Articles

KiwiSaver: The great fee debate

A few dollars here and there can amount to a substantial difference over the life of your investment, and your retirement savings.

Stomaching the risk

Plenty of potential KiwiSavers are held back by their fear of making a mistake.

Five reasons to start saving NOW

A regular saver who starts young and keeps the habit is almost guaranteed a comfortable retirement.

KiwiSaver: Why excuses don’t add up

Plenty of Kiwis come up with excuses not to join KiwiSaver, so here are five reasons to reconsider.

KiwiSaver: Understanding Risk and Return

Understanding KiwiSaver can be hard for the first time investor, as choosing a fund is more complex than standard bank deposits.

Save big money on your mortgage

Want to save thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars on your mortgage? Then read on.

Revolving credit mortgages

A Revolving Credit Mortgage allows you the flexibility to use the equity you have built up in your home for a wide range of investments.

Floating rate home loans the new thing

Floating rates are the new black when it comes to mortgages and Kiwis are signing up in their droves.

How to compare credit card rewards

Our database tracks thousands of different rewards on offer. Here's how to compare them quickly and easily!

Flight rewards prove popular

With flight rewards more popular than ever, just how far you can get on your air miles?

Life insurance - 6 key questions to ask

Before you go looking for life insurance quotes, arm yourself with some of these key life insurance questions.

Interest-free days?

Interest-free days are worth investigating further if you want to take maximum advantage of paying prior to the interest meter being turned on.

Credit card security: What's new?

Do you use your credit card online or have your been overseas recently? You could be the victim of credit card fraud.

Balance transfer: Tricks and traps

If ever there’s a time when a consumer’s credit card balance hits home, it’s Christmas and New Years.

Advantages of PIEs

If every dollar counts and you pay tax on your savings, then you should consider saving into Cash PIEs.

What’s under the bonnet

Despite their slightly complex-sounding names, the majority of Cash PIEs place investors’ money in cash deposits with high street banks.

Getting the tax rate right

More people would invest in Cash PIEs if they were simpler to understand.

Bank credit ratings - what do they mean?

Credit ratings for banks have become extremely topical in light of the government's Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme.

Prize draw accounts - are they worth it?

If you love a flutter, prize draw accounts could be for you. They allow you to save as well as be in to win monthly prizes from cash to cars.

Beware of hazardous savings conditions

April 4, 2008: Customers should watch out for these common traps.

Not all deposit accounts are created equal

March 26, 2008: Transaction accounts, cash management accounts and online savings are all very different in what they offer and selecting the right one for your purposes is essential if you are to make the most of your money.

Is Plastic Surgery Needed to Trim Excess Debt?

March 12, 2008: If you suspect your personal debt level is in danger of becoming obese very soon, now is the time to take action.

Life insurance - upgrade your policy or stay the same?

For a quick review of your life insurance status, ask yourself these questions.

Home Loan Break Costs - why can't banks waive them?

Not an unreasonable request, surely! Waiving break costs on a home loan would make a lot of borrowers a lot happier but it’s about as unlikely as the wind deserting Wellington.

Credit card profiles - which one are you?

The value of any particular credit card depends on how it is used. That's why CANSTAR rates credit cards according to spender profile.