KiwiSaver

The following is a selection of articles mainly from January 2005 to the present. To explore this topic in more depth and access earlier columns, please use the search box.

To read the full article, please click the subscribe button. Please note that Holm Truths articles are available only to annual subscribers.

Articles

NZ Herald 6 March 2010

Q&As: How will superannuitants fare under proposed tax changes?
Should young couple invest their savings in a rental property while overseas?
Two Q&As about children and the KiwiSaver tax credit

NZ Herald article January 17 2008: Perspectives article on poor KiwiSaver performance

Earlier Herald article criticising KiwiSaver is misleading for two reasons.

NZ Herald article December 19 2007: Concern over remarks on old-age support largely unwarranted

People should not be put off joining KiwiSaver because entitlement may eventually occur later

NZ Herald 27 February 2010

Q&As: KiwiSaver trustee change raises questions about how much trustees protect members
Hazards of dealing with an overseas sharebroker
What's the difference between investing and gambling?

NZ Herald 20 February 2010

Q&As: Paying off mortgage - and getting rid of badly undiversified portfolio - are two great ideas
KiwiSaver can work well for student
Laying out the details on KiwiSaver exit fees
Buying shares directly from overseas broker cheaper in short run, but may not be wise

NZ Herald 13 February 2010

Q&As: Some active share funds will do better than passive index funds, but it's impossible to predict which ones
Don't go chasing high-performing KiwiSaver funds - here's how to choose your provider
Another index fund available in New Zealand
Fee-charging advisers don't gain from putting clients in higher risk investments than they should

NZ Herald 30 January 2010

Q&As: Investing doesn't have to be a part-time job. There's still time for novel reading.
KiwiSaver calculation - far from being wrong - is correct to the cent.
How the lack of a tax credit for kids in KiwiSaver affects contributions to their accounts.
There's much more to financial advice than just investing.

NZ Herald 23 January 2010

Q&As: Should couple repay mortgage with redundancy money, or invest it in KiwiSaver or elsewhere?
Big KiwiSaver provider should know better about first-year tax credits
More information available about investment advisers - and are hourly or percentage fees better?
Less room for trouble if people make their own investments after seeking adviser's recommendations

Syndicated column 15 December 2009 - Do KiwiSaver - but not to the max

At a recent KiwiSaver seminar I was surprised to find that many employee members were still contributing 4 per cent of their pay, rather than the 2 per cent permissible since April 1 this year. And an AMP survey confirms that is not unusual. "Few have reduced their contribution, though indicating in February they intended to," says AMP.

NZ Herald 5 December 2009

Q&As: Adviser's advice is shocking - on three counts
Does it make sense to want your charity dollars to all go to the frontline?
When should you reduce your KiwiSaver contributions?

WHICH ASSETS ARE FOR YOU?

This week, Mary Holm's Q&A column is replaced by an excerpt from her latest book, "The Complete KiwiSaver". The principles she discusses here apply not just to KiwiSaver but to investing in general. Her Q&A column will resume next week.

NZ Herald 14 November 2009

Q&As: Couple struggling with rental property should put it on the market
Did the issuers of perpetual preference shares adequately warn investors that their value could fall considerably?
The choices for a KiwiSaver who moves overseas

NZ Herald 7 November 2009

An invitation to attend a breakfast representing investors
Q&As: Independent fee-charging advisers - the ones readers should be able to count on - to be listed in this column
Are accountants obliged to minimise tax, and to not dob in their clients to Inland Revenue?
Contributing to adult children's KiwiSaver accounts a good idea, even if they end up losing some of it in a marriage break-up

Syndicated column 3 November 2009 - Fund performance tables can do more harm than good

Some figures I saw recently strengthened my resolve to steer people away from KiwiSaver performance comparisons.

NZ Herald 31 October 2009

Q&As: Tax agent and Inland Revenue differ on treatment of investors selling rental properties
Two big issues lead to bad financial advice results
Is this column dominated by KiwiSaver?
Generally, don't put lump sums into KiwiSaver

Syndicated column 17 October 2009 - Long tie-up in KiwiSaver no big deal

A Canterbury reader is concerned about whether to recommend KiwiSaver to his daughters. "For someone in their early twenties, the monies invested in KiwiSaver - even if a contribution holiday is taken - will be tied up for some 40 odd years," he writes.

NZ Herald 10 October 2009

Q&As: A reader challenges my advice last week about postponing a first home purchase for three years
How to get around the income cap on the KiwiSaver first home subsidy
How to get around the three-year requirement for KiwiSaver first home assistance
Another reader challenges me - on my advice on whether to sell a Mangere Bridge house or a Whangamata house
The merits of coin tossing
Maybe Lotto will make reader's decision easier

NZ Herald 3 October 2009

Q&As: Couple wondering whether to buy a home now or in three years could gain thousands from joining KiwiSaver
You can't get in early on the KiwiSaver first home withdrawal and subsidy

NZ Herald 26 September 2009

Q&As: Is it better to sell a Mangere Bridge property or a Whangamata property?
Reader who switched to riskier fund, and saw immediate loss, wonders if she should switch back
Share markets have performed really well lately
Two letters about KiwiSaver and "total remuneration", in which employees more or less pay their own employer contributions

NZ Herald 12 September 2009

Q&As: One reader loathes KiwiSaver, while the next one loves it. But both don't fully understand it.
A former hippie gets a bit carried away

NZ Herald 5 September 2009

Q&As: Delaying joining KiwiSaver can mean you'll miss out on many thousands of dollars
How retired person can get the best out of KiwiSaver
Couple should use PIEs to make the most of their savings

NZ Herald 29 August 2009

Q&As: Just because a so-called financial expert is confident, that doesn't mean he or she is right
If you haven't worked for a while any time in the last five years, you may well be in for a tax refund
Don't delay joining KiwiSaver, even if you're worried that you could be made redundant
KiwiSaver tax credit lark for the newly retired is too good to be true

NZ Herald 22 August 2009

Q&As: Wealth doesn't have to equal filth - New Zealanders' attitude to money may leave them more worried about financial issues
Take your pick between share fund managers who try to outperform the market and those who don't
Members of work super schemes can do well by also being in KiwiSaver

NZ Herald 1 August 2009

Q&As: Reader's sad story about racing tips company
Horse breeder and racer gives his perspective on tips companies
When is a KiwiSaver cash fund not a cash fund?

NZ Herald 25 July 2009

Q&As: Steps a middle-income family can take towards buying their own home
Scams not always easy to spot
The presence of family trusts could prevent governments from means testing NZ Super
Has the worst already happened for kids in KiwiSaver?

NZ Herald 18 July 2009

Q&As: Several signs that company offering racing tips is not the path to riches
Managers of Westpac's poorly performing KiwiSaver cash fund ask investors to be patient
Happy investor says "KiwiSaver rocks" - even though he's too pessimistic over the future of NZ Super

NZ Herald July 11 2009

Q&As: KiwiSaver still great for children, even though the fee subsidy is gone
Now might be an okay time to get into a rental property - for family in the right circumstances
Should young retiree switch some savings into a share fund?
Two Q&As offer advice - on school fees and insurance - to woman with dying husband

NZ Herald July 4 2009

Q&As: Mother seeks advice on financial steps to take after husband is diagnosed with terminal illness
Investor in KiwiSaver cash fund hasn't done as badly as he thinks
Happy landlord reaps rewards from treating tenants well
Advice from this column about loans within families has saved time for a reader time - and money for her parents

NZ Herald June 27 09

Q&As: Many reasons why repaying home mortgage is better than investing in a rental property
Couple who haven't heard from their KiwiSaver providers need to take initiative
Accountant passes on his tricks about how to keep track of KiwiSaver contributions

NZ Herald June 20 2009

Q&As: No use crying over split milk: Investor can still make use of 10-year rule
Not all landlords have a dream run with their tenants
How KiwiSaver returns are boosted
Do KiwiSaver contributions need inflation-proofing, and if so, how?

Syndicated column June 16 2009 - Time to top up KiwiSaver to make the most of the scheme

Mid-June is top up time for many people in KiwiSaver. If you don't take action in the next week or two, you could miss out on up to a thousand dollars or so from the government.

NZ Herald June 13 2009

Q&As: Another - much happier - take on being a landlord, compared with last week
2 Q&As on how KiwiSaver works for a 64-year-old and a young man turning 18
KiwiSaver member who is trying to time markets should give up on attempting the impossible

Money column for June 13 2009

NZ Herald June 6 2009

Q&As: Are rental properties the low-risk way to invest?
How to find out which financial institutions are covered by the government's deposit guarantee scheme
Getting rid of KiwiSaver mortgage diversion was a mercy killing

Syndicated column June 2 2009 - Nyah nyah to Morningstar

One aspect of the recent Morningstar report on investors' experience of managed funds - in which New Zealand came bottom out of 16 countries - got little coverage in the news media. Ironically, it's about media coverage.

NZ Herald May 30 2009

Q&As: "Gambler" with foreign currency movements had better get out of the casino before he loses more than his shirt
2 readers object to what I said last week about managed funds - but are their comments fair?
The fun continues over classic cars and whether they make good investments

NZ Herald May 23 2009

Q&A: Don't let international survey put you off investing in managed funds
Reader challenges comments about classic cars

NZ Herald May 16 2009

Q&As: Reader has an offer for the young man in last week's column
Classic cars are not the great investment many think they are
Online info helps you keep track of your KiwiSaver money
Is a possible future government "swoop" on KiwiSavers a reason not to join?

NZ Herald May 9 2009

Q&As: Should fun be the deciding factor for 20-year-old's savings?
2 Q&As about topping up KiwiSaver accounts to get the maximum tax credit
Plus: Survey finds top KiwiSaver gripe is lack of information

Syndicated column May 5 2009 - Non-KiwiSavers miss out because of misinformation

Sometimes it's not so much what you don't know but what you misunderstand that hurts you. That came through loud and clear in my recent reader survey about KiwiSaver.

NZ Herald May 2 2009

Q&As: When investing in four funds is not necessarily better than investing in one
How employees can go about topping up their KiwiSaver contributions
Plus: "Too many providers" and other gripes of non-KiwiSavers who took part in a survey

NZ Herald April 25 2009

Q&As: It's top-up time for many people in KiwiSaver
More ideas for couple having trouble affording their first home
3 Q&As on the government's new student loan repayment bonus

NZ Herald April 11 2009

Q&As: Tips on how to ease back into investing in share funds.
Have I been too upbeat about the outlook for shares?
If the Dow Jones index is so bad, how come so many in the news media highlight it?
Auckland couple on $60,000 could buy a home if they really want to.

Syndicated column April 7 2009 - KiwiSaver change should please many + book giveaway

The most significant of the April 1 KiwiSaver changes is the lowering of the minimum employee contribution from 4 per cent of gross pay to 2 per cent.

The change affects three groups of employees:

NZ Herald April 4 2009

Q&As: First home buyers should be prepared to buy a "dump".
2 Q&As on KiwiSaver help for first home buyers - including new information for non-employees and people going overseas
KiwiSaver book giveaway - be in to win!

NZ Herald March 14 2009

Q&As: Changes to the KiwiSaver first home subsidy rules.
Subsidy could suit couple well.
Where to invest if you plan to go for first home subsidy.


Money column for March 14 2009

NZ Herald March 7 2009

Q&As: Don't try to time markets. Stick with your regular retirement savings, although you may want to modify where you save.
Teen's worries are unfounded about how Dad's income would affect KiwiSaver first home subsidy - but other subsidy issues still undecided.
Tax-wise, it's better to borrow for taxable activities than to buy a family home.
Plus: Clarification on the taxation of interest on loans between family members.

NZ Herald February 28 2009

Q&As: Couple approaching retirement should spend most of their savings on paying off their mortgage.
Yes, you can get KiwiSaver tax credits as well as NZ Super.
Reader who distrust government confuses KiwiSaver with NZ Super Fund
Was this column wrong last week about withholding tax on interest paid on a loan within a family?

Syndicated column February 24 2008 - Good fairy turbocharges lower income people's savings

You're struggling on a low income, as a part-time or full-time worker. All this talk about saving is fine for those making plenty, but you feel you can't spare anything. Fair enough.

Enter the Good Fairy. "How about a deal?" she says. "If you can set aside just a few dollars a week, I will multiply your savings five-fold, eight-fold, thirteen-fold - the lower your income the more I will boost your savings. It will really help you get ahead in the long term. Interested?"

NZ Herald February 21 2009

Q&As: Terminally ill reader should get his money out of KiwiSaver and eat, drink and be merry.
Reader on invalids benefit can benefit from joining KiwiSaver - and an obliging friend could make it work better for both of them.
Many employee KiwiSavers will be better off reducing their contributions to 2 per cent after April 1 - but not all.
Lending within the family can get complicated when it comes to withholding tax on interest.

NZ Herald February 14 2009

Q&As: The possible perils of parents lending a mortgage to adult children.
Tips on mortgage reduction from a mortgage broker.
How mortgage borrowers could unite to force interest rates down.
2 Q&As on what happens to KiwiSaver money in retirement.

NZ Herald February 7 2009

Q&As: Some great ideas for reducing your mortgage.
Non-employees are also eligible to join KiwiSaver.
The KiwiSaver tax credit has nothing to do with tax.
Once you're in KiwiSaver, you can't get out again - but should you want to?

NZ Herald January 31 2009

Q&As: Several options for 20-year-old who worries that the state of the world makes KiwiSaver iffy.
5 Q&As about reader who was offered a mortgage deal that was too good to be true.

NZ Herald January 24 2009

Q&As: Advisor's mortgage offer looks too magical to be true
Children more likely to be angry because their parents didn't sign them up to KiwiSaver than because they did
Too much on KiwiSaver in this column?

NZ Herald December 13 2008

Q&As: Government's KiwiSaver changes include a big improvement on their pre-election plans.
New taxation of KiwiSaver employer contributions is fair enough.
Plus - readers' views of my political leanings vary widely.

NZ Herald November 29 2008

Q&As: Repaying a mortgage - on a home or rental property - almost always better than saving with term deposits.
KiwiSaver works well for children.
3 Q&As on charitable Christmas giving.

NZ Herald November 22 2008

Q&As: Does charity begin in the home country? Salvation Army programme looks good.
List of overseas charities with Christmas gift offerings.
National's KiwiSaver changes could discourage single Mum trying to get ahead - but there's hope they will be altered.
The whole KiwiSaver mortgage diversion issue will be much easier for many under National's changes.
Plus: Readers on KiwiSaver

NZ Herald November 15 2008

Q&As: 2 Q&As on National's proposed changes to KiwiSaver
Plus: Meaningful Christmas presents
Readers' views on KiwiSaver

Syndicated column November 11 2008 - To hedge or not to hedge?

There are two key questions around investing overseas: Should you do it? And if you do, should you hedge your investment, so it's not affected by movements in the New Zealand dollar. The first answer is "Yes". The second is trickier.

NZ Herald November 8 2008

Q&As: PIES have many more pros than cons, with tax breaks and, in some cases, a government guarantee
Single parent with three rentals might want to sell one - but not for the reason she suggests
Plus: readers' views on KiwiSaver

NZ Herald November 1 2008

Q&As: There's plenty of hope for worried KiwiSaver in 30s - on the home ownership front and elsewhere.
National's plans for KiwiSaver make mortgage diversion much less attractive for many.
Plus: Readers' comments on KiwiSaver

NZ Herald October 25 2008

Q&As: Does KiwiSaver allow for earlier withdrawal for someone with Down syndrome?
Would having savings in KiwiSaver affect entitlement to benefits?
Does it make sense to look at productive and non-productive KiwiSavers?
Some property investors stand to gain from the current climate.
Plus: Readers' comments on KiwiSaver

NZ Herald October 18 2008

Q&As: Everything you need to know about the government's new deposit guarantee scheme.
Under the new scheme, should we move our money from banks to covered finance companies?
Will KiwiSaver still be good for self-employed 62-year-old if National wins the election?
Plus: Readers' views on KiwiSaver

Syndicated column October 14 2008 - The facts on KiwiSaver plans - PLUS book giveaway winners

Forget the rhetoric; let's look at the facts. The National Party's plans for KiwiSaver would leave some better off, some worse off, some weighing up pros and cons - and more people in the scheme.

NZ Herald October 11 2008

Q&As: How flexible are KiwiSaver providers about moving money between their funds?
Why are KiwiSaver tax credits so slow to come through?
Plus: Reader views on KiwiSaver

NZ Herald October 4 2008

Q&As: A happy share investor, and how you might get out of shares if you need to in the current market.
How does KiwiSaver mortgage diversion work for someone with a "2 + 2" contribution arrangement?
Plus: Winners of the Herald book giveaway

Syndicated column September 30 2008: Tax cuts bring KiwiSaver into reach for many

The "I can't afford KiwiSaver" excuse is about to get weaker for many New Zealanders. Tax cuts come into effect from October 1, and many families will also benefit from changes to the Working for Families tax credit and income threshold. The extra money will cover at least half of many people's KiwiSaver contributions, sometimes more.

NZ Herald September 27 2008

Q&As: Why KiwiSaver mortgage diversion is such a good idea.
Should the government intervene to stop house prices from falling?

NZ Herald September 20 2008

Q&As: Disgruntled KiwiSaver has actually done really well
Mortgage diversion finally available - soon - to most KiwiSavers

Syndicated column September 16 2008: Retirement payments likely to make a comeback

Annuities - which are typically monthly payments to retired people, over and above NZ Super - may be on their way back onto the New Zealand scene.

NZ Herald September 13 2008

Win a book
Q&As: KiwiSaver ethical investments options vary widely
Options for KiwiSavers who have gone overseas
A provider challenges my advice on a family spreading its KiwiSaver accounts around

NZ Herald September 6 2008

Q&As: Family of five should go with several different KiwiSaver providers to compare them.
Last week's look at the effects of gearing was deliberately simplified - and it probably didn't make too much difference.
Two poetic reactions to last week's poem.
Parliament move ends wait for woman not wanting to sign a work contract that treats KiwiSavers differently.


Money column for Sept 6 2008

NZ Herald August 30 2008

Q&As: A poem from the past shows how our attitudes to debt have changed. Will they change back again?
Reader wonders how long she has to wait for the government to change the law about employer KiwiSaver contributions

NZ Herald August 23 2008

Q&As: 64-year-old can't believe how good KiwiSaver is for him
KiwiSaver providers give wrong info to a would-be investor
Retired man questions my advice about bonds

Syndicated column August 19 2008: KiwiSaver more flexible and generous than commonly thought

Two lesser known features of KiwiSaver make it more user friendly than many people realise. They could entice non-joiners into taking part in a scheme which - after all - they are helping to fund, as taxpayers.

NZ Herald August 16 2008

Q&As: Advice on investment during retirement has worked for these readers
KiwiSaver contributions holidays will be easy to take
Reader dislikes last week's answer on KiwiSaver fund performance

NZ Herald August 9 2008

Q&As: Reader wants a list showing how KiwiSaver funds have performed, but I won't oblige.
Why farmers mingle their work and personal expenses.
More reasons why taxing families as one unit might harm more than it helps.

NZ Herald August 2 2008

Q&As: 3 Q&As on whether New Zealand should raise GST and reduce income tax - including how some farmers cheat on their taxes, and whether we want to encourage people to work longer hours.
Why KiwiSaver providers are highly unlikely to suffer the same fate as many finance companies.

NZ Herald July 26 2008

Q&As: Would it be better to raise GST and lower income tax?
Possible raising of retirement age not a good reason to stay out of KiwiSaver.

NZ Herald july 19 2008

Q&As: Stop worrying about money, says former spendthrift, now in his seventies.
Employee KiwiSaver can do very nicely thank you if she or he has several employers.
Let's list the KiwiSaver good guy employers, rather than the others.
Employer is confused by government's planned KiwiSaver changes.

NZ Herald July 12 2008

Article and then two Q&As about the Government's proposed changes to prevent employers from paying less to KiwiSaver employees than to other employees.

Syndicated column July 8 2008: Older KiwiSavers get the best deal

Several readers aged 55 to 64 have asked what KiwiSaver holds for them. The answer is "heaps". The scheme is particularly attractive for this age group for two reasons:

NZ Herald July 5 2008

Q&As: Average Joe Bloggs, sick of the rich and poor ripping off the system, seeks tax breaks.
"Fair Go" television show overlooked three important points when criticising KiwiSaver for children.

NZ Herald June 28 2008

Q&As: Why older people get a better deal from KiwiSaver, but younger people should nevertheless still join.
Do interest-only mortgages qualify for mortgage diversion?

Syndicated column June 24 2008: Hope and help for first home buyers

Things are looking up for would-be first home buyers, left out in the cold in the recent house price boom. The numbers are finally getting better, and government assistance is increasing.

NZ Herald June 21 2008

Q&As: 2 Q&As on whether homeowners should sell and be renters for a while, to cash in on falling house prices?
Should 62-year-old buy a rental property or join KiwiSaver?

NZ Herald June 14 2008

Q&As: KiwiSaver naysayer is the one who is "light on fact".
Self-employed KiwiSaver must contribute 4 per cent of pay when he takes a job - but he won't starve.
Inland Revenue "clarifies and expands" its position on mortgage interest deductions after a family home is rented out.

Syndicated column June 7 2008: Take action now to get full KiwiSaver tax credit

June is the month of reckoning for KiwiSaver members who want to be sure they get as big a tax credit as possible from the government. But judging from reader emails and questions at seminars, there's a fair bit of confusion about it all.

NZ Herald June 7 2008

Q&As: Many KiwiSavers double the money they put in the scheme, and some triple or even quadruple it.
Act now to make sure you get the full KiwiSaver tax credit.

NZ Herald May 31 2008

Q&As: 2 Q&As on how the self-employed can make the most of KiwiSaver.
More to come on tax deductibility of mortgage interest when you rent out your former home.

NZ Herald May 17 2008

Q&As: 61-year-old struggling to pay off mortgage considers renting out her house and becoming a tenant elsewhere.
Self-employed man wants to get back "over payment" into KiwiSaver

NZ Herald May 10 2008

Q&As: Grandma will help grandson more by opening her own KiwiSaver account and giving him the savings.
Ultraconservative KiwiSaver funds are as safe as bank accounts, and bring much higher returns.
Is lack of self control more prevalent now than in the past?
Government bonds have their place for the ordinary investor.

Money column for May 10 08

NZ Herald May 3 2008

Q&As: Measuring movements of the Kiwi dollar against the US dollar can be quite misleading.
Last week's boss responds to my response to him!
KiwiSaver tough on small businesses.
Many reasons to use Indian labour rather than NZ labour.
NZ workers not so bad.

Syndicated column April 29 2008: Ethical investing likely to catch on here

Ethical investing - which has been increasingly popular in other western countries - is likely to catch on in New Zealand now that KiwiSaver providers have to state in their investment documents whether they offer this option.

NZ Herald April 26 2008

Q&As: KiwiSaver the last straw for employer of "whinging, incompetent" New Zealanders
Reserve Bank offers some reassurance for reader worried that NZ banks could be caught up in their foreign parent's woes ...
.... But if you're still worried, consider the safest investments of all, government securities.

NZ Herald April 12 2008

Q&As: Monkey story a great yarn, but it's not about the share market.
Reader's concerns about banks' exposure to foreign exchange risk are unfounded.
61-year-old should think hard before selling her house and enjoying some of the proceeds.
Man about to retire can still get plenty from KiwiSaver.

Syndicated column April 15 2008: 3 ways that KiwiSaver just got even better

This month is a big one for KiwiSaver, with several changes taking effect that make the scheme more attractive - including a little publicised tax break.

NZ Herald April 12 2008

Q&A: 3 Q&As on whether New Zealand banks are safe, whether it's best to spread your money around several banks, and bank credit ratings.
Should entrepreneurial types stay out of KiwiSaver?

NZ Herald April 5 2008

Q&As: The best KiwiSaver fund for a 23-year-old depends on her house-buying plans.
Angry Blue Chip investor muddles my opinion with a reader's opinion.
A reader suggests why online tax payments sometimes go wrong.

Syndicated column April 1 2008: In defence of writing lots about KiwiSaver

No journalist likes to be accused of doing PR for the government. So when the editor of one of the newspapers that runs this column recently suggested I was "championing" KiwiSaver, it got me thinking.

NZ Herald March 8 2008

Q&As: A landlord's threats are perhaps a little hasty - but he has a point.
A KiwiSaver misunderstands the ups and downs of the market.
Are property shares a good option for young man saving to buy his first home?

Syndicated column March 4 2008: What a difference a year or two makes

Most people have lists - either written or in their heads - of things to do, and certain items never seem to make it to the top. If one of those is to join KiwiSaver, push it to Number One promptly. Delay is probably costing you much more than you realise - unless you are 60 to 64.

NZ Herald March 1 2008

Q&As: Five Q&As about employers contributing extra to KiwiSaver, at no cost to them:
· An employee can take advantage of this in more than one job.
· Employers are reimbursed for voluntary as well as compulsory contributions.
· Why even mean employers might go along with it.
· Employers can contribute any amount.
· How salary sacrifice works, and how higher employer contributions can boost it.

NZ Herald February 23 2008

Q&As: A middle-of-nowhere section might not be the best choice for a 25-year-old's savings while he studies.
Have delays in processing KiwiSaver contributions hurt savers in the recent tumultuous markets?
How to top up your KiwiSaver contributions so you get the full tax credit.

Syndicated column February 19 2008 - Mortgage diversion well worth it for many

The term "mortgage diversion" will be on more and more lips as KiwiSaver approaches its first anniversary in July.

It's not too early to think about whether this feature of the scheme - available after 12 months membership - would work well if you are already in KiwiSaver, or could attract you into the scheme.

NZ Herald February 16 2008

Q&As: Bonus money in KiwiSaver for most employees - if they can get their bosses to play along.
When you need to top up your KiwiSaver contributions to $1043, to get the full tax credit.

NZ Herald February 9 2008

Q&As: Calculator tells reader to stop saving and live it up a bit.
Reader who finds KiwiSaver nauseating has a scary list of things that could go wrong....
...But another one applauds KiwiSaver, while sitting on the home ownership sidelines.

Syndicated column February 5 2008: Share plunge arguably good for KiwiSaver

Despite some irresponsible reporting, the low returns on many KiwiSaver funds in their first few months are no reason not to join up. I'd even say the rough start was good in some ways.

The one big worry is that people have read a few headlines and decided to stay away from KiwiSaver without understanding what's really happening.

NZ Herald February 2 2008

Q&As: Does the share price slump disprove standard investment advice? And should advisers make economic forecasts?
KiwiSaver member is doing superbly despite the slump - as are all other members.
A reader objects to the idea that KiwiSaver is a gift from the government.

NZ Herald January 26 2008

Q&As: 3 Q&As about recent negative Herald articles about KiwiSaver returns in the early months - and why they are misleading. We also discuss how KiwiSaver membership forecasts are made - with an apology to Michael Cullen and Peter Dunne - and how repaying a mortgage fast is a type of saving.

NZ Herald article December 19 2007: Concern over remarks on old-age support largely unwarranted

People should not be put off joining KiwiSaver because entitlement may eventually occur later

NZ Herald December 15 2007

Q&As: Courses and grants help beneficiaries set up their own businesses.
Big earner is wrong to think KiwiSaver is not for him.
Why KiwiSaver money sits around at Inland Revenue for several weeks - although at least it earns interest.

Syndicated column December 11 2007: Can't afford KiwiSaver? That's unlikely

A reader protests that, despite my suggestion that everyone under 65 should sign up to KiwiSaver, "reality has it that not many of us can afford it!"

NZ Herald December 1 2007

Q&As: In defence of so many questions about KiwiSaver - and a challenge to readers.
Getting the best out of KiwiSaver for a non-earning wife and college kids.
Getting the best out of KiwiSaver for an early retiree on a low income.

NZ Herald November 24 2007

Q&As: Eggs in baskets don't really apply to term deposits, but there's another way to diversify.
Taxing options if you take flatmates in to help you pay the mortgage.
2 Q&As on how to make the most of KiwiSaver if you are in and out of the work force.

NZ Herald November 17 2007

Q&As: Why don't banks lend money for share investment?
2 Q&As on how you can best help your grandchildren (or children) into KiwiSaver
Christmas gifts for those who really need them

NZ Herald November 10 2007

Q&As: Is now a good time for a 36-year-old to buy a house? And if so, should it be a bigger house, so she can take in tenants?
Four Q&As on how KiwiSaver works - or doesn't work - for those living overseas or planning to live overseas.

NZ Herald November 3 2007

Q&As: Why does the price of our milk rise when overseas demand goes up?
How and when to take a KiwiSaver contributions holiday - for children and adults.
Two Q&As on KiwiSaver tax credits and timing.

Syndicated column October 30 2007: Can't afford KiwiSaver or saving elsewhere? You should still join

Close to half of New Zealanders 18 and over who haven't yet retired say they are unlikely or very unlikely to join KiwiSaver, a recent AMP survey shows. But a glance at their reasons for not joining suggests they don't yet understand the scheme's flexibility. They are missing out needlessly.

NZ Herald October 27 2007

Q&As: Twenty-eight-year-old with two rental houses wonders if this is a good time to buy a rental apartment.
Difficulties finding a KiwiSaver provider to accept tiny contributions from low-paid worker.
Saving kiwis.

Holm Truths Spring 2007

KiwiSaver - Why not? New Zealanders are coming up with many different reasons not to join KiwiSaver. But none of them really holds water for anyone under 65.

Syndicated column October 16 2007: KiwiSaver survives readers' challenges

It must be the noisier people who criticize KiwiSaver on the grounds that they don't trust the government.

Such mistrust has been a common theme in readers' letters. And yet a recent AMP survey of non-retired people 18 and over shows just 3 per cent of those unlikely to join KiwiSaver say it's because they don't trust the current or future government.

I was surprised, too, that only two readers responded to the challenge in my last column "to come up with a government change - that's at all likely to happen in a democracy - that...

Syndicated column October 2 2007: Big bad government unlikely to spoil KiwiSaver

Every now and then, someone says to me, "The government must be paying you for all that favourable publicity about KiwiSaver". It's not, of course. And in any case, my coverage has been far from totally positive.

As I've often said, KiwiSaver distorts savings decisions, because you can save only in certain types of vehicles.

Also, the government - in other words the taxpayers - is paying many KiwiSaver members thousands of dollars to do saving they would do anyway. True, other members will save more because of KiwiSaver, but whether the whole...

NZ Herald September 22 2007

Q&As: KiwiSaver totals over the years should be adjusted for inflation - but let's not get carried away.
People receiving ACC payments or Paid Parental Leave have a choice in KiwiSaver.
Early retirement plans won't be harmed by membership in KiwiSaver.

Syndicated column September 18 2007: Combining kids and KiwiSaver

Every New Zealander under 65 will benefit from joining KiwiSaver, including newborns. But the rules - and how to make the most of them - are different for children, and many readers have questions about that. Here are a couple:

NZ Herald September 2007

Q&As: Should a couple with 3 children move to a bigger house in town or take a bet on a coastal property?
Are KiwiSaver bond funds as conservative as they seem?

NZ Herald September 8 2007

Q&As: Join KiwiSaver even if you are already in another super scheme - but no double dipping!
Can an employee get around the 4 per cent minimum contribution to KiwiSaver?
Is KiwiSaver for government employees too good to be true?
Choosing between KiwiSaver and another work scheme

Syndicated column September 4 2007: Ins and Outs of KiwiSaver tax credit

Judging by readers' questions, confusion reigns about the government's KiwiSaver tax credits, which match members' contributions up to $20 a week or $1042.86 a year.

The tax credits are paid to every contributing KiwiSaver member 18 and over until they reach NZ Super age (currently 65) or five years after joining, whichever is later. For example, if you join at age 63, you will continue to get the credits until five years later, when you are 68.

NZ Herald September 1 2007

Q&As: How the typical KiwiSaver investment fund differs from a finance company
Would it work for the government to sign a contract that it wouldn't change KiwiSaver over the years?
More winning entries for the KiwiSaver book

NZ Herald August 25 2007

Q&As: Following last week's first Q&A, a reader suggests another way to bring overseas money to New Zealand.
Who's right, Gareth or me, on tax credit start dates?
We find eight providers who will accept one-off payments into KiwiSaver.
More winners of books.

Syndicated column August 21 2007: KiwiSaver bringing out the best in many

One aspect of KiwiSaver that I'm enjoying is the way people are helping one another understand it. This came through in several entries to our giveaway of my book "KiwiSaver: How to make it work for you."

Entrants had to say in 40 words or less why they should win one of 30 copies of the book. Some wanted it book to help their children, some their parents and some their workmates.

NZ Herald August 18 2007

Q&As: Man lives in NZ but his savings are in the US. When should he bring the money here, in light of the dollar's fluctuations?
3 Q&As on when the KiwiSaver tax credit begins - depending on when you join and/or start making contributions.
More winners in our giveaway of "KiwiSaver: How to make it work for you".

NZ Herald August 11 2007

Q&As: KiwiSaver is just right for 30-year-old son having difficulty saving for his first home.
Why sign up a one-year-old for KiwiSaver?
Also: Some winning entries in the "KiwiSaver: How to make it work for you" giveaway.

Syndicated column August 7 2007: Misunderstandings about KiwiSaver abound

Predictably, given that KiwiSaver is new, complex and not yet fully formed, there are many misunderstandings about it.

NZ Herald August 4 2007

Q&As: How can employees get around the KiwiSaver restrictions on them, and how much should you contribute for your children?
A mother worries about whether she should sign up her children in KiwiSaver.
Also: Some winning entries in the KiwiSaver book contest.

NZ Herald July 28 2007

Q&As: KiwiSaver providers that are offering ethical investment funds.
More on ethical KiwiSaver funds.
Will the KiwiSaver kick-start be around for a while?
Could the government take KiwiSaver money to repay student loans?
Oops! Too much haste.
Sack adviser who recently recommended Bridgecorp.

Syndicated column July 24 2007: Sack the inaccurate journalists

A reader reports that she and her family "were quite astounded to find you recommend (KiwiSaver) so unreservedly."

"I've read several articles recently by other journalists, who have pointed out that one's savings could well be handled - in the interim before one retires - so poorly that there could be none left to collect on retirement.

NZ Herald July 21 2007

Q&As: Are the 65-pluses getting a raw deal?
One reader thinks richer superannuitants are already spoilt.
Self-employed reader doesn't realise what a good deal he's on to.
KiwiSaver options for small business couple.

Holm Truths Winter 2007

A scheme for everyone: KiwiSaver is a good idea for every NZ resident under 65 - including self-employed, beneficiaries, adults not in the work force and children.
Also in this issue: From the mailbox - A financial planner offers some gems of wisdom, but I'm not totally convinced.

NZ Herald July 14 2007

30 talented readers will win copies of KiwiSaver book
Q&As: How the KiwiSaver tax credit is calculated, and details for self-employed people.
KiwiSaver and taxation, plus more for the self-employed

Syndicated column July 7 2007: No tricks behind KiwiSaver doubling of money

A reader has "one or two problems" with my last column, in which I said people are silly not to sign up to KiwiSaver.

"Your comments that 'twice as much comes out at retirement' and 'triple the money in, triple the money out'... make one huge assumption - that the provider the investor chooses over time does not lose any money - a highly unlikely scenario surely!", says the reader.

NZ Herald July 7 2007

Q&As: What happens to KiwiSaver accounts in a divorce?
How KiwiSaver might affect NZ Super, and what you should do about it.
A source of basic KiwiSaver information
The NZ share market index that includes dividends has been misleading in the past. How much does it matter?

NZ Herald June 30 2007

Q&As: Three Q&As about KiwiSaver - reimbursement of employer contributions; is daughter overseas eligible?; when is mortgage diversion helpful?; where can you get the information that was in the three Herald supplements about KiwiSaver?
Rental property running costs mount up over the years.

Syndicated column June 26 2007: KiwiSaver - be in to win

Ever since the government announced its added incentives to KiwiSaver last month, everyone is talking about the retirement savings scheme. And well they might.

While I still have reservations about the distortion of savings decisions, and while many employers are angry at being forced to contribute, practically all individuals will be better in than out.

NZ Herald June 23 2007

Q&As: Nearly 65-year-old should grab chance to join KiwiSaver. People over 60 do particularly well out of it.
Why dividends should be included when we look at the performance of the NZ share market.

NZ Herald June 16 2007

Q&As: A big fan of property investing scares me with his lack of knowledge.
I'm accused of hypocrisy and bias.
In praise of boring old index funds and learning about them.
KiwiSaver: Will the kick-start be around for a while? What happens when an employee gets a lump sum? A clarification about access to the money in bankruptcy.

Syndicated column May 29 2007: Back to the creepy stuff

Well, he did it. Despite my impassioned plea in this column in February last year, Finance Minister Michael Cullen took away our chewing gum tax cut in the recent Budget. And we're much bigger losers than most people realise.

Syndicated column May 15 2007: Readers respond on KiwiSaver tax breaks

Three readers were unhappy with my last column, in which I said the KiwiSaver tax breaks expected in the upcoming Budget will benefit only some people, at the expense of New Zealand as a whole.

Syndicated column April 28 2007: Think again about those KiwiSaver tax breaks

Many readers were no doubt pleased to hear of Winston Peters' recent hints that the May 17 Budget will include tax breaks in the KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme. But only some will benefit - and it will be at the expense of others, and the country as a whole.

NZ Herald April 14 2007

Q&As: A tax on house sales, to subsidise first home owners, is a lovely idea that wouldn't work.
Renting and saving elsewhere can leave you better off than home ownership.
Semi-retired couple who sold their home and rent are probably doing fine.

Syndicated column March 20 2007: KiwiSaver enticing enough already

KiwiSaver, the new retirement savings scheme starting July 1, is coming in for criticism that is doesn't include more tax incentives. But I'm glad of that.

NZ Herald March 3 2007

Seeking your questions about KiwiSaver
Q&As: Are home equity release (HER) schemes - which lend to retired people with homes but little income - a rip-off?
Sentinel defends its HER schemes, but they are still expensive compared with possible alternatives.

NZ Herald February 24 2007

Seeking your questions about KiwiSaver
Q&As: Woman in mid 50s, who is renting, explores options for buying a home
2 Q&As about the $50,000 threshold in the new regime on taxation of international shares

NZ Herald October 14 2006

Q&As: Why I won't do research on an Aussie resource index fund.
Too little time to study the new tax plans for international share investments.

Syndicated column July 18 2006: Owning your home not always the best option

Most New Zealanders grow up expecting to own their own home, but soaring house prices have made it harder for people to get into the market. Does that matter? Is home ownership all it's cracked up to be?

Holm Truths autumn 06

Stuff and happiness: Buying things you don't really need

Also in this issue: From the Mailbox - Should a young man buy himself a house?

NZ Herald August 6 2005

Q&As: 18-year-old should wait a bit before buying a house.
Saving for the grandchildren - how much risk is good?
Rental property depreciation risks.

NZ Herald June 11 2005

Q&AS: Paying extra for using a credit card.
Distortions when considering how good an investment your home is.
First home buyers should probably wait.

Syndicated column May 31 2005: How KiwiSaver will work for you

How you might react to the KiwiSaver programme in the recent budget depends on your circumstances.

Under the programme, scheduled to start in April 2007, employed people, the self-employed or beneficiaries can contribute 4 or 8 per cent of their income to a saving fund.