The rules around Trans-Tasman transfers are a bit odd, and a giant pain in the neck, but worth it.

It took years for the two governments of New Zealand and Australia to get to a place where we could get Trans-Tasman portability, and while the KiwiSaver providers leaped at it, the Australian ones, not so much.

It’s adviser bashing time at the New Zealand Herald again as they breathlessly announce that some Financial Advisers only deal with a few KiwiSaver companies.  They never say outright it’s bad, but it’s the impression they are trying to give.

It’s not a surprise to read about people racking up lots of debt on the mobile lenders.  People will always find a way to borrow if they are that way inclined.

You may be aware that the New Zealand Reserve bank has changed the rules for lending on investment properties.

The Government has announced some changes to the KiwiSaver Homestart grant (and by extension the Welcome Home Loan) that kick in today.

It’s pretty damning about their processes and sales tactics.

While what Youi does was obvious to those in the industry, with their direct push model, and focusing on cheapness rather than benefits, it’s not just Youi who does this, they have been the most blatant.

The government has announced some changes to KiwiSaver withdrawals for 2nd chance first home buyers that will come into place on the 1st of July 2016.

I am not convinced that the answer to people not planning for retirement, is more Do It Yourself (DIY) focus. Sure, it’s better than nothing, to use the calculators etc., but the problem with these is the placebo like effect of having run the calculator, and then your brain basically deciding you are done, and then you go back to whatever else you are doing, and spending.

Far be it for me to suggest that a student association is unlikely to put out a press release saying everything was fine for students, but they are not exactly the best source for an unbiased opinion.

I am guessing the journalist on this story was not a student in the mid to late 1990s when you could download your entire living allowance money in one go.

Harsh that the AMP KiwiSaver gets singled out here for who has lost KiwiSaver business, when in reality the banks are creaming most of the KiwiSaver transfers from everyone, as they ‘touch’ clients more often than the other providers.

Auctions suck when you don’t have a 20% deposit.

The bank won’t sign off on the property, and short of paying for a valuation before you bid, you have to either just bid or hope, or you have to pay for the valuation, and then might not get the home.