Advisers for Investment Plan in New Zealand

Today's investor faces many choices. Investments can be in shares, bonds, investment property, bank deposits, domestic or international assets, directly invested or via managed funds, stand-alone or part of an investment portfolio. There are many possible options — it can be hard to know where to start and there is a risk of making poor decisions if you are not properly informed by receiving good investment advice from an investment adviser in New Zealand.

Before making any investment it is best that you undertake a thorough enough review and analysis of your goals and circumstances. Take some time to think about the following:

Investment Goals: What goals do you have? Why do you want to invest? Are you saving for retirement, do you want to be mortgage free, have you planned an international holiday, or are you saving for your child's education or to pass on to your heirs?

Income Needs: Given these goals, what are your estimated current and future income needs? You need to consider your age and also your dependents' ages. How long do you plan to be working? What other things need to be considered: mortgage payments, annual holiday, a new car? Your on-going need for income will be a key input into an investment strategy makeup.

Timeframe: Over what timeframe are your goals planned? When do you need to withdraw money? Do you need a regular income flow over a set timeframe or do you need a lump sum on a specific date? Generally, longer term investments are able to ride out the usual fluctuations in market and investment values.

Risk Appetite: Review your appetite for risk — the 'sleep at night' factor. Very few investments are guaranteed. Would you be prepared to lose a large proportion of the funds invested? Could you lose some if you knew a percentage was guaranteed? Do you need instant access to your investments?

Investment Structures: Is the investment personal or for a family trust? Do you wish to take a hands-on approach or would you like someone else to manage the process for you? Do you have any existing investments, for example a KiwiSaver account or rental investment property? Are your investments stand-alone or part of a managed investment portfolio?

Insurance: What would happen to your investment goals if you were out of work due to sickness or injury? Do you need to consider insurance for certain situations?

These are just some of the issues to consider before investing. Once this analysis process is complete, your SHARE adviser can help you determine what types of investment best suit your personal circumstances.

KiwiSaver Scheme Providers

There are many investment options available in New Zealand, but the one that most people talk about at the moment is KiwiSaver.

KiwiSaver is a voluntary, long-term savings plan designed to help you save for retirement. The more you contribute now; the better off you could be when you retire. If you're paid a salary or wages, the minimum contribution you must currently make to KiwiSaver is 3% of your gross salary or wages and this will be matched by your employer. If you wish, you can choose to contribute more - either 4% or 8% of your gross salary or wages. If you're not currently earning a salary or wage, you can make contributions to your KiwiSaver account at a level that suits you, but preferably at least $1043 each year to maximise the New Zealand governments contribution.

Most KiwiSaver providers have a range of investment options designed with a specific investment objective and timeframe in mind. Some investment options aim to generate modest and consistent returns each year while others look to achieve potentially higher returns over longer periods of time. To achieve these different outcomes, each investment option holds varying levels of cash, fixed interest, shares and property. Your SHARE adviser can help you decide which KiwiSaver provider, and which investment option is the best one for your individual circumstances.