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Help your people bridge the financial literacy gap
Financial worries are a key source of stress among workers, and COVID-19 has had an adverse impact on people’s stress levels and financial security. If your team's wellbeing is important you, you should consider including a financial education component to your wellness strategy. A recent study by the Financial Services Council New Zealand found...
Trauma Cover – your Plan B
When you are fit and healthy and enjoying life, planning for a medical event is one of the last things on your to do list. Unfortunately, cancer, heart attack and stroke make up 90% of trauma cover claims and impact a vast number of Kiwis each year. According to SunSmart NZ, 80,000 Kiwis are diagnosed with cancer each year, the Heart Foundation...
Investment Commentary – April 2021
Global sharemarkets performed strongly in April, continuing the positive sentiment that has existed for most of 2021 so far. The three key themes for the continued strong performance are: The continued roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine across the world; Better than expected results from US companies as many announced their annual results over...
COVID-19 and the global market performance
There is an old saying that states if something seems too good to be true then it probably is. And in a world where bank term deposits are paying less than 1%, investors should look at funds with returns of 30% with suspicion. AdviceFirst adviser Brent Hunt provides commentary on the 12 month returns to the end of March 2021, and why these...
A closer look at ESG investing and how fund managers meet ESG criteria
As people look to align their investment choices to their values, our advisers are increasingly being asked about about Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing – what it means, and the criteria fund managers use when considering these investment opportunities. ESG is also known as responsible, ethical, green, socially responsible...
Understanding your retirement investment projection
You have just received an investment projection from your financial adviser. On first glance it looks as though you’ll be running out of money in retirement. It’s been a long day and suddenly you feel an unwanted sense of panic. Stuffing the report into the folder marked “retirement”, you head to the couch and pick up the TV remote…………… For many...