Personal Finance – #retirement income

April 13, 2026

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

April 6, 2026

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:

Terminal illness
Going overseas permanently
Purchasing their first home.
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

March 29, 2026

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.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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

March 22, 2026

7 Signs that you are stuck in a rut

Written by R. A. Stewart

Do you feel as though you are just going through the motions as far is everyday life is concerned? Do you have nagging thoughts in the back of your mind that you should do things differently to spice things up?

This kind of thinking is the “fresh start effect”, and this takes place at significant dates in our calendar. The New Year, Birthdays, and Anniversaries being the most popular days for the fresh start effect to to present.

Wanting things to be better for ourselves is a part of growing as a human being, as long as this is not an endless dissatisfaction with your life irrespective of your personal circumstances. If this is the case then you will end up hopping from one job to another, one relationship to another, and so forth.

At the other extreme, staying in your comfort zone can become like a prison where you have given yourself a life-sentence.

If on the other hand, you feel the itch to do something different, then these indicators may point in your direction that change is needed.

Here are some questions to check in with.

Are you bored with your routines?
Do you set the same goals every year?
Are you excited about what the year brings or are you hoping that is passes without much disruption to your routine?
Are you or have you learned anything new or met new people this year?
Is there anything you do which requires courage?
What has been the highlight of your year so far?
Would you be happy if nothing at all changed this year?

Working in the same job for say five years is called five years of experience, but is it just one year’s experience repeated five times? If your entire life looks exactly the same as it did ten years ago are you comfortable with that?

This is not to say that you should change jobs just for the sake of it because the bills have to be paid. It is possible to stay in the same job for decades but be fulfilled in all other areas of your life and be satisfied with that. Having a fulfilled life outside of work makes going to work easier. It is something to talk about with your work colleagues.

Always remember, it’s your life, you don’t need anyone’s permission to question whether you are in the right job or career. You are allowed to be all that you are destined to be- or at least try to be, even if you don’t succeed. If you don’t step out of your comfort zone you will never know what might have been.

How to Love Your Job Even if You Don’t

March 19, 2026

Drive Further for Less: A Practical Guide to Fuel Economy

With fuel prices often feeling like a moving target, finding ways to stretch a tank of gas is a priority for most drivers. While you can’t control the price at the pump, you can significantly influence how much you spend by adjusting your driving habits, maintaining your vehicle, and using a little bit of tech.

Here is a comprehensive guide to maximizing your fuel efficiency and keeping more money in your pocket.

1. Smooth Out Your Driving Habits

The way you handle your vehicle is the single most impactful factor in fuel consumption. Aggressive driving—speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking—can lower your gas mileage by up to 30% on the highway.

Anticipate the Road: Instead of rushing toward a red light only to slam on the brakes, take your foot off the accelerator early and coast.
The “Egg” Technique: Imagine there is an egg between your foot and the gas pedal. Accelerate gently to avoid “flooding” the engine with fuel.
Use Cruise Control: On flat highways, cruise control helps maintain a steady speed, which is much more efficient than constant manual micro-adjustments.

2. Maintenance is Key

A poorly maintained car works harder and burns more fuel. Regular check-ups are an investment that pays off at the pump.

Check Tire Pressure: Under-inflated tires have higher rolling resistance. Keeping them at the manufacturer’s recommended PSI can improve mileage by up to 3%.
Replace Air Filters: A clogged air filter restricts airflow to the engine, hurting performance.
Use the Right Oil: Always use the motor oil grade recommended by your manufacturer. Using the wrong weight can drop your efficiency by 1–2%.
Get this Guide on How to Save on Fuel

3. Lighten the Load and Streamline

Your car’s aerodynamics and weight play a massive role, especially at higher speeds.

Clean Out the Trunk: Every extra 50kg (approx. 110lbs) of weight can increase fuel consumption by about 1-2%. Remove heavy items you don’t need for your daily commute.
Remove Roof Racks: Empty roof boxes or bike racks create immense wind resistance. If you aren’t using them, take them off to “slick” your car’s profile.

4. Master the Pump Strategy

Where and when you buy fuel can be just as important as how you use it.

Strategy	Benefit
Fuel Apps	Use apps like GasBuddy or local equivalents to find the cheapest station on your route.
Loyalty Programs	Many supermarket chains and fuel brands offer “cents-off” per liter or gallon when you shop with them.
Avoid the Freeway Pump	Stations located directly off major motorways often charge a premium for convenience. Drive a few minutes into town for better rates.

5. Re-evaluate Your Commute

Sometimes the best way to save on fuel is not to use it at all.

Trip Chain: Combine your errands into one round trip. A cold engine uses significantly more fuel for the first few miles; once the engine is warm, it operates at peak efficiency.
Park and Walk: If you have multiple stops in a shopping district, park in a central spot and walk between shops rather than driving from one storefront to another.

Final Thoughts

Get this Guide on How to Save on Fuel

March 15, 2026

Share market slumps

Notable share market falls

Written by R. A. Stewart

The share market has weathered several major storms in the past. While the pandemic was indeed a “Flash Crash” other downturns such as the “Dot-com Bubble” and the “Global Financial Crisis” (GFC) took much longer for investors to recoup their money. Here are some well-known share-market tumbles since 2000.

Year Crash % fall Recovery Time (to previous peak)

2000: The Dot-Com burst -49% 7 Years

2007: The Global Financial Crisis -56% 5.5 years

2020: The Covid Pandemic -34% 5 months

2022: The 2022 Slump -25% 2 years

The Dot-com slump hit the tech sectors hard. The Nasdaq which is tech-heavy actually took 15 years to recover. The severity of the losses are dependent on which sectors investors had their money in. It is a stark reminder of the value of diversification.

The Global Financial Crisis was referred to as “The Great Recession.” It took steady gains for five years for the market to finally surpass its 2007 level.

The 2020 pandemic was described as the fastest bear market in history. It dropped 34% in just over a month then recovered quickly due to government stimulus and the rapid shift to a digital economy.

The 2022 slump was due to high inflation and high interest rates. This was a “grinding” beat market rather than a sudden crash. It took until early 2024 for the market to reach new all-time highs, largely fueled by the boom in artificial intelligence.

Managing your assets

During these times when the markets are falling, investors find themselves in the “Asset rich, cash poor” trap. They do not want to sell their shares on a falling market in order to cover basic living expenses. This happens when you have all of your wealth tied up in a share portfolio or a retirement fund and little money elsewhere.

It highlights the importance of diversification.

Strategies to weather the next share market tumble:

Keep a buffer fund for emergencies. This is for unexpected expenses which crop up from time to time. It ensures that you are never in a situation where you need to sell shares when they are at the bottom.
Diversify for assets. Not all of your assets will fall at the same time. Some of them such as bonds may hold steady during a share market slide.
Check your investment settings

Changing from growth to balanced, or balanced to conservative funds during a share market tumble will lock in losses and make them permanent, but when you are making new investments, choose where to invest according to your timeline and the purpose for the money.

If you are looking to purchase a car within the next three years, then growth funds are not recommended. Balanced or conservative funds is a better option, but if you want to be safe then a separate personal bank account will do the job.

Share market ups and downs will occur from time to time and every decade has its events which triggered a fall in stock prices, but if you have organised your finances smartly you can weather any storm which any world event throws at you.

About this article

The content of this article is 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

March 9, 2026

Asset Rich but Cash Poor

Written by R. A. Stewart

Asset rich but cash poor is when one has substantial non-cash assets but has little money to spend. It is not uncommon for someone to have a home worth several hundred thousand dollars but are struggling to pay their weekly household expenses.

It is not only real estate that can be considered non-cash assets; a retirement account and a business fit into this category because you do not have easy access to wealth which is tied up in these things.

Having an asset which can be easily turned back into cash is important.

I heard recently that the over 60s considered their home as their biggest asset. This is an age when retirees think about travelling. Personally, I don’t see the point in the elderly spending their money on their house only to just leave the house to someone else when they pass on.

The elderly have requirements that can turn out to be costly in later life. Therefore, having liquid assets which can be easily turned back into cash is important.

Health issues can strike at any time and without warning, therefore having some kind of financial cushion can soften the blow.

Solutions to being asset rich but Cash poor

Downsizing

Living in a smaller less expensive house can release capital which can then be invested in liquid assets. Diversify your wealth so that there is a balance between non-cash and cash assets. Living a more modest lifestyle will enable one to live more comfortably.

Equity Release/reverse mortgage

This is when you borrow money using the capital in your home. The money is paid back along with the interest when you die. This option is not suitable for those who want to leave their property to the young ones in their will.

Live within your means

Set a budget and stick with it. Get into the habit of saving and investing. Don’t fritter your money away without any thought for the future.

Invest regularly

Don’t just invest into your retirement fund and leave it at that. Get into the habit of investing some of your discretionary spending money. These days online investing platforms have made it possible to drip-feed money into the share market. It is just a matter of being a consistent saver.

Your Personal Circumstances

Everyone’s financial circumstances are different, therefore any adjustments you make to your asset base must be in alignment with your own goals and financial situation. You may have most of your assets in real estate and still manage to live comfortably. If that is the case then you are doing well.

The thing to consider is that many people like to use their home as part of their retirement fund. By downsizing in retirement, they are able to start travelling abroad.

It is all about living in balance and clearly setting out your priorities. Any decision you make regarding your own asset allocation must be your own and no one else’s.

Owning assets which can be easily turned back into cash when needed is convenient when the time comes. I remember a retired chap told me that he bought a new car using money he had in his kiwisaver account. This was just prior to when the pandemic of 2020 started. The markets had started to fall after he had bought the car. I told him that no wonder he is smiling because he would have had less money in his kiwisaver if he waited another month to buy that car. This fellow also told me months earlier that his wife had a knee operation costing 30k. I never thought to ask him how he paid for that.

Health issues will creep up on you and having the means to pay for it all is a problem for a lot of people. Setting up your finances smartly can set you up for the latter part of your life.

About this article

The content of this article is 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 blog/website, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

March 1, 2026

Safety First: How to Protect Your Money from Debit Card Fraud

Debit card dangers

Written by R. A. Stewart

How to make the most of your bank’s debit card.

Having a debit card is a handy banking aid to have at your disposal. If you like buying stuff off the internet then you need some form of visa payment system to allow you to do this. Certainly not owning a debit or credit card in this day and age is a bit like not knowing how to use the internet and I have met a few of those people.

There are some rules which need to be followed if you are to make the most of your debit card.

You may not agree with some of what I am saying here but then again there may be something in this article which may be helpful.

Don’t do these things with your debit card:

Don’t have your pay direct debited into your debit card.

If you do this then you are asking for trouble especially if you are buying and selling online because these sites will have your card details and all it would take is for one of these sites to be hacked leaving your card details to be exposed to fraudsters. I use my debit card for online purchases only. I deposit money into my debit card from my personal savings account.

Don’t use your debit card as a way to save money for your holiday, car, or anything else.

The most obvious reason for this is that your money is not earning any interest. There are better options available for investing your savings such as a personal savings account if the money may be needed within twelve months or an online share market platform such as sharesies or robinhood if you are investing for a longer term.

Don’t leave your debit card lying around where anyone can pick it up.

This is the same as leaving your household keys lying about. If you are just using your debit card to make online purchases only then there is no reason to carry it around with you. Leave it in a safe place at home.

Contact your bank if you notice any deductions on your statement which you never made.

They will then cancel your card and order a new one for you. Take some form of ID with you when you do this.

I knew a lad who had $3,000 missing from his savings account so he contacted his bank. This lad had his debit card linked to his ordinary savings account on one of those overseas websites where you buy stuff. (It was not ebay). What they discovered was that the website was hacked which meant that his account details was exposed.

In the end, the bank refunded his money.

I told him that he was better off depositing a lump sum into an account which is not linked to internet banking.

Here are other ways of getting the most out of your debit card

When using your debit card at the checkout at a retail store choose “cashback” instead of visiting an ATM machine to avoid fees.
Utilize app features to lock your card if it is stolen or lost to temporarily block certain transactions from taking place.
For overseas travel use the wise debit card to minimize high foreign exchange fees which would have otherwise be charged on your bank’s debit card.

About this article

The article is 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 blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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Disclaimer: I may earn a small commission if you sign up for wise.

February 22, 2026

Investing in New Listings

Written by R. A. Stewart

Is it worthwhile buying shares in New Listings, also known as Initial Public Offerings?

I have read that these have the potential for significant early gains, but they can at the same time be risky.

Pros

There can be benefits in investing in new listings. They are:

High growth potential if the company performs well in the early stages
You get the chance to invest at the offering price before the company lists on the stock exchange.
The IPO process has stringent rules meaning there is increased scrutiny on the company prior to listing.
Newly listed companies are often hyped up meaning that the share price rises sharply soon after listing.

Cons

There are some downfalls of investing in these new public offerings. They are:

There is limited data to use for making a future prediction.
Shares can be highly volatile if the market is down or the company fails to meet its expectations.
If the New listing is oversubscribed you may receive fewer shares than you requested.
The new listing can be overhyped by its promoters that the price per share is set too high leading to a drop in the share price once the trading starts.

Things to consider

Read the prospectus and do your research online to make sure you understand the risks involved.
Company insiders may not be able to sell their shares for a set period of time and when this set period ends there may be a considerable drop in the share price.
Access to new listings may not be available unless you have a brokerage account, however, they may be available through online platforms such as sharesies and robinhood which allow you to purchase shares with a minimum of investment.
If you don’t have the time to research individual IPOs then maybe you can invest in an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). This way you are able to invest in a range of IPOs without trying to pick a single IPO.
Monitor the stock after purchasing it to see how it is going. There are some influencing factors which determine the directions of the stock. This can be initial public demand and hype, market sentiment, and economic trends.
My view is that Initial Public Offerings are not for long-term investing but something which can be part of your portfolio as an added interest. The same rules apply to initial public offerings as they do with any other company you are investing in. The questions you should be asking is:
How does this fit into my financial strategy?
Can I afford to lose this money?
How have similar companies fared in the past?

In a nutshell you should do your own due diligence because you are the one who has to live with any financial decision made concerning your money.

About this article: The contents of 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 blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

February 20, 2026

Don’t let a cashless payment be an inconvenience

Don’t let a cashless payment be an inconvenience

Written by R. A. Stewart

It’s a sign of the times when more and more businesses do not accept cash. This means that if you are on holiday, it is important to have a card which can be used for a tap and go with low bank fees.

Most bank ATM cards will work in other countries but each withdrawal will be costly and if you are using this form of payment for small purchases at the checkout in another country, your bank fees will quickly add up as you will discover once you return home on your overseas trip.

Using a debit card is a handy option. These work in much the same way as a credit card but with one difference; you are using your own money. Once your balance is used up, that’s it, you cannot spend any more than what you have in that account. It is just a matter of topping it up.

The Wise debit card is one which I have recently joined. This is a travel card which can be a useful addition to your payment options where cash is not accepted.

When you sign up you require an ID such as a passport or driver’s license. You also need to verify your address. This is done using a utility or a rates bill.

Ordering your card is simple. Just log into your wise account and order it from there. It costs $14.50 ($NZ). You will receive your card within two weeks.

While the wise debit card offers numerous benefits, it’s not without its limitations. Availability may be restricted in some regions, limiting its accessibility to a global audience. Additionally, ATM withdrawal limits and fees may vary depending on the user’s location and the currency being withdrawn. However, these limitations are relatively minor compared to the overall value proposition offered by the Wise Debit Card.

Note Wise was previously called Transferwise.

Join Wise Here

Wise may not be for everyone due to different personal circumstances; therefore, discretion is advised. I may receive a small commission if you sign up for wise.