By Mary Holm

 

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders have every reason to be grateful for Mary Holm's widely acknowledged KiwiSaver expertise. Through her seminars and columns, they know that no one understands the ins and outs of the scheme better. Her two previous books on the scheme have been goldmines of information.

Holms' third KiwiSaver book brings together all Mary's expert knowledge, including up-to-the-minute advice on the impact of the recent changes that have opened up the scheme to thousands more New Zealanders, putting them on the path to home ownership or a comfortable retirement. With free money, 'painless' contributions and much more flexibility than most people realise, the question, 'Why wouldn't you join KiwiSaver?' is even more valid now.

This book also extensively surveys all the Kiwisaver providers, so you can find out who offers ultra-safe funds, risky but high-growth funds, 'ethical' funds, flexible contributions and much more. Mary covers issues you won;t find on provider websites. has the ceo invested in KiwiSaver? for example. It's a good question - and Mary dares to ask it, and gets a reply!

Nobody else has done such comprehensive research, and Mary's comparisons make it so easy to decide whether you should stick with your provider or switch to get a better deal. This book is also full of creative new ideas on how to make KiwiSaver work best for you, while keeping risk to a minimum.

This is the book every KiwiSaver and prospective KiwiSaver can't afford to be without.

 

Contents of "The Complete KiwiSaver"

Part One: Why KiwiSaver: How it has changed and why it’s still so good
Introduction: How’s it all going?

1: The KiwiSaver concept and rules

Who’s in and who’s out
Opting out
Joining
Your contributions — and stopping them
Incentives
Investing
Ownership
Getting the money out
The good news about tax
Two employer approaches
Keeping track of the money – or trying to

2: What’s new?

Changes that affect everyone
Changes that affect employees
Changes that affect employers
Will the changes reduce total savings in New Zealand?

3. What makes KiwiSaver so powerful?

The multiplier
Should everyone — even those with debt — join KiwiSaver?
‘But I can do better in other investments’
How fast your KiwiSaver account will grow

4: ‘But I’m worried about risk’

Early KiwiSaver returns got bad press
Finance company failures worry KiwiSaver investors
Not all KiwiSaver providers will survive
Conclusion

5: What else is holding you back?

You don’t want to commit to future contributions
You can’t afford KiwiSaver
You don’t want to tie up your money until NZ Super age
You’ve saved enough for your retirement
You’re already in a good super scheme
The government — or another future government - might change it
You think managed funds rip people off
You’re planning to go overseas
But what about…?

Part Two: Creative ways with KiwiSaver: Getting the best from the scheme

6: The smartest ways to contribute

7: The young — and the not so young

Under-18s and turning 18
55 to 64-year-olds

8: Investing ethically

9: Home ownership, mortgages and other debt

Help with buying a first home
No longer own your own home
Borrowing to be in KiwiSaver — on a mortgage or otherwise
Diverting money to pay off your mortgage

10: A helping hand

Assisting family or friends
Sponsoring someone into KiwiSaver

11: Heading overseas

12: Issues for people with disabilities

13: Making the most of your work situation

Non-employees can get the first year over and done with
Self-employed — employ yourself?

Part Three: What type of investments?: Which assets and what risk level are right for you?

14: Types of assets

The big 4

15: The first thing to understand

Not a dirty word

16: Which assets for you?

The choice
The path to what?

17: Five ways to reduce investment risk

Stay for the long term
Invest regularly, rather than with lump sums
Use low or no gearing
Avoid riskier fixed interest investments
Last but perhaps most important – diversify

18: Go offshore

A pipsqueak
'But don’t the markets all move together?'
Why not offshore?
Will Australia do for my offshore shares?
In conclusion…

19: Still can’t decide?

Part Four: Which provider? A guide to finding the best one for you

20: Who's who?

The providers
Switching provider

21: The right investments for you?

Varying risk levels
International diversification - a great idea
Single sector funds - if you know what you're doing
Special funds for first home buyers - is this necessary?
Risk adjusted for age - the low maintenance way

22: Ruling some out - or definitely in

Contributions - amount and pattern
Provider flexibility
Mortgage diversion
Ethical investing
Something different
'Why we’re the best'

23: Fees: a big and vexing issue

Ongoing fees
Other fees
Active or passive?

24: How providers are managed

New Zealand owned?
Trustees
Who manages the investments?
Unitisation (sorry about this ugly word!)
Sales commissions

25: Services to investors

Communication
Retirement-related issues

26: On the bandwagon?

The cheeky question

27: And the winner is…

28: Don’t muck around

29: When to change - and when not to

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About the author
Mary Holm has a column in the NZ Herald, the Dominion-Post and several regional papers. She is one of the most frequently consulted financial commentators on New Zealand radio and television and leads savings and financial seminars, including for the Retirement Commission.