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Late Life Relationships: Financial Risks

Late life love: Things to consider

Written by R. A. Stewart

Getting involved with someone new late in life may sound like a good idea but there are financial considerations to consider not for yourself and your own family.

If you are receiving government support then you will be on the married rate whatever that is. It is your obligation to notice them of your new relationship status. Failure to do so may result in legal hassles later on.

Your will is something which needs to be changed when a new relationship starts. This will have serious implications for your children or whoever you intended to leave your assets to when you pass on. Your new spouse or partner will be entitled to everything irrespective of any promises made prior to entering into a new relationship.

There could be a situation whereby your family’s assets will be transferred to your spouse’s family should you pass on first.

Men in particular have to be wary of gold diggers and scammers.

There are people out there who prey on the emotions of others. Stories appear on the news occasionally of men who fell victim to romance scams.

As for gold diggers, some women are more interested in what’s in your wallet than what’s in your heart. Someone with discernment and common sense will know the motives of potential partners. 

There are some things which you need to consider when entering into a relationship late in life.

  1. Has this person got a good credit rating?

This may seem an unromantic question but if you are dating someone with a poor credit rating then you expose yourself to their debts. It could alter your estate planning as your spouse’s creditors could take a chunk off your estate.

  1. It can be difficult to change one’s existing lifestyle to accommodate someone else’s wants.
  2. Marriage may change your tax status, therefore it will pay to get advice on this.
  3. Marrying someone who has dependent children will make you equally responsible for child maintenance if your new spouse has children from a previous relationship.
  4. Estate planning needs to be carefully considered because the new relationship status will change who gets what if one person passes on. Clear communication with family members is essential. It is also important to get legal advice. This needs to be done prior to entering into a new relationship.
  5. Consider a prenuptial agreement in the event that the relationship turns sour.
  6. Placing your assets in a trust may be right for you if your desire is to leave your assets to your own family.

It is worth noting that as far as retirement savings go. Any contributions made to your kiwisaver during a relationship are considered matrimony assets, but only contributions made during the term of the relationship. The rules may be different in your own country regarding pensions. 

About this article

The contents in this article are of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your website/blog or ebook.

Read my other articles on \www.robertastewart.com

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Streamlining the Modern Journey: The Practical Benefits of Booking with Expedia

Travel planning is inherently exciting, but the logistics of piecing together a trip can quickly turn overwhelming. Managing separate browser tabs for flights, accommodations, and car rentals often leads to choice paralysis and scheduling friction. For decades, online travel agencies (OTAs) have aimed to solve this headache, with Expedia standing out as one of the most reliable and comprehensive platforms on the market. Whether you are arranging a quick weekend getaway or a complex, multi-leg international itinerary, utilizing Expedia offers several distinct advantages that streamline the entire process.

Visit Expedia Here

1. The Convenience of One-Stop Bundling

The most immediate benefit of Expedia is its ability to centralize your travel logistics. Instead of navigating multiple individual airline and hotel websites—each requiring unique account creations, passwords, and data entry—Expedia allows you to search, compare, and secure everything in a single checkout.

This centralization is highly practical when utilizing Expedia’s bundling features. Combining a flight, hotel stay, and car rental into a vacation package frequently unlocks steep, negotiated wholesale discounts that are completely unavailable when booking the components separately.

2. Unmatched Inventory and Transparent Comparison

Expedia offers a massive global footprint, providing access to hundreds of airlines and over an expansive inventory of properties worldwide. This sheer volume gives travelers aggregate market visibility. In a single search window, you can filter results by:

  • Budget and Real-Time Pricing: Instantly compare baseline fares side-by-side.
  • Granular Filters: Sort by neighborhood proximity, guest ratings, specific amenities (like free Wi-Fi or pools), and flexible cancellation policies.
  • Verified Reviews: Because Expedia allows reviews exclusively from guests with confirmed bookings, travelers can read authentic feedback, avoiding the skewed or fraudulent commentary often found on open-source review platforms.

Visit Expedia Here

3. Financial Safeguards and Price Matching

Booking travel always carries a slight anxiety regarding fluctuating prices. Expedia directly mitigates this with clear, consumer-friendly policies. Members frequently get access to an automated Best Price Guarantee. If a traveler books a flight or hotel and discovers a cheaper identical rate online within 24 hours, Expedia will match the price or refund the difference. This takes the guesswork and continuous monitoring out of securing a fair market deal.

                 ┌───────────────────────────────────┐

                  │      Expedia One-Stop Booking     │

                  └─────────────────┬─────────────────┘

                                    │

         ┌──────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┐

         ▼                          ▼                          ▼

┌─────────────────┐        ┌─────────────────┐        ┌─────────────────┐

│ Flight Tracking │        │ Verified Hotels │        │ Rental Cars &   │

│  & Bundled Fees │        │   & Reviews     │        │ Local Activity  │

└─────────────────┘        └─────────────────┘        └─────────────────┘

 

4. Rewarding Loyalty with Expedia Rewards

Frequent travelers benefit significantly from the built-in loyalty program. Every booking—regardless of whether it is a boutique hotel, a major airline, or a local excursion—earns points. These points accumulate rapidly and can be applied directly as cash discounts on subsequent trips.

Furthermore, as users climb the membership tiers (gaining Silver or Gold status), they unlock premium, on-property perks. These include complimentary room upgrades, late check-outs, and dedicated customer service pipelines that bypass standard wait times.

Visit Expedia Here

5. Consolidated Data Security and Organization

In an era of rising digital vulnerabilities, entering credit card information and personal identifiers into dozens of disparate websites introduces unnecessary security risks. Expedia requires you to store your payment and personal data securely in just one location.

Once booked, your entire itinerary is neatly organized inside a single, intuitive mobile application. This app provides real-time gate changes, flight delays, and check-in reminders, serving as a digital travel assistant right in your pocket.

The Takeaway: Ultimately, Expedia transforms travel from a chaotic logistical chore into a simplified, secure, and cost-effective experience. By prioritizing convenience, massive selection, and financial protection, it allows travelers to spend less time managing browser tabs and more time focusing on the journey itself.

Visit Expedia Here

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If its too Good to be True…

If its too Good to be True…

it almost certainly is.

Written by R. A. Stewart

From time to time you may have come across adverts from gurus offering an opportunity which seems too good to be true. I have, and have investigated the schemes. Here I am going to write about those schemes which fall under the description of network marketing.

The word “Network Marketing” has been used to describe some schemes which are for all intents and purposes pyramid schemes.

The difference between a legitimate network marketing company and a pyramid scheme is that one sells products, the other does not. Any scheme which requires you to add your name to a sheet of paper in order for the scheme to work is a pyramid scheme. This is illegal in most countries and should not be touched with a barge pole.

A network marketing company may be legit but some of the tactics used to promote them are questionable.

The first thing which has to be talked about are the earnings potential of participants. 

This is all very fine but…

But the question should be asked, “How much does the average participant make?”

You may hear stories of extraordinary amounts of money made by the top participants in these networking marketing companies but you do not know what they had done to achieve their status or how much money they have poured into the scheme.

There is no such thing as something for nothing, well not unless you win the lottery, and we all know that the odds are stacked against you.

There are some questions which you need to ask before joining these schemes. That is after you have eliminated those which are pyramid schemes promoted as a network marketing business.

  1. Do you have the communication skills to promote the products?
  2. Do you normally purchase these products?
  3. Can you afford to purchase the products?

Promoting the business side of these schemes requires you to be self-confident and outgoing, something which a lot of people lack, plus it requires a lot of cash to make the scheme work properly. If you are prepared to fork out a bit of money to participate in these companies and think you can find others to do likewise then good luck to you.

The best known network marketing companies are Amway, Herbalife, and Melaleuca. 

Some companies require participants to purchase a certain amount of stock every month whether you need anything or not.

In the UK there is a company called “Kleeneze” which involves leaving colourful brochures in letter boxes then going back a few days later to collect the catalogues, hopefully with an order inside them. This is the same type of model used by Homecare in Australasia, except that with Kleeneze you can increase your earnings potential by recruiting or as they say in this business sponsoring others into the business. As with other companies, finding others to join is very difficult.

In a nutshell before proceeding with any of these businesses you need to ask yourself, “Have I got what it takes to make it work?”

About this article

You may use this article as content for your website/blog or ebook. The contents of this article are o the writer’s own opinion and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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Dividend Reinvestment Plan Explained 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan Explained 

Written by R. A. Stewart

A Dividend Reinvestment Plan, (often called DRIP or DRP) is an automated way to grow your portfolio by reinvesting dividends into the same company instead of receiving cash.

It is the same principle as investing for compounding interest.

Think of it as putting your money to work as soon as it is earned.

How a DRIP works

When a company you own shares in pays a dividend, you have two choices:

  1. Cash Payout: The money is paid into your brokerage or bank account.
  2. Reinvestment: The money is used to purchase additional shares (or fractional shares) in the same company.

Most major brokerages and many individual companies offer these plans. In many cases you can “opt-in” through your account settings and the account settings handles the rest.

How it Grows Your Wealth

When you opt into a Dividend Reinvestment plan you are not just owning more shares-its in the snowballing effect over time.

There are three key benefits.

  1. The Power of Compounding

Any dividends which are reinvested into the company will earn dividends during the next cycle which can accelerate your holdings in the long-term. An example is that you own 100 shares in a company. They pay a dividend and the dividend is converted into shares. You now own 102 shares.

  1. Dollar Cost Averaging

DRIPS purchase shares at regular intervals and this means:

(a) When the market is down you purchase more shares-its

(b) When the market is up you purchase fewer shares.

It all balances out in a year which mean that you are practising dollar-cost averaging.

  1. Reduced Fees and Discounts

There are reduced fees because you are purchasing more shares without the need for the normal transaction fees. 

It will pay to check on the conditions of the brokerage firm or the online platform where you have invested your money because not all of them are the same. 

Important considerations

DRIPS are a powerful tool for wealth-building, there are some things to consider.

Taxation: Dividends reinvested are still considered taxable income of the year that they are received even if you did not receive them in the form of cash.

Stock Imbalance: If a company pays a high DRIP then you could end up with a greater percentage of share in that company in your portfolio.

Income needs: If you may need the money for living expenses then taking your dividends in the form of extra shares may be impractical.

Summary

Feature Benefit to you

Automation “Invest and forget” helps to build discipline

Fractional Shares You own more shares even if it is a fraction of a share.

Compound Interest You accelerate your savings through compounding.

Why companies offer a DRIP

DRIPS are one way companies can generate more cash. Companies have a good idea of how much money they are likely to generate with DRIPS so it is a cost-effective way of raising capital. Reinvesting future dividends into the company means that an investor has confidence in the company’s prospects.

About this article

The contents of this article is based on the writer’s own opinion and experience and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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Fear of Loss will kill your chances of prosperity

Fear of Loss will hinder chances of prosperity

The fear of losing money will cause people to play it safe by not stepping outside their comfort-zone and not investing their money for greater returns. 

Leaving your money in an ordinary savings account will mean that inflation will erode the value of your money yet that is exactly what a lot of people do. They are afraid to take risks.

Some of this fear comes from those who had experienced the crash of 1987, better known as “Black Monday” when portfolios were hit hard. Some people lost their life-savings and more tragically, a lot of the money which went down the drain was borrowed money.

In these situations, shares were worth less than the money borrowed to purchase them.

There are risks which are worth taking and risks not worth taking. It takes discernment to tell the difference.

I remember once (about 2001) I bought shares in Air New Zealand and they almost went bust, well they would have if the government did not bail them out. The shares dropped to a low of fourteen cents a share. I bought my shares in the company at around $2 a share.

This was the last time I bought shares in an airline. It was an expensive lesson. 

I have known some people who never invest their money for fear of loss; they cannot handle the volatility of watching their balances go up and down yet they have no problem with buying their weekly lottery tickets. If they had deposited that same money into their kiwisaver then these people would have a fortune waiting for them once they reach the age of 65.

“You make your choices and your choices make you.”-Jim Addison, Scottish Pastor

It is all about choices.

The choices you make today will determine which choices you are able to make in the future.

If you have been sensible and joined a retirement scheme and contributed to it all of your life then this choice will give you more options in your later years.

Ask yourself these questions, “What action can I take today which my future self will thank me for?”

There will not be a single person who reaches the age of 65 or whatever the retirement age is in your country, who will regret ever joining  and contributing to a retirement fund.

It is everyone’s responsibility to get a financial education. This will help you to make right choices for your money. Apply what you have learned which are applicable to your personal circumstances.

Getting over your fear of loss will enable you to grow your wealth rather than just leaving it in the bank where inflation will steal the purchasing power of your money.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your blog, website, or ebook.

The contents of this article may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised.

Read my other articles at www.robertastewart.com

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The Career Pyramid: Understanding Your Odds of Reaching the Top

What are your odds of success…

in your chosen field?

Written by R. A. Stewart

This all depends on what your definition of success is.

As kids all of us wanted to be somebody when we grew up. It did not necessarily mean being a rock star, it could have been as a policeman, a train-driver, a fireman, a farmer, a nurse, or a school teacher. I wanted to be a champion athlete and a horse racing trainer who trained champions.

Some dreams are achievable, there is a shortage of policemen and nurses in New Zealand. In other occupations there are more people wanting to break into those roles than the number of vacancies available to fill them.

It certainly pays to be multi-skilled as it will give you more options in life. It reminds me of a quote from my great aunt Ann Stewart, who was a nurse. She said, “Always have other strings to your bow.”

Other careers need lady luck on your side to enable you to reach the top.

Horse racing is one of these.

It is no secret that owners and trainers dream of winning the Melbourne Cup in Australia. The odds of achieving that feat are not on your side. 

The same can be said of becoming an Olympic athlete. Of all of the millions of people who play sport, a relatively few get to take home a gold medal.

Life mirrors that of a pyramid.

Here is an illustration of this:

In rugby only a tiny percentage ever get to play for the All Blacks. They are at the top of the pyramid. They get paid the most.

The next level down are the Super Rugby Players, the majority of whom do not get to be All Blacks. There are more players in this category. They get paid less than the All Blacks.

The next level down are the Provincial Players, who do not get paid apart from get some kind of reimbursement. They have jobs to go to outside of rugby. There are still more players in this category.

At the bottom of the pyramid are the club players who do it purely for the love of the game without any thoughts of advancing up the pyramid. For most people rugby is a sport to be enjoyed. The majority of rugby players are at the bottom of the pyramid.

All careers follow the same pyramid pattern where those at the elite level are at the top of the pyramid and the further down the pyramid you go the more people you will find.

Working in your chosen field

You may not have the talent or inclination to be an international sportsperson but you can be an asset in your chosen field and that does not mean that you have to be something out of the ordinary to become a valued member of society. A person who works at an entry level job can do so with such a good attitude that their diligence will not go unnoticed by their employers.

You may not particularly like your job and have any control over what happens at work but your attitude is something you can control. An employer with a bad attitude will take that bad attitude with them wherever they go. 

If you enjoyed this article then this ebook may interest you:

 

How to Enjoy Your Job

 

https://payhip.com/b/ygfk5 

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If you don’t have the money…

If you don’t have the money…

you don’t buy it!

Written by R. A. Stewart

Borrowing money to buy things is spending money you have not earned yet and there is a price to pay for that and it is called interest.

The worst type of borrowing is consumer debt. This is stuff you have bought with borrowed money. Consumer debt is purchasing things such as household appliances, motor vehicle, and the likes. Going on holiday with borrowed money is consumer debt. It is also irresponsible.  

As adults we must discipline ourselves to put off purchasing items which are pleasing to the eye but will leave us in debt if we break the budget in order to acquire whatever that may be. 

I can say that I have never owned a credit card in my life. Who needs one?

If someone cannot make ends meet on their income without a credit card then they need to take a stocktake because the interest payable on credit will compound over a period of time. All that interest which has to be paid on top of the borrowed money is money which could have been put to better use.

What seems to be at the heart of a lot of people’s financial problems is their lifestyle. I mean if you are going to get involved in a relationship then you had better make sure your income level is sufficient enough to pay for it all and the same applies to having kids and it is no good blaming politicians for this child poverty stuff if your own choices got you in a financial mess.

So you are in a spot of bother, now what?

There are three options.

1 Increase your income; easier said than done if you have other commitments but no one knows your personal circumstances better than you so there may be a way to work around this.

2 Decrease your spending; it is time to find ways to cutback by reducing your wants and minimising the amount you spend on your needs. 

3 Sell stuff that you no longer need. There are auction sites where you can sell your stuff. Make use of these.

There are some golden rules to follow when deciding whether to borrow for things like appliances and other items which may be consumer debt but are something which you need or will make your life considerably easier.

Ask yourself these questions:

1 Can you borrow the item? 

This all depends on how often you are going to use it. If you need a mountain bike to get to work  every day then you need to actually own one rather than borrow it but if it is a concrete mixer to do a one off job then borrowing is the way to go.

2 Can I purchase the item second hand?

You may not have the money to purchase something brand new but still can afford to buy it at a second hand store. This is a good option and you are still covered by the consumers guarantee act (In New Zealand)

3 Can I wait until I have saved the money for the item?

This option will definitely help you become a better money manager and also help develop the skill of prioritizing your spending.

4 Do I really need the item?

This all depends on your personal circumstances, tastes and preferences. It all boils down to whether you are prepared to sacrifice something now in order to save money.

Always keep in mind that saving something from your pay every week and keeping it in a rainy day account is a good habit to get into because it will enable you to pay cash for things which need fixing. It is also a good habit to invest some of your money for the long term such as in mutual funds. This is in addition to your government’s retirement scheme (Kiwisaver in New Zealand).

It is a bad habit to just spend everything in your pay packet every week so that by next week’s pay day you are broke.

www.robertastewart.com

Start investing on a shoestring

Sharesies makes it possible for anyone to get into buying and selling shares. It is an online share market platform where you have the option of purchasing shares in individual companies or in various funds (managed/mutual funds). You can even start with $5. This is a no brainer because it gives investors young and not so young the chance to improve their financial literacy. There is certainly no substitute for experience when it comes to learning and this is applicable to everything else, not just investing.

Join sharesies here: https://sharesies.nz/r/377DFM

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Note: This article is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances. I may receive a small commission if you sign up for sharesies.

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What are you Saving For?

What are you Saving For?

Written by R. A. Stewart

The ASB television ad asks the question, “What are you saving for?”

When you know the answer to that question it becomes your goal. It leads to another question, “Where to invest your money until it is needed.”

In the TV ad, a boy was saving up to buy his favourite girl a gift. 

Developing the habit of saving for something specific from a young age is a good habit to get into. It teaches young people to be smart and strategic with their money.

As we get older, the things we are saving money for are in the hundreds, then thousands of dollars. As they say, “The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.”

Choosing the appropriate kind of investment for your savings goal is important and the number one factor to consider is your timeline.

If you are saving for something long-term then just leaving your money in an ordinary savings account is not a smart way to save because inflation will erode the value of your money. 

Long-term is 5 years and more.

If you are saving for the medium term then you can be a little more conservative with your investing because you don’t want to invest in something volatile and find that there is a market meltdown just when you need that money.

Medium-term is between 1-5 years.

If you are saving for the short-term then you may need that money within the next twelve months then you can take a no-risk approach and just leave it in an ordinary savings account.

Short-term is up to 12 months.

Here are some long-term, medium-term, and short-term goals which you may be saving for.

Long-term

Retirement fund (Kiwisaver in New Zealand)

Education fund

Home deposit

Medium-term

Saving for a car

Overseas holiday

Marriage and kids

Short-term

Your emergency fund

Money set aside for rates, power, and other household utilities.

Once you have classified which category each fund belongs to it is then a matter of choosing the correct investment for each fund.

In managed funds there are three categories of investment, growth funds, balanced funds, and conservative funds.

Growth funds are suitable for long-term investments because they can be volatile but at the same time have the potential to grow your wealth. Young people have more time on their side to recover from market crashes, therefore, growth funds are appropriate for them, but that does not mean that retired people should not invest in growth funds as long as you are aware of the risks and that a market fall will not affect your lifestyle.

Balanced Funds are suitable for medium-term investing. They are not as volatile as growth funds but you are still exposed to the share-market which means your savings have the potential to grow but not at the same rate as growth funds.

Conservative Funds are less risky. You have a little exposure to the share market but not as much as with balanced and growth funds. Conservative Funds are more suited to short-term investing.

An ordinary savings account is appropriate for money set aside for rates and other house-hold expenses. Making the most of your discretionary spending money and using it for your savings goals can help you achieve them faster. A person who is poor with their money will fritter everything they have and then borrow for things they need.

It is important to avoid becoming fixated with your balances in whichever funds you have chosen. Balances will bounce up and down. That is the nature of the markets. 

There are plenty of opportunities to invest in this day and age with so many online investing platforms available in New Zealand. Sharesies, Hatch, and Kernel Wealth are three which I personally use. If you are from the US then Robinhood is a well-known one over there.

About this article

The views expressed may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised.

You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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Breaking into your Retirement Savings Early can be costly

Breaking into your Retirement Savings Early can be costly

Written by R. A. Stewart

New Zealand’s retirement scheme is called Kiwisaver. There is one thing which makes this scheme unique to retirement schemes of other countries and it is this:

There are circumstances when people can access their money prior to reaching their retirement age, 65 in New Zealand. People can access their money early for any of the following reasons:

  1. Terminal illness
  2. Going overseas permanently
  3. Purchasing their first home.
  4. Hardship.

Numbers 1 and 2 are quite understandable. Number 3 is that if you are purchasing your first home you may be able to use part of your kiwisaver for a house deposit.

Reason number 4 is the most common reason for premature kiwisaver withdrawals. In 2025 58,000 people withdrew money from their kiwisaver for hardship reasons. 

Breaking into your Kiwisaver early is not easy. You have to prove undue hardship, something which 58,000 people have managed to do. 

It is the fund manager’s supervisor who makes the decision to release your funds. They still have to follow a set of strict guidelines and a lot of people will have their application to withdraw early declined as a result.

Some people will see their Kiwisaver balance and think, “You can’t take it all with you, I can do a lot with that money,”

Kiwisaver is earmarked for your retirement or for your first home purchase and should not be touched otherwise you will be paying for it later on down the track.

The whole point of kiwisaver and any other retirement scheme is that you are saving money for your retirement and do not withdraw and keep contributing. 

Consistent long-term savings work well thanks to the magic of compound interest. 

Any break in savings will interfere with this process. 

With compound interest you earn interest on the interest and this helps your savings to grow faster. 

At retirement there can be a big pot of money waiting for you thanks to compound interest which is a friend of the long-term saver.

Making right choices

It is important to make the right choices when making important financial decisions, whether that is entering into a new relationship, purchasing a car, taking out a loan, or making major home improvements. The pros and cons need to be explored thoroughly and not to be rushed into.

All of these major decisions will have consequences, which will eventually lead to an outcome. 

One big mistake is to make major decisions based on today’s circumstances as if today’s circumstances will remain the same forever. Investing some if not all of your discretionary spending money in a share market fund other than kiwisaver will improve your financial know-how. There are several online share-market investing platforms available to begin your investing portfolio if you have not already started one. It is just a matter of being consistent with your investing and letting compounding interest do its work. 

About this article

The contents of this article is of the experience and opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore, discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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Staying calm during volatile market movements

Staying calm during volatile market movements

The markets do not react to war or other economic events very well and it does not matter that New Zealand or other countries which have nothing to do with the war are far away from the centre of the event. Whether it be the conflict between the USA and Iran, inflation, or economic events in the US.

Investors have their own thoughts on the markets with many saying “Now is not the time to invest.” 

Those with little experience at investing may find the market volatility a bit on the scary side, but the markets have been through this previously and each time came out of the dark tunnel out of the other side.

There have been about 20 wars in the past century which have affected the markets, most notably was World War 11. Most of these markets recovered within 12 months of the war ending. 

It may be so that the markets are down as a result of this war but really it is more due to the blockage of the channel which has caused the oil and gas supply shortage which is the main culprit of this market downturn.

This is likely to hit Trump hard in the pocket if it continues and the President will be as concerned about his portfolio as no doubt other investors are. He is looking for a way to end this conflict. This may be outside of your control, but your portfolio and how you respond to current affairs is something you can control.

Whatever is happening in the world and however the markets are responding is not a reason to react and allow emotion to rule your investment strategy. If you have planned your financial strategy then  you should have taken into consideration the volatility which occurs in the markets. 

If you are too cautious you will miss opportunities which are available.

Those who are contributing to their retirement fund should continue to drip feed money into the markets.

Those who have a lot of their wealth tied up in shares should sit tight because it is not a time to sell. On the contrary, those who are in a position to do so can take advantage of the lull in the share market by purchasing shares at a lower price.

If you have a lump sum to invest then an idea is to just invest a portion of it in the markets every week in order to take advantage of the lows in the markets. This is called dollar-cost averaging.

I use this strategy when investing in sharesies. I choose one New Zealand company to invest in per year and drip-feed money into this company throughout the year. This year it is Meridian Energy.

This is a strategy I have used for buying Bitcoin. That way I have bought some cryptocurrency when the price is both up and down.

Those who are fully invested should hang in there because it is not the time to sell. Your investment decisions should be made with your time frame in mind. That is whether the fund is for the long-term, medium-term, or short-term. If you need the money in the short-term then you should not be investing in something volatile, otherwise you may find that your fund has fallen in value when it comes to using that money.

About this article

The information in this article is of the experience of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook. 

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Saving money on fuel isn’t about one major change; it’s about the “aggregation of marginal gains.” By combining better maintenance with smoother driving and smarter shopping, the average driver can save hundreds of dollars a year.

Get this Guide on How to Save on Fuel