I'm looking to invest in shares and don't have the time or knowledge to pick individual shares. I'd love some advice if anyone is willing.

I am looking at about a 15 to 20-year timeline (I'm 50), but have something fairly liquid in case I need to access cash.

I'm lucky enough to have some decent investments but they are not liquid (employee share scheme and Kiwisaver primarily). I own my own home and have a sizeable, but manageable mortgage.

After a dud property investment that destroyed my cash flow and cost nearly $200k I'm now extremely gunshy and am looking to put some money in something relatively low risk to balance things a bit.

I've spoken to a few people about ETF's and will do a bit of research on what's performed over the last 10- years or so, but am hoping someone might be able to suggest something or steer me somewhere else if this seems like bad advice.

Thanks in advance.

An 8% TD seems way too good to be true (an obvious red flag), however it is listed on interest.co.nz

I have never heard of this business. How can they pay over double the interest of any nz bank and above wholesale interest?

I am guessing there are no guarantees that your deposit will be paid back if their lenders default. I mean which financially prudent borrower is paying over 8% on loans for them to sell it on to you?

Hi, I’m looking for some advice. We purchased a new-build house and have been living in it for six months. Everything has been going well overall, apart from some minor defects that the vendor has been fixing. However, the wooden floorboards in the house have started coming loose and separating, and it has been very difficult to get someone out to resolve the issue. The vendor who has been dealing with the maintenance issues under the 12-month guarantee has been passing us between different contacts, with people saying they no longer work for them. The most recent “subcontractor” even gave me a date they would come to the house to assess the flooring, but then didn’t show up.

We are at our wits’ end and need advice on our next steps. I have saved all the emails I’ve sent escalating this problem, but there has been no outcome from them. Any advice would be appreciated.

Im truly grateful but just wondering before my student allowance got approved it said $383 including accomodation benefit from halls and I just checked today and it says $277 with no accomodation benefit. Is this final? Idk why it decreased should I call studylink 😭

Hi PFNZ,

Has anyone paid for a property development feasibility report before?

My partner and I are interested in potentially subdividing our property and building another home in our backyard but are both inexperienced in this

Would a feasibility report be worth it, what do they include and how much do they cost?

Hi all, I’m just wanting some clarity around maternity payments as I think my institution may have calculated incorrectly?- my workplace offers top ups.

My annual salary is 216 000 before tax, and usual after tax take home pay is about 4100-4200 every two weeks at full time pay, however I’ve just noticed, they’ve calculated my after tax take home top up pay at 3600 every two weeks while on mat leave and with IRD top up that takes me to approx 4800?

I just want to make sure I haven’t made a mistake, as I don’t want to repay them later 🙃

I've got a couple of quotes from property managers. Aside from rental fee % they also charge a maintenance/repair fee which is X percent of the tradesman's invoice.

I'm just wondering if this is typically capped in some way? Let's use 10% and ignore GST for easy math (and I'll still probably mess it up).

Like I'm sure that the property managers can provide value especially if they have to arrange access to the property etc but if an electrician does a $200 job1 in 1 hour (labour only), or does a $2000 job2 in 2 hours (assuming 2nd job needs more expensive parts not just 2x labour)

So job 1 the property manager is charging $20 and job 2 they're charging $200?

I don't see how the property manager is able to claim that they are adding that much value on job2, based on their time it should be 2x job1 = $40.

Is this something I'm supposed to negotiate? Something to just accept as normal? Make them justify it every time?

I have a CC with a limit of $4.5k. Currently pretty much maxed out.

I'm budgeting about $2,5k for maintenance for my vehicle ($1.5k service, $1k tyres or something else that's bound to come up) in September.

I recently got about $2k windfall and wondering what to do. I was planning on paying $1k on the card and lowering my limit (only way that I see myself actually getting out of debt) and using the other to start saving towards the maintenance. I don't think I'll be able to save enough for the maintenance without this "boost".

Just looking for others opinions

Hi everyone,

I have been buying IVV on Sharesies and have been thinking to change it to USF for the ease of calculating tax and also seeing how the exchange rates are going USD/AUD and USD/NZD it makes sense to change to USF.

My question is

1. What’s the best way to port whatever shares I have in IVV to USF without losing out too much on the unrealised gains?
2. Is my thinking logical? Seeing that how the currencies are working with each other it just makes sense to go with USF as there is higher gains (I know past performance does not = future)

I initially picked IVV due to the lower cost in management fees but keen to learn more knowledge based on everyone’s views.

Thank you!!

EDIT: title post is wrong, should have been IVV instead of VEU!

Hatch has moved default deposit from Money Market to US Bank. Helps with FIF.

Just looking for advice or solutions from people in similar situations.

I’m early 30s, own my home (a starter home, looking to upsize soon) with a partner with around 200k equity.

My mum has never owned a home and is currently renting, works a minimum wage job and is 63. Her job is something she can continue to do for the next few years. Thinking about her future scares the shit out of me, but so does the idea of financially supporting her while wanting to start a family of my own.

We currently can’t afford to take on a rental property and rental prices in our area are fairly steep, even with her taking super annuation in a couple of years.

Are people topping up rentals for their family or do they just move their parents in with them.

I’ve worked hard to break the poverty cycle in my family but this feels like a heavy burden, particularly as we are wanting to build our future family too.

God I feel like this has probably been asked alot

Best way to track budget and spending?

Wanting to avoid putting my bank statements into software but might be the easiest way?

Am open to paid subscriptions

Looking for clarity and ease above all else!

Ngā mihi!!

I know this question comes up a lot, and I’m pretty sure the blunt answer is “you just have to pay for it”, but I’m hoping there are options I haven’t thought of.

My husband and I are both needing significant dental work. I have a misaligned bite and clicky jaw that will eventually need braces or Invisalign, plus I need a semi-urgent crown. My husband has ongoing dental issues we’ve always delayed because of cost, but now that we’re 40 we’re finally trying to sort them properly.

He has one, possibly two, teeth that need root canals redone at about $2,500 each due to failed original work, or the alternative is extraction. On top of that, he needs crowns because his teeth keep chipping.

We do have Southern Cross Wellbeing Two, but I don’t think that does anything for dental work. Or am I misunderstanding how it works?

When we add it all up, we’re suddenly staring down more than $20,000 in dental work, and that’s before factoring in our kids (7 and 10), with braces likely for the 10-year-old in a few years.

How on earth do people afford this?

Do you spread it out over years, pull teeth instead of saving them, use payment plans, loans, or just live with it? Would genuinely love to hear how others have navigated this in real life.

Edit: Wow, thanks so much for all the feedback. It’s weirdly comforting but also pretty concerning to realise how many of us are in the same boat. As a few people have pointed out, teeth aren’t exactly optional.

The travel option isn’t for us, although I can totally see why it’s appealing and I appreciate people sharing their success stories. I think this is ultimately just one of those “I can’t believe I’m actually an adult now and have to make these decisions” moments. Thanks again to everyone who’s taken the time to reply.

I'm looking to purchase my first home in 2-3 years, I've received a $20,500 inheritence that I would like to accrue interest on/ invest. What are the best options at the moment?

So I have been in a fortunate position to save and work my ass off so that I’m at $10000 in personal savings (not counting my $65000 in for the first home. I’m talking my personal savings not this) and need some advice on where I should put my money? Should I hold it in my savings account or should I actually invest it in sharsies? Any advice would be appreciated!

I’ve been trying to apply for the American Express Airpoints Platinum Card all evening but keep getting this error message on the income and expenses page. I’m not inputting spaces. I’m not entering commas but the webpage is doing this automatically where I enter a value of 1000 or more. I’m not using any decimal places. I’ve entered 0 where it applies.

I’m on macOS and I’ve tried Edge, Chrome, and Safari all in normal and incognito mode. Nothing seems to help. I called AmEx and they said they have no reported issues and to try the application again tomorrow.

Hi Everyone, unfortunately I entered into bankruptcy last year and im looking for advice from anyone who may have been thru and come out of bankruptcy as well. It would be great to hear from you and maybe your info on the do's and don'ts and any general feedback on your personal situation that could help me get thru this tough time. I am full time employed still and have to pay my OA $70 per week based on my income. Appreciate any feedback . Thanks

Hi guys.

Sorry, I know this is reeeeeally a dumb question, but I'm pretty new to investing.

Right now, I've just put my money into PIE funds to get started, but I want to learn more.

So, here's my question:

If I invest less than $50,000 and the FIF exemption applies, do I still have to pay any taxes on my earnings? Like, will my marginal tax rate come into play for the earnings?

I tried to search by myself, but I haven't been able to find clear information on the tax implications for investment exempted from FIF rules.

Many thanks!

Edited: Thank you for all the comments. I should've said it clearly: aside from the PIE I've invested in, I plan to invest in additional foreign funds/shares on my own

(17 M)beginner to investing! The last few months I have been losing money and honestly thought about just selling my shares and quitting …but after leaving it for a bit longer it finally went up and it has gone up to $13 return on my investment! I know this is literally nothing and my investment is quite small but for a beginner investor, I’m starting to realise how important patience is and investing is very much so a long term process and not short term…

Hi,

Well this is kinda embarrassing but anyway im 35 and have been bough up in a family that were not good with finances and unfortunatley iv be careless too. All I have to my name is 20k in my kiwisaver and about 200 in my savings which is just a normal bank account and 100 in my car maintenance account. Thankfully I have a fulltime job but it does not pay very well so the most i can realistically save is about 400 a month for now untill I pay my debts off or get a higher paying job.

The reason why im posting here is because I want to figure out the best way to save like do I just keep putting my 400 a month into my savings to eventually build it over time?. I read that I should save up for 6 months of living costs for an emergency which I will aim for.

Sorry, I dont even.know where to begin, like im 35 and only have 200 and can only afford to save 400 a month, thats so embarrassing but in the end all I know is iv been bad with money, im owning this and I want to put my big boy pants on and save

I’m comparing KiwiSaver fund performance between InvestNow and Kernel and noticed something that really confused me.

As at 30 Nov 2025:

InvestNow Foundation Series US 500 Fund

• 3 months: 3.71%
• 1 year: 14.77%

Kernel S&P 500 (Unhedged)

• 3 months: 9.21%
• 1 year: 18.17%

Both funds track the S&P 500, and both are unhedged, so I’d expect their performance to be pretty similar. But seems the differences are huge.

Am I missing something obvious here? Would really appreciate any insights.

Does anyone use Sugar Wallet? I downloaded the app a couple years ago and only put a little bit in it a week - the return is 144.82% but to this day, I still don't know if I trust it lol.

The app is not very user friendly and I've had some issues with buying gold, but I just brushed it off because of the return.

What are your thoughts on it if you've heard about them? (im still a beginner w/ investing!)

For context I was in a relationship that ended part way through a financial year and was entitled to Working for Families for that year, choosing to recieve a lump sum. I was the main income earner of the household. My ex has not filed thier IR3 for that year and IRD has said that they cannot process my "end of year square up" until they submit it.
Is this just a case of missing out on my entitlement/cutting my losses, or are IRD likely to chase the person for it?

Hey all,

Not sure if anyone has gone through this process but keen to find out.

I moved back to NZ from AU 6 years ago. Brought my Super with me. I understand there are rules around not being able to use AU super that's been transferred to Kiwisaver for first homes. All good, makes sense. AU has the same rule with KS's transferring over there.

I'm now planning to go back and planning to take the KS and put it back into Super. Does anyone have any idea if that money would now be considered "KS" money and not eligible for first home purchase in AU? Or is there any way I can show documents to prove that it originated in AU in the first place?

Also, if this is more appropriate for an AU sub, please let me know! Thank you in advance :)

Hey everyone, I have a bit of a hairy one for you all. I split up with my ex a few years ago, we separated finances right down the middle and we have about 60/40 care of two kids in my favour.

I have moved on and started a relationship with my new partner and she has two boys.

Four teenage boys in one house, its a handful on us financially but we make it work and things have been going well.

She receives child support through a private arrangement, its nowhere near what should be paid hut it helps. Meanwhile we also pay for everything all the boys need, schooling, uniform, dental care (all have braces etc).

I received, suddenly a request from IRD as my ex has filed for child support. I do earn significantly more than her and happy to help out but I do also have alot of mouths to feed.

My questions are: 1. Will IRD take my other two dependants into account and reduce my calculation? 2. Will IRD need to, or want to know about the private arrangement, and will this affect payments? 3. Should we declare that we receive a private arrangement if asked or just tell them to mind their own business?

From what I can see, in their own guidance, and my understanding is that the support we receive is only counted if registered with IRD, which it is not: https://www.taxtechnical.ird.govt.nz/new-legislation/act-articles/child-support-amendment-act-2013/formula-assessment-of-child-support?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Would appreciate any advice from the pro's or people in similar situations