Posted on

The Benefits of getting into the habit of Investment

 

Written by R. A. Stewart

“A dollar saved is better than a dollar made because you don’t pay tax on a dollar saved”-Anonymous

Saving money from your wages is easily done for most people. It is a habit which can reap dividends in the long term. No pun intended.

A lot of people are good at saving money but have not got into the habit of investing.

In order to build up your wealth, it is imperative that you develop an investor mindset. These days in the internet age it is not necessary to be rich to invest, but you certainly need to invest to become rich.

Investing increases your financial literacy. The only way to become a good investor is to become one and with that experience will come knowledge. Reading books about personal finance is one thing but in order to turn the information you read into knowledge it is necessary to put into practice what is taught in those books.

I am keen to point out that not everything in personal finance type books will be applicable to your personal circumstances, but if you know where you are going then you will have the common-sense to discern which advice is applicable to your situation.

Becoming a good investor requires practice, practice, and more practice. To become a good investor requires an investor mindset. If you can handle the highs and lows of the markets and not panic when the market goes down. 

During market slumps we hear stories about people who changed from growth or balanced funds to conservative funds. A week or so later the market rallies and these people miss out on the rises which would have seen their retirement funds rise. It is a lose-lose situation for them. 

If you have chosen investments which are compatible with your risk-profile then the market volatility should not concern you.

“Inflation is the enemy of the conservative investor.”

In order to build your wealth it is necessary to take calculated risks. This is applicable in every aspect of life. Taking risks is not the same as being reckless or gambling. The key is to spread your money in different places. Taking a risk on making a killing by investing your whole life savings in one company is just stupidity, yet this is exactly what some people did prior to the Global Financial Crisis and the company went belly up. 

These people blamed others for their loss. 

“If it is going to be then it is up to me” is a rule to live by. This does not mean rejecting sound advice, but rather having the common sense to know whether the advice is good or bad.

At the end of the day, it is up to each individual to set up their own system for their finances, one that fits in with their goals and personal circumstances.

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

Explore Freely, Spend Wisely: The Ultimate Travel Companion

 

For the ultimate freedom to explore these incredible routes, get a Wise Travel Card. One card holds multiple currencies, letting you pay effortlessly in NZD for fuel, snacks, and accommodation. It automatically converts your money at the mid-market rate, saving you from costly bank fees. Top up and manage your funds instantly via the app, making it the smart, secure, and simple way to travel. Spend like a local and focus on the scenery, not the small print. Get yours and travel with ease.

https://wise.com/invite/dic/roberts10486

Posted on

How to Start a Sharemarket portfolio from Scratch…

How to Start a Share market portfolio from Scratch…

Even if you have never invested a dollar

Written by R. A. Stewart

You are a beginner to investing and want to know how to get involved in the share market and don’t have much money to invest.

My advice is firstly to ensure you have set up a pension scheme with your employer. This will help make money retirement easier as far as finances goes. Anything else you invest should be treated as strings to your financial bow.

Here is my advice to investing novices. 

There are two ways for you to drip-feed your money into the share market. They are:

  1. To join a managed fund type of investment. This is a fund where your money is combined with the money of other investors. The fund manager invests in the share market on your behalf. This minimizes risk because funds invested in this way are spread across different asset classes, something which is unobtainable for most investors unless you are already financially well off.
  2. To sign up with an online investing site where you are able to drip-feed money into the share market. Do your research into the various platforms. Popular ones are robinhood in the USA and sharesies in Australasia. 

Two pieces of advice which financial experts will tell you is “Do your research and diversify.”

It helps if you are familiar with the industries and companies you are investing with. I use the online platform “Sharesies” which is based in New Zealand. My strategy is to choose one company per year and drip-feed money throughout the year into this one company. I chose New Zealand based companies, all of them household names. I have already decided the following year’s company to invest in by Christmas.

I have invested in a range of companies such as Genesis Energy, Spark, Fontierra, Fletcher Building, PGG Wrightsons, and Contact Energy. All are well known brands.

It is important not to get too greedy. The internet is full of stories of people who got rich investing in this or that and made a killing. This has to be treated like a grain of salt because for everyone like that, there are countless others who tried the same thing and failed.

Greed often gets the better of people and the one who made the killing will often end up giving it all back.

The share market rewards consistency and persistence. Make sure you are in the right fund for your risk profile and your goals. If you are drip-feeding money into the share market like I am doing then it shouldn’t matter how the markets are performing. Just keep investing and let time be your friend. After all, investing with an online app is just another string to my financial bow.

You should invest in the share market with money that you cannot afford to lose is a piece of advice I have heard time and again. The main question before you invest in something is, “How will the loss of this money affect my lifestyle?” 

I would not recommend that you invest in growth funds if you need the money within a year or two because the markets may drop just as you are about to withdraw the money.

It is important to be sensible and strategic with your investing and just as important to keep a cool head otherwise you may end up with burnt fingers.

About this article

The opinions expressed 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 blog/website, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Posted on

Share market investing tips

Which Company shall I avoid?

Written by R. A. Stewart

That is a question many investors ask themselves as they read the financial section of their newspaper or on a financial website., It is a fair question.

I am not going to and would never tell people to invest in this or that, but will tell you which sectors I usually give a wide berth to and why. You may think differently and I may be proved wrong. That is the beauty of the world; it is full of opinions and only one opinion turns out to be right.

Micro investing platforms such as sharesies in New Zealand and Robinhood in the USA had made share market investing accessible for the man in the street. Investors are able to purchase shares in individual companies. 

As for choosing which industry to invest in, here are the ones I avoid and for good reason

  1. Airlines/travel

It was around the year 2000 when I bought shares in Air New Zealand. It seemed a good choice because this was a company which has been around for decades. Then the company struck turbulence. The share price slid to as low as 14 cents a share. The government bailed them out, otherwise they would have been insolvent. It was not the only time the government has bailed them out since. The pandemic has shown how vulnerable airlines are. 

  1. Hospitality

Anything to do with hospitality is something I do not get involved in. The industry has been doing it tough since covid. The industry heavily relies on the discretionary dollar and people have become more selective in what they are spending their money on these days.

  1. Satellite TV

This industry is vulnerable to changing trends. People are getting more and more of their information online these days. 

  1. Retail

The retail industry has its challenges with internet shopping being the norm. Adapt or die seems to be the rule. Retail outlets who are in a good location or are in an industry which is considered recession proof are likely to do best. PGG Wrightsons are a company which services the farming industry. They have been around for decades and are likely to, barring unseen circumstances. Farming is considered a recession proof industry, though it is vulnerable to mother nature.

  1. Insurance

This is another industry vulnerable to Mother Nature. We have seen from the Christchurch earthquakes of 2022 and Cyclone Gabrielle which hit the North Island of New Zealand in February 2023 that insurance companies end up paying millions in one event. 

  1. Newspapers and magazines

This is another industry with its own challenges. Declining newspaper sales is likely to continue which makes them a poor investment.

  1. Fossil Fuels

Anything to do with fossil fuels is risky as many governments transition away from industries which are seen to be major polluters. This does not mean that industries which are green are good investments. It is a case of treating each investment on its own merits and not becoming emotionally involved in it.

Important rules to follow

The basic rules of investment need to be followed, they are:

(a) Do not place all of your eggs in one basket; in other words, DIVERSIFY

(b) Establish your own RISK PROFILE for your money. This will be the determining factor in choosing where to invest.

(c) Do not react to dips in the market by selling your shares or changing from growth or balanced funds to conservative funds.

If you have invested according to your risk profile then what the markets are doing should not be a worry to you. When you are deciding where to invest your money, ask the question, “If the markets dropped by 5%, 10%, or 15% how will this affect my lifestyle?”

If you have discretionary money to spare you can use this for speculative investments such as bitcoin. Investing some of your spending money in these types of investments instead of buying stuff, or alcohol, or lottery tickets can pay off. If you lost the money in cryptocurrency which you would have frittered away anyway then it will not affect your lifestyle.

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

Posted on

 Reasons why people remain Poor

 

Written by R. A. Stewart

People don’t just become prosperous for no reason, unless of course they win the lottery and for every person like that there are millions who didn’t win the lottery and go back to their mediocre lives until the next draw.

Here are the main reasons why people remain poor.

  1. Unwillingness to change

People tolerate their financial situation because they are more comfortable with it. They are unwilling to change anything in their life for fear that it will interfere with the routine which they have become accustomed to. Not doing anything about one’s financial situation despite the facts is just plain laziness. It shows a lack of ambition and there is no hope for people like that.

  1. Lack of Financial literacy

Lack of financial literacy is a major cause of financial struggles. This is an easy hurdle to overcome because there are lots of books on personal finance available you can read and you do not have to spend a lot of money to purchase such books. Your local library will have plenty of books on the subject. Frances Cook, Mary Holm, and Martin Hawes are New Zealand authors who have published excellent books on personal finance.

  1. They don’t join kiwisaver

Kiwisaver is the New Zealand retirement scheme. It is a scheme with several incentives such as the $520 per annum top up from the government. Not making any plans for your retirement years will almost guarantee that you will spend these years in poverty. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is a saying which is worth remembering. Responsible people will sign up for a retirement plan of some kind. If you have dependents it is your responsibility to make sure you don’t leave them up the creek if something happens to you so don’t use that argument of, “I may not make it to 65.”

  1. They spend everything

Poor people spend everything they make and do not give any thought to tomorrow. Whether you like it or not, tomorrow always comes. People like this have no vision for the future. They can never see any further than next week’s pay day. If an unexpected bill arrives such as a car breakdown they borrow the money which means that the interest they owe on the borrowed money pushes up the cost of the repairs. It is the same when one of their kids needs a pair of new spectacles. People such as this always have money to spend on lottery tickets or alcohol but the really important things in life take a back seat. Some people would rather spend money on cigarettes than wholesome food for their kids.

  1. They don’t invest

Not investing is a sure fire way to stay poor because inflation erodes the purchasing power of your money if you just leave it in an ordinary savings account. Investing your money in managed funds increases your wealth and your financial literacy. 

  1. Wrong friends

Associating with people who are financially illiterate is another reason why some people remain poor. The poverty mindset of the group will infect you sooner or later. Some of the stupid comments made by some of these people regarding personal finance are not worth listening to. 

  1. Wrong choices

Making wrong choices is at the heart of the reason why most people are poor. It is not just choices in terms of personal finance such as joining KiwiSaver and investing which keep people poor but life choices such as having kids when not in a good financial position and living beyond their means. What you do with your discretionary spending money is a choice. Becoming financially sorted requires vision. Some of life’s most expensive items will arrive at some stage and the person with vision will prepare for these.

About this article

The subject matter is of the writer’s own experience and opinion and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use the article as content for your website/blog or ebook. Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

“Retire with Little Money” is your guide to achieving financial freedom, even if you don’t have a large retirement fund. This practical ebook reveals creative strategies and smart budgeting tips to help you retire comfortably on a modest income. Learn how to cut unnecessary expenses, boost your savings with side gigs, and make the most of the resources available to you. With easy-to-follow advice and real-life examples, this book shows you how to build a sustainable retirement plan without relying on a hefty nest egg. Start planning today, and discover how you can retire sooner than you think!

 

https://robertalan.gumroad.com/l/sdzvl

Posted on

From Dreams to Dollars: How to Set Effective Money Goals

“From Dreams to Dollars: How to Set Effective Money Goals”

Written by R. A. Stewart

Having a goal for your money is a must if you want to get ahead otherwise you will just simply fritter away your money on useless stuff which does not add value to your life.

Your money fits three descriptions; they are:

Short-term money (12 months or less)

Medium-term money (1-5 years)

Long-term money (6 years+)

Short term money is money you need for the short term. This is money used for emergencies, dental  costs, and every day expenses. It is a good idea to keep a separate account for emergencies. An investment in conservative managed funds if you have easy access to the money when you need it. A separate savings account for this is suitable.

Medium-term money is money needed within 5 years. This could be savings for a car or an overseas  holiday. 

Long-term money is money needed in the long-term. This is money for your retirement or savings for a mortgage.

Where should you invest your money?

Short-term money is best invested in an ordinary savings account where your money is on call, however, an emergency fund could be invested in a conservative managed fund providing you have easy access to your money if and when you need it.

Medium-term money is best invested in a balanced managed fund.

Long-term money is best invested in growth funds.

There is no hard and fast rule as to where you should invest your money; it all depends on your risk profile and whether you have the mental fortitude to ride out the lows of the share market.

The benefits of being a saver and an investor cannot be underestimated. A saver will live within their means and wait until they have saved enough money before making a car purchase.

A spender will have nothing to show for their labours and borrows money for things they need. There is a cost to this and that is interest which means that the spender pays more for stuff they have bought with borrowed money.

Discretionary spending money is a different category of money. It is money which you are free to spend on anything you like. Some investors like to use this to increase their financial portfolio or even to try out some speculative investments such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency. 

People who have any kind of debt do not have any discretionary spending money until that debt is paid. Paying off debts is the responsible thing to do.

It is imperative that you manage your money with the future in mind because situations will arise when you will need a large amount of money for things which your next paycheck on its own won’t cover. Ask yourself this question, “What can I do today that my future self will thank me for?”

It is also important to continually gain financial literacy by reading books about financial management and wealth creation, but the best way to gain financial literacy is by investing in the share market. There are several share market investing platforms on the internet which enable ordinary people to drip feed money into the share market or in managed (mutual) funds. 

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because as the saying goes, “He who never made a mistake never made anything.” Mistakes are just part of the learning process.

About this article

The opinions expressed in this article are of the writer’s own opinion 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

Posted on

People who should never buy Bitcoin

Written by R. A. Stewart

Bitcoin is the currency of the twenty-first century according to those who are passionate about this type of investing. People who get involved in crypto currency such as Bitcoin or one of the others must understand the risks involved. It is a volatile form of investing. Because of the risks involved there are some people who should never invest in crypto currency. 

Here they are:

1.People who are in debt

If you have a debt to pay then your responsibility is paying off that debt, and the sooner, the better. It makes no sense to be investing in something in order to grow your money yet be paying interest on your debts. People who have debts to pay have no discretionary spending money until their debts are paid.

  1. People who are saving up for a house deposit

The best investment for your house deposit money is something which is more conservative such as balanced managed funds or conservative managed funds. Bitcoin is not the place for your house deposit money because if you did go ahead, invest all of your house deposit money in Bitcoin, most of it could disappear at the drop of a hat, such is the volatility of Bitcoin.

  1. People with Children

I believe that people who have children should not invest in Bitcoin, unless they are wealthy, and that any losses are not going to affect their lifestyle. People with children have the young one’s future to consider when making plans for the future.

  1. People who are Timid

People who cannot stomach the thought of losing money whether it be betting on the horses, investing in cryptocurrency, or playing the share market should definitely leave Bitcoin alone. Investing in crypto-currency is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

  1. People who have a mortgage

For the same reason as those with consumer debt. Paying off any debt means you will have less interest to pay.

  1. People with a student loan

If you have a student loan, then you are responsible for paying that back and should never invest in Bitcoin until that debt is paid. 

Never begrudge having a student loan to pay because investing in future education is an investment in the future. The key is to choose a course which will lead to a career you really want to do.

Investing in Bitcoin should only be done with discretionary spending money and not with money which is needed for a purpose such as a car or overseas travel. 

Here is a question for you, “Should retired people invest in Bitcoin?”

My answer to that question is, “If they can afford to lose it!”

If a retired person spent a grand or so on an overseas holiday, that is considered cool by some, yet, if they lost a grand on Crypto currency, these same folk would think that’s foolish.

Whether Bitcoin has risen or fallen, it is on paper only. It is only a profit or loss when it is sold. Always remember, something is only worth what others are prepared to pay for.

About this article: You may use this article as content for your blog or website. The information contained here is of the writer’s opinion and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised.

Checkout my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

 

Have some spare cash to invest in Bitcoin?

Then check out the Coinbase, a well-established crypto exchange. Coinbase makes it easy to buy and sell bitcoin. Check it out here:

https://coinbase.com/join/gochwv

 

Disclaimer: I may earn a small commission if you sign up with Coinbase.

www.robertastewart.com

Posted on

Have you joined KIwisaver yet?

Now is a good time to join kiwisaver if you have not already

Written by R. A. Stewart

It is a good time to join kiwisaver if you are young and just starting out in the world. If you are over 30 and have not already joined kiwisaver then why not? Kiwisaver is the New Zealand retirement scheme. If you are in work you will get the equivalent of 3% of your gross wages from your employer deposited into your kiwisaver account. 2%, 4%, or 8% (you choose) of your gross wages will be deposited into kiwisaver and deducted from your pay. You can also make voluntary contributions to your kiwisaver account. This is an option used by those who are self employed or not in work.

The government’s contribution to your kiwisaver is what makes this a no-brainer. You will receive $520 of government money into your kiwisaver account but you need to invest at least $1040 to receive the full $520 otherwise the government contribution is 50% of your contribution. This is per annum; in other words you need to invest at least $1040 into your kiwisaver account per annum to receive $520 of government money every year.

The Kiwisaver year begins on July 1 and ends June 30 the following year. If you are on part time work and it looks as though your kiwisaver contributions are going to be less than $1040, you can make voluntary contributions to ensure your own contributions reach $1040.

In order to take advantage of the falling share prices you need to be in a growth fund or have some portion of your portfolio in a growth fund, otherwise called a balanced fund. If you are in a conservative fund then you are going to miss out on the market rebound. Financial experts will tell you that if you are in a growth fund then you need to leave it invested for at least five years. That way, if the market falls during this time there will be time for it to recover and recoup any losses which it has to be said are only paper losses.

Money which is needed for the short term such as a holiday abroad next year is considered short to medium term money. If you had this money invested in a growth fund you may find that your spending money for your trip has been depleted therefore, to reduce this from happening investing in something less risky is an option taken by a lot of holiday makers even though the return on this money is less than the inflation rate.

If you are prepared to take the risk then you might consider investing your short term money in growth funds in the hope of increasing your capital but it is important to understand that whenever there is an opportunity for capital gain then there is a chance for capital loss.

It cannot be stressed enough that it takes a cool head to live through the ups and downs of the share market and be relaxed about it. One thing you can always bank on is that the share market will go up and down. It is important to have a strategy in place to take this into account.

Diversification minimizes your risk. Diversification is when you spread your investment among several companies. One company might fall over but not the whole lot.

Some may argue that if you plunge all your money in one stock then you will make a killing; that is true, but you never hear of those who tried that and lost. If you are going to do that then it should be done independently of your main investments rather than risk your retirement savings going down the drain.

ABOUT THIS ARTICLE

The information in this article is of the writer’s own opinion and may not necessarily apply to your personal circumstances. You are advised to seek professional financial advice if you require assistance. You may use this article as content for your ebook or website. Check out my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Posted on

Share Market advice for beginners

Beginners Guide to the share market

Written by R. A. Stewart

You do not have to be rich to get involved in the share market these days with online share market platforms such as Sharesies and Hatch which provide a gateway to novice investors.

If you are from a country other than New Zealand or Australia then Robinhood from the States is a share market platform which you can use.

Here are my tips to follow if you are a complete beginner.

Tip 1: Shares go up and down

The value of your shares will fluctuate; that is the nature of the markets. It is important not to focus on your shares but rather on saving and letting the markets take care of itself because if you are strategic with your investments then falling markets will not scare you. 

Tip 2: Know why you are investing

Have a clear plan on what the money’s for. Is it for your retirement, a mortgage, a vehicle, or as a rainy day fund. 

Tip 3: Invest money you can afford to lose

Money which is invested in the share market should only be money which you can fully afford to lose because of the volatile nature of shares, however, you can choose a conservative funds when investing in managed funds. It all depends on your time frame. If the money is needed in the short term then investing in conservative funds will be your best option. 

Tip 4: Know your risk profile

Your risk profile is the level of risk you are prepared for or are willing to take. If you are young you are able to take more risks because you have more time to recover from financial setbacks.

Tip 5: Not a substitute for kiwisaver

Online investing  platforms such as Robinhood, Sharesies, Hatch and the like should not be a substitute for your retirement fund, in New Zealand that is called Kiwisaver)

Tip 5: Not a get rich scheme

Investing in the share market is a long term game; it is not a get rich quick scheme. Don’t be taken in by the stories of those who have made a share market killing because you never get to hear about the losses and it is likely that people who made that killing will spend years trying to make another killing and lose all their gains.

Tip 6: Patience is a virtue

It is time and not timing which is the key to making money in the share market. Patience investors are rewarded handsomely if they stay onboard rather than jump ship during stormy seas.

Tip 6: Do your homework

It is important to do your homework on the various companies you plan to invest in and not just invest haphazardly. The alternative is to invest in managed funds; the fund manager will choose the companies for you.

Tip 7: Take responsibility

Don’t blame anyone for your mistakes, take responsibility for them and learn from them; that way you will become a better investor.

Tip 8: Get right advice

Listen to the right people. Prior to the Global Financial Crisis, some financial experts were saying “The high interest rates do not reflect the higher risk investors of finance companies are taking on.”

Well guess what happened? A number of them folded.

About this article

The information in this article is of the writer’s own opinion and may not be applicable to your own personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog or website.

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

Disclaimer: I may receive a small sign up bonus if you join sharesies.

Posted on

Cost of living crisis affecting retirement savings

Cost of living crisis affecting retirement savings

Written by R. A. Stewart

Thousands of New Zealanders have suspended contributions to their retirement fund due to the cost of living crisis and this will affect them when their retirement comes around.

New Zealand financial adviser Carissa Fairbrother advised people to keep sowing into your kiwisaver whatever your financial circumstances. Look at where else you can make cutbacks because not investing into your Kiwisaver will affect you when you retire.

Kiwisaver is New Zealand’s retirement scheme; it is voluntary, unlike the retirement schemes of other countries which are mandatory.

There is a $520 tax credit per annum for contributions to Kiwisaver but to obtain this investors will need to deposit a minimum of $1040 every year. This is just like getting 50% interest on your money for the first year the money is deposited.

Anyone who is a New Zealand resident can join kiwisaver. There is no upper or lower age limit. People under the age of eighteen or sixty five and over are not eligible for the $520 per year tax credits. It is still a good idea to join kiwisaver despite this for several reasons.

The $520 tax credits or government incentives as they are sometimes called is paid out in July into your Kiwisaver. If you contributed less than $1,040 during the previous year then you will receive 50% of your contributions.

The Kiwisaver year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. It makes sense to check your contributions during the year and to make sure that you deposited at least $1040 by June 30.

One is it will give the young ones a good start to life as far as savings are concerned and it will also give them a good education in finances. 

For those aged 65 and over, it is still a good idea to keep contributing to your kiwisaver if you are not going to be using it in the short term.

Buying your first home

If you are purchasing your first home you may be able to use some of your kiwisaver for a deposit. It is all the more reason to start saving as early as possible as it will enable you to reach your goals quicker.

There are other circumstances where you may be able to access your Kiwisaver early. These are if you have a terminal illness, you are moving overseas permanently, or due to financial hardship. There are lots of hoops to jump through before you can access your money.

It is all the more important to have a rainy day fund when everything is going well for you and not just fritter away your discretionary spending money because things do go wrong in life.

It is never too late to join Kiwisaver, you can still join even if you are 65, though you are not eligible for the government incentives. It is still worth your while joining. It is a good way to play the share market.

You are never too young to join kiwisaver. You may not be eligible for the government incentives until you are 18 but joining early then having family members make contributions while you are still at school will give you a good financial platform for the future. Who knows, a rich uncle may leave you a sum of money in his will to be deposited into your kiwisaver.

About this article

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 part or all of this article as content for your ebook, website, or blog.

www.robertastewart.com

Posted on

5 Factors which determine your risk profile

Factors which determine your Risk Profile:

Written by R. A. Stewart

Your risk profile is the amount of risk you are advised to take with your investments. There are many factors which determine your risk profile with the main one being whether the money you are investing is needed in the short term, medium term, or long term. 

Short term is when you need the money within 12 months

Medium Term is when you need the money within 5 years

Long term is when you need the money in more than five years time

Here are the main factors in determining your risk factor:

Factor 1: Your age

Young people have one thing in their favour which the older ones don’t have and that is time. The young ones have more time to recover from financial setbacks such as a share market crash, a job loss, or whatever, therefore are about to invest in growth funds which can be volatile. Older people need to be a little more conservative. New Zealand financial advisor Frances Cook has a formula for working out what percentage of your portfolio should be in shares; it is this: subtract your age from 100. Even if you are in your twenties that does not mean you should be reckless with your money and invest into some kind of risky venture. 

Factor 2:Your health

Your health is a major factor in determining your risk factor. If you have a health condition which requires or may require expensive medical treatment in the future then investing in growth funds may not be your best option because you do not want to lose your money just when you need it. This does not mean that you should not invest anything in growth funds but just not most of it. It may be a good idea to set up a bank account for those medical bills.

Factor 3: Your Personal Circumstances

Your own personal circumstances need to be taken into account. If you are single with no commitments then you will be able to take more risks with your money than someone who is married with children.

Factor 4: Your Debts

Your debts are a big factor in what you should do with your money. There is no point in investing your money at 5% interest when you are paying 15% interest on your loans. People with debts have a responsibility to pay off their own debts and need to prioritise that before turning their attention to investing. 

Factor 5: Your Temperament

Your temperament is a factor. If you are going to lose sleep at the thought of losing your money; something which can happen if you are investing in the share market, then going for more conservative funds is better for you but when it comes to long term investing such as your retirement fund then investing too conservatively will mean that you will likely end up with a lot less money in the kitty when you retire.

About this article

This article is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your own personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised.

You may use this article as content for your blog or ebook. Feel free to share this article with others.

www.robertastewart.com