holiday lets you temporarily stop making repayments on your home loan if you’re under financial pressure. Homeowners who are struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown can apply to their bank for a six-month...
What Next?
How much damage has the economy incurred and how do we lessen the impact? The Alert Level 4 and subsequent lockdowns were a public health necessity for New Zealand, there’s no doubt about that. Looking abroad at countries fraught with COVID-19 – from over 1.8 million cases and well over 100,000 deaths in the United States, to Sweden (often compared with New Zealand’s Covid response due to the similar size) with over 40,000...