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...
Back in the saddle
As staff move back into office-based working, either full time or to start a roster of splitting their time between home-based and office-based ways of working, the impact on our workforce from a mental health perspective needs to be considered. There is no denying that the past few months have been challenging, no matter how resilient you feel you and your teams are. Emerging research shows us there are many detrimental...
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...
Post-pandemic property
Where does the housing market go from here? The latest QV House Price Index data for March provides us with a view of the housing market as New Zealand headed into lockdown on 25th March. But what it doesn’t tell us is what happens beyond the proverbial brick wall that the COVID-19 lockdown created. The data shows the property market was continuing to perform strongly throughout early-mid March, with all 16 of the major cities...