Guide to Handling Redundancy
Experiencing redundancy can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, you can navigate through this period of uncertainty. Below is a basic guide to help manage your finances.
To Have or Not to have!
In tough economic times why is it that personal insurance is the first expense that most people think is fair game to reduce the cost of or cancel completely.
I don’t disagree that insurance products are a purchase that is often made begrudgingly. What is there to show for them other than a folder full of terms and conditions and jargon most don’t understand.
Pre-Approvals - what, and why?
Imagine going house hunting, finding the house you love – only to miss out on purchasing it – cos someone else gets their finance approved faster.
A pre-approval can fix that.
The biggest loss to your KiwiSaver that no one is talking about - and what you can do about it
What is the biggest risk of loss to your KiwiSaver, that does not get talked about?
Whats the deal with Interest Rates?
Everyone seems to be obsessed with Mortgage rates, they are the main topic I see around. My social media ads are bombarded with Mortgage advisers telling me now is a good time to refinance for better rates or free money and I’ve been hearing about the “trend down”, or the “expectations” of rate drops etc.
Hold Fast!
Don’t panic sell your investments, if you think you have to cash out soon, get advice. This shall pass, you need to Hold Fast.
Should I invest outside KiwiSaver?
In short yes. But here’s the thing, where or how to invest is less important than why to invest.
My KiwiSaver has gone down!
You may have noticed a drop in your KiwiSaver balance recently and been wondering what to do about it.
Preparing to buy your first home - Part 1: Understanding the jargon
Buying your first home can be daunting, there is a lot of jargon and everyone is trying to get their cut.
Preparing for what you are doing will make the process a lot easier for you.
Cost of a credit card
We all know that cards have interest rates and its not difficult to work out the interest cost per month. If you have a $10,000 balance owing, on a 20% card, the interest cost will be $166 a month.
New Cancer Drug – a reason for good medical insurance
There is an article on the Herald about a new Breast cancer drug that is getting good results, but is $5000 a month for the pills.
So naturally people would like this to be covered by Pharmac so it can be done for free. This is not that easy, as Pharmac has a specific budget and every issue out there has new drugs people would love to be funded.
KiwiSaver Member ‘Tax Credits’
A recent article in Stuff suggested that half of Kiwis surveyed had no idea what the Member Tax credits are.
This is pretty horrifying considering its been 10 years since KiwiSaver came in and it's all over the internet.
16 weeks till Christmas – are you ready?
Christmas day is 16 weeks from Monday (the 4th of September).
Now that this has horrified you, you should be wondering about what you are going to do for Christmas and the spending for it.
DUX – 7 years on and where we started
7 years ago, DUX was formed.
It was the last Friday of August in 2010 and the place I had worked for 6 years, and assumed I would be working at for another 10+, decided that they did not want me there anymore.
Market impacts of presidential elections
A lot of people are surprised and a bit shocked after last the US election results and while I won’t be discussing the actual results of the election and the fall out (plenty of the media, who were wrong about the election will spend time telling you what will happen), it’s important to know about the market impact.
Money Mind-set series – Credit Cards
Money Mind-set is the concept of having the right thoughts about money and setting your mind set accordingly. It’s about focusing to spending only money you have, not racking up debt, and saving as much as you can for your goals. A good money mind-set will help you grow wealth better over the years, and remove all the money stress most people have.
Cancer can hit anyone – do you have the right insurance?
Cancer can hit anyone, what would you do if it happened to you?
Happy 6th Birthday to DUX Financial Services
Today is the 6th birthday of DUX Financial. It’s crazy to think it’s been 6 years, but it means I have now been at DUX longer than any other financial company.
There are Ethical Options for KiwiSaver
Leaving aside the overblown hyperbole of the journalists in this article (I don’t think any company advertises itself as a cluster bomb company, but whatever), it’s important to know where you are investing and if you have preferences to not invest in certain areas, to see what you can do about it.
Building a home – Alan and Katrina’s Journey
Building a home is an exciting, and often fraught experience, and it’s hard to get concrete knowledge on what to do. Often the builders hold onto information and make it difficult for you to know what your options are.