The Become Wealth Blog

KiwiSaver is now well entrenched in the New Zealand financial culture. However, there are a multitude of us who still do not fully understand how it works, in many cases this is because of misinformation or changes that have occurred to KiwiSaver since it was first launched. So it’s time to bust some of the most common KiwiSaver myths. Here’s the top 10 misconceptions about KiwiSaver that just...

A term deposit is one of the safest investments there are, though what’s little known are the risks and disadvantages of investing in term deposits.

Increase your wellbeing with these 19 happiness hacks

Set yourself up for success with these evening routine ideas

What is a credit rating and why does it matter?

Your nine-step financial blueprint for the Christmas and summer break.

Property investment has been a great method of wealth creation for many New Zealanders over the years, especially for generations such as the ‘baby boomers’. But recently, a lot of things have changed, or are about to.

The economy is making it tough for many, is cancelling or reducing insurance cover a good move?

Your mortgage repayments are about to go up, here’s what you can do about it

The robots are coming, here are 10 jobs that will be replaced by technology

And how to stick to them!

8 steps to have the best financial year of your life

8 tips to have a great summer without blowing the bank.

New Zealanders are currently dealing with what some have called a cost-of-living crisis, as prices are being driven up for all kinds of common goods and services. To help keep more funds in your back pocket, here are 15 ways you can save on household expenses.

9 practical steps to help you become a millionaire (with no money needed)

If you have an existing mortgage, when your fixed rate mortgage comes to the end of its term, most lenders (banks) will offer you a new a new fixed rate or automatically roll the loan onto a floating rate. This might sound convenient, though can lead to missed opportunities.

Using a mortgage broker is increasingly becoming a no-brainer, here are six reasons why.

In a managed fund, your money is pooled together with other investors' money to create a single fund that provides significant investor benefits, which include an instant increase in buying strength and tax efficiencies.

How minimalism can solve many of the issues that face our globe

It’s no secret that Kiwi’s love cars, but did you know that NZ ranks third in the world when it comes to motor vehicles per capita? – we even outrank the car-obsessed United States! Read on to find out how to make some wise moves when you next purchase one.

Everything you need to get started on your property investment journey

Rich boomers are stressed about passing on their wealth, here's why, and what they can do about it

New Zealand had the biggest jump in average adult wealth of anywhere in the world last year, according to a report by investor bank Credit Suisse.

Risk is defined as the potential for uncontrolled loss of something of value. The biggest investment risk is one you might not have even considered.

5 steps to prepare before bidding on a home

Your six-step end of year checklist

Here are the top five financial mistakes to avoid while you're in your 20's and 30's.

Dollar-cost averaging is a wealth-building strategy that involves investing money at...

Five steps to help you on your way to home ownership

6 things you can do about an investment that’s dropped in value

How you might be able copy the current moves of the wealthiest people in the world.

A major drawback of KiwiSaver is the fiddling and tinkering to it which has occurred since it began. Here we explain the narrowly-avoided KiwiSaver tax.

5 things you can do about investment markets taking a dip

Four mistakes to avoid during a market downturn, and what to do instead

It’s quite normal for the prices of shares and other investments to go up and down – especially when there’s uncertainty due to...

Come out of lockdown better than when you went in

Here's why experts think your retirement plan is broken

The power of hiding your wealth

NZ’s best 11 sources of passive income

Another recession is likely to hit NZ, here's why

Make your finances as indestructible as possible

A team from Microsoft has identified the top 10 office-based jobs

As talk of taxing wealthy NZers is on the rise, let's take a look at how this might work, and whether you might have to pay up!

If you’re borrowing, NZ banks are now more different than ever. Here's how

7 reasons why the NZ housing market is defying Covid

Increase your income with these 1 side hustle ideas

Consider these 7 things before you enter the “gig economy”

Will housing market tax changes impact you?

Banks hike interest rates despite Auckland lockdown

Here’s why successful people rise early, and why you should consider it!

There’s no need to fear yet another story about inflation, as it may be good news this time around!

With deliberate effort and time, you can transform your life. Here's a list of how you can start to transform detrimental habits into beneficial ones.

The first thought you may have about your largest asset may be it’s your house, an investment fund, a business, or perhaps a share portfolio. However, for nearly anyone reading this still in paid employment, (or in other words, if you haven’t retired yet) your largest asset is usually your ability to earn income. That’s because your financial security – and...

Graduating from university, getting an apprenticeship, or taking an OE (overseas experience) used to be a right of passage, not just for young adults but also for their parents. It marked a glorious time when the young “left the nest”, and the parent’s job was done. The child had been raised to become an adult, and now they were embarking on their own journey in life. How times have changed...

7 warning signs of scams and ponzi schemes

10 easy items to resell for a profit

The contagious effect: an increase in financial scams & business failures, and what you can do to avoid them

For many New Zealanders, retiring before age 65 is the lifestyle Holy Grail. The dream is to kick back, spend time with family, friends and loved ones, and travel extensively. They subscribe to the view of “casting off the drudgery of day-to-day work and enjoying the good times as you only live once!” It sounds appealing, but many who attempt early retirement find the financial burden too...

“Getting more exercise” is routinely the most common New Year’s resolution. However, while joining a gym may seem admirable, it is generally one of the worst investments you can make. The reasons for this are deeply embedded in the way all humans make and keep commitments to ourselves, the business model of the fitness industry, and even behavioural economics. But before we get into all that,...

Knowing how to increase your wealth is a challenge in the present environment. The world is still returning to a ‘normal’ state after a period of significant disruption. Here's how you can increase your wealth against an uncertain backdrop.

How to make it into the top 1% of New Zealanders, but should you?

Live long and prosper with one simple change

8 ways to save money at the supermarket

Why emotion is the enemy of investing

Life is too short to delay having fun, read on to learn the five reasons why you should spend your kid's inheritance ("SKI")

Stress testing and your investments

18 ways to save at the pump

From time-to-time, many people ask this question about themselves. Often, the people who ask it are hard-working, well-educated, high-income individuals and couples. These days there seems to be too many such professionals who are facing a bleak retirement. Sometimes they realise this too late in life. So, why is it that so many people in this situation aren’t wealthy? The answer to this...

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) is always closely reviewed by Milestone financial advisers. The MPS is a quarterly assessment by our Reserve Bank of what they believe is happening in NZ, internationally, and the impact upon our financial stability. The February 2017 MPS signals a ‘steady as she goes’ approach for the remainder of this...

Is Bitcoin a good investment?

Despite financial wellbeing in retirement being essential, you’ll still frequently see some concerning headlines about funding retirement or retirement planning. For those of you who’ll retire soon, or have just retired, read on for eight secrets to ensure your golden years are free from financial worry – and can become the best years of your life.

Ever wondered how the rich spend their money? Here at Become Wealth, our advisers see such a wide range of people that we understand the spending habits of a wide range of New Zealanders – including the rich. To help you replicate the habits of the rich, here are seven ways the wealthy spend their money. For those of you wondering what’s so great about being rich after all, scroll down to...

The government has just released details around the potential new tax rules affecting residential property investors.

Historically, as the wealth of New Zealand families increased, their desire for several key things has grown. A typical progression may have been to buy: a family-sized home, a nice vehicle, perhaps a boat, and a bach or crib. But nowadays...

Your 7-step guide to become a share investor

The 21 best ways to treat yourself without going broke

8 of the best investments to make during a downturn

Buying a house can be a great investment, though nobody can control how the ebb and flow of the property market might impact your property value. One surefire way to grow value is to increase it yourself! Here are 10 upgrades to consider

Non-bank lenders are becoming more mainstream and can be a great solution for those who might not otherwise be able to obtain lending.

Maybe you dove headlong into an online trading platform or smartphone application (app) during the Covid lockdowns. Or maybe you’re a seasoned investor. Either way, knowing when to sell up is just as important as buying in the first place, so here are 10 times when you should sell up.

From flashy cars to trendy clothes and accessories, to artificially trying to look younger with Botox or surgeries, a midlife crisis will cost you both money and stress. Here are 9 ways to avoid or exit a midlife crisis.

Here's everything you need to know with Property Consultant Joseph Laing of Stapleton’s and Associates.

Some people we speak with think that to build wealth you need to have a flashy career title; like CEO, or pilot. That's seldom true, here are the true habits of the wealthy.

No matter what you earn, building a comfortable savings and investment nest egg will be difficult if you’re constantly spending on a multitude of things – even if you can afford them.

From April 1, 2020, you’ll be hit with a whopping 45% "non-declaration rate" on interest and dividends if you fail to give the interest payer your IRD number. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD, who collect taxes for the NZ government) has issued new guidance on resident withholding tax (RWT) for interest and dividends from bank accounts and investments. RWT is the type of tax you...

What a great time to take a fresh look at your finances to ensure you are on track to achieve your financial aims.

If it suits, usable equity can be used to buy an investment property

6 traits that define winners, so you can become a repeat winner.

A 20% fall in house NZ house prices is expected, according to the Reserve Bank

8 ways to fight back against spiking inflation

21 ways to make winter savings

Funny business when it comes to ethical and responsible investing

Are you ready to expand as the world contracts? Even in the current dire economic situation, plenty of people will still emerge as winners. Here are 6 ways you can win during this recession.

Auckland and Wellington were the toast of the world last year, rated the globe’s second and fourth most liveable cities, though that’s all changed.

When it comes to your career, is the grass always greener elsewhere?

How to handle a job loss

Here’s a common problem that hits many retirees. Spending. Retirees work their whole life to reach this point, then can sometimes let fear and anxiety crash the retirement party.

8 ways to recession-proof your finances

What does inflation mean? Why is it so high in NZ? When will it end?

The fourth industrial revolution is upon us. Here's what it might mean for your career and finances