Pro Finance

Here we go again

Let’s not talk up a recession New Zealand, it seems, is leading the world in its handling of the Covid-19 crisis. Although none of us have a crystal ball, we are in a much better position than most nations, many of whom are suffering under the pressure of vast numbers of new cases and struggling economies. Over the last few...

Get your investments right from the start

This article was written in early May. In the last issue of the Profit, I used the term “market correction”, and boy oh boy, did we have one of those! Not for a second am I claiming a prediction of Covid-19 and the effect on the markets, but I will state that now more than ever real relationships with our...

Looking ahead – what will change

What are your predictions? I can hardly claim this is a prediction, because it is well documented. But certainly, in the immediate term, we will continue to live in a low interest rate environment. For borrowers, this is good news. However, for savers and investors in income assets, it’s not so great. One aspect of this is not fully understood....

Shock and Orr Reserve Bank head prepared to make big calls

Currently, it is very difficult to speak of anything but the low interest rates affecting savers and investors. At the time of writing1, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has taken a breather with its September 2019 announcement and left the Official CashRate(OCR)at 1.00%.After the hefty movement of 0.50% “south” on August 7, this is welcomed in most sectors. The...

Making cents of the market

It is the process of anticipating what could lie ahead, and the creation of methods and processes to help minimise the potential negative effects of future influence... but can you ever truly 100% futureproof a portfolio? The truth is you can’t completely 100% future-proof any portfolio, because investment involves risk no matter how low, and the future is uncertain. But...

Diversifying more than your portfolio

As many readers will know, as well as being a Hawkes Bay based financial adviser who has been servicing Bay clients for over 10 years, I also have a national role with AdviceFirst. Today, AdviceFirst includes the now rebranded Spicers business and has a strong presence with 15 offices throughout New Zealand. As part of that amalgamation between Spicers and...

When keeping calm and carrying on paid off

Recently I had the pleasure of traveling around New Zealand with economic commentator and journalist Bernard Hickey’ where we have been presenting to AdviceFirst clients and local professionals about themes important to today. We have also been joined by fund managers Fergus MacDonald of Nikko Asset Management and Craig Stent of Harbour Asset Management. Our event series included a Hawke's...

Do you want tulips with your bitcoin?

The cryptocurrency bitcoin continues to make the news. What many New Zealanders don't realise is that if they hold loyalty cards like Fly Buys or an air points card, they already own digital currencies. However, when we read in December of a Wellington waterfront property for sale in bitcoin, and that bitcoin futures recently debuted on Wall Street, the subject...

Pro Finance

Goals-based Investing – A New Approach to an old Question

When discussing a client’s financial planning needs, and specifically what portfolio to establish, an adviser is required to navigate through the client’s specific needs and goals. This is with an ultimate view to provide a portfolio from within the specific discipline and processes that will meet the client’s expectations, while importantly avoiding as much risk as possible. While focusing on...

Pro Finance

When your conservative portfolio is not so ‘conservative’

The word ‘conservative’, particularly when it comes to conservative investment portfolios, usually suggests stable, slow-to-change and steady-as- she-goes, but in these changing times, there are early warning signs that a ‘conservative investment portfolio’ may no longer be the haven that it once was. Most people who don’t have a huge appetite for risk, often because their earnings potential is declining...