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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

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Sharesies vs. Hatch: Which Investment Platform is Right for You

Introduction

Investing in the stock market has become more accessible than ever, thanks to the proliferation of online investment platforms. Two popular options in New Zealand are Sharesies and Hatch. These platforms offer different features and cater to various investment preferences, making it essential to understand the differences between them to determine which one is the right fit for your financial goals. In this article, we’ll compare Sharesies and Hatch, exploring their key features and what sets them apart.

Sharesies: Making Investing More Accessible

Sharesies, launched in 2017, has rapidly gained popularity in New Zealand for its user-friendly interface and mission to democratize investing. The platform allows users to buy and sell fractional shares, making it ideal for those who want to start investing with a limited budget. Here are some key features of Sharesies:

  • Affordability: One of Sharesies’ standout features is its ability to buy fractional shares, meaning you can invest in high-priced stocks without needing to purchase a full share. This opens up investment opportunities for individuals with modest budgets.
  • Diverse Investment Options: Sharesies offers a wide range of investment options, including New Zealand and international shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), managed funds, and more. This diversity allows you to build a well-rounded portfolio to meet your investment objectives.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The platform is designed with the user in mind, making it straightforward for beginners to start investing. It provides educational resources and tools to help users understand the world of investing.
  • Transparency: Sharesies is transparent about its fees, making it easy for investors to understand the costs involved in their investments. The platform charges an annual subscription fee, which can be advantageous for active investors with a larger portfolio.
  • Community and Social Element: Sharesies fosters a sense of community through its forums and discussion boards, where users can engage with other investors, share their insights, and learn from one another.
  •  Join Sharesies here

Hatch: Access to International Markets

Hatch, on the other hand, is designed to provide New Zealanders with access to international investment opportunities. It offers a gateway to the US and Australian stock markets, allowing users to invest in companies listed on these exchanges. Here are some key features of Hatch:

  • Access to International Markets: Hatch enables New Zealand investors to purchase shares in companies listed on the US and Australian stock exchanges, such as Apple, Amazon, and Tesla. This access to global markets provides diversification opportunities beyond the local market.
  • Direct Ownership of Shares: Hatch allows users to directly own shares in the companies they invest in. This means you have more control over your investments and can receive dividends if the company pays them.
  • Wide Range of Investments: In addition to individual stocks, Hatch offers access to ETFs and index funds, providing a broad range of investment options to suit various strategies and risk appetites.
  • No Subscription Fee: Unlike Sharesies, Hatch does not charge an annual subscription fee. Instead, it operates on a transaction-based fee structure, where you pay a fee when you buy or sell shares.
  • Educational Resources: Hatch offers educational resources and insights to help users make informed investment decisions, particularly in the context of international markets.
  • https://app.hatchinvest.nz/share/rtb24muk

Which One Should You Choose?

The choice between Sharesies and Hatch ultimately depends on your investment goals, preferences, and level of experience. Here are some considerations to help you decide:

Choose Sharesies If:

  • You are a beginner investor or have limited funds to start with.
  • You prefer to invest in New Zealand shares and ETFs.
  • You appreciate a user-friendly platform and a sense of community among fellow investors.
  • You want transparency in fees and are comfortable with the annual subscription model.

Choose Hatch If:

  • You want to access international markets and invest in US and Australian stocks.
  • You have a specific interest in owning shares in individual international companies.
  • You are comfortable with a transaction-based fee structure and don’t want to pay an annual subscription fee.
  • You are looking for diversified investment opportunities beyond New Zealand.

Conclusion

Sharesies and Hatch offer unique investment opportunities, catering to different preferences and financial goals. Sharesies is well-suited for those looking to invest in New Zealand and start with a limited budget, while Hatch provides access to global markets and individual international stocks. Carefully assess your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and budget to determine which platform aligns with your needs. Both platforms have their strengths, and the choice between them should be based on what suits your individual circumstances and investment strategy.

Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission if you sign up with Sharesies or Hatch.

www.robertastewart.com

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Diversification and what it is

How to diversify 

Written by Robert A. Stewart

Diversification is a term we often come across in the investment industry but what does this really mean for the Mum and Dad investor and how can the ordinary investor profit from diversification? Here is an article written in simple language which everyday investors can understand.

Diversification in the share market

What it is and how you can make it work for you

Diversify, diversify, diversify are terms you will come across in the world of investments so what does it mean and how can you make it work to grow your wealth?

When someone says you should diversify your investments what is meant is that your investments are spread out among different companies and sectors in order to reduce your risk.

An investor may have shares in a phone company, a power company, a bank, an insurance company and so on.

This kind of diversification was once beyond the means of the average investor because one had to purchase at least $3,000 worth of each share just to make it viable because of the broker’s commission on each buy and sell transaction.

Not any more!

Online share market trading platforms such as Sharesies in New Zealand and Robinhood in the US have opened the way for anyone of any means to get involved in the markets. These platforms enable anyone to build up their financial literacy on a shoestring. There are lots of other online investment platforms similar to Sharesies and Robinhood which gives you a wide choice. 

With sharesies the minimum investment you can make is $5 but with Kernel Wealth, another online investment platform in New Zealand the minimum investment is $100. This is just an example of different rules for different companies.

Mum and Dad investors can buy into a range of diverse companies on a shoe string with sharesies and robin hood which in the long term is good for those astute enough to participate.

Investing in individual companies is not the only way to build up a diverse portfolio; the other way is investing in managed funds or as it is referred to in the States, Mutual Funds. 

When buying into these funds you are combining your money with other investors to purchase units  in the funds. Fund managers will purchase shares in a range of companies on your behalf.

The level of risk can vary depending on the industry which the fund manager invests your money.

These investments are generally referred to as Growth Funds which has the potential to grow your savings but at a higher risk. 

Those investors who want a mixture of high risk and low risk funds will invest in what is called Balanced funds. This is a combination of growth and balanced funds. Investors may have the option of choosing which percentage of their investment they would like in growth or conservative funds..

Diversification is an excellent wealth building strategy for the average investors who wants to create a nest egg for the future. It is a matter knowing what you want to achieve with your investments and investing accordingly.

About this article

This article is based on the writer’s experience and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised. You are welcome to use this article as content for your ebook or website. Feel free to share this article. 

www.robertastewart.com

Prevent Spam Comments

For those website owners who want to know how to stop spam comments on their wordpress sites, try this:

Installing WP-recaptcha

Here is how to prevent spam comments on your wordpress site.

1 Log into your WordPress Dashboard

2 Click on Plugins, then click add new.

3 In the search box type wp-recaptcha and hit enter. Click install now next to the WP-reCaptcha plugin.

4 On the next screen click the Activate Plugin link, and the WP-reCAPTCHA plugin will be installed and enabled

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New Zealand Financial Adviser says…

“3 Money Mistakes made by people”…

according to New Zealand financial advisor Frances Cook.

Frances Cook was on the AM show and explained the three mistakes made by people which are costing them hundreds of dollars every year.

Mistake number one

Not negotiating over price!

Frances says “Don’t just stay loyal to your power company but look elsewhere to see if you can get a better deal”

She advises people to shop around, for everything; that could be your power company, your internet supplier, or your phone company,” and not just stay loyal to them without questioning whether you may be better off with a competitor. “Start with one company and do your research to see what kind of deals they are offering, if you can ring them and bring it to their attention. They may give you a deal in order to retain you as their customer.

Mistake number two

Leaving your kiwisaver in a default fund.

Those who join kiwisaver and do not specify which fund they want their money in will automatically have their money in a default fund which is invested in conservative funds. The money is safe but the returns are very low meaning by the time those in conservative funds reach 65 their retirement nest egg will be smaller than it would have been if it was invested in balanced or growth funds.

This is applicable to those in New Zealand but it may apply to some abroad depending on how your retirement scheme works.

Mistake number three

Having a bad attitude

I couldn’t quite catch what Frances said was the third mistake but she did say that it was like not learning to swim because you don’t know how to. If you say, “I am not good or not interested with all this financial stuff,” then that kind of attitude will cost you a fortune over a lifetime. There is no excuse for staying ignorant about personal financial matters.

Gaining financial literacy is easy with so much information available online.

Check out Frances Cook’s website www.francescook.co.nz 

www.robertastewart.com

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Using the rule of 72 to get wealthy

Using the rule of 72 to get wealthy

Written by R. A. Stewart

Do you know how long it takes for your money to double using the rule of 72?

Using the 72 formula it works like this:

Simply divide 72 by the interest you are receiving on your money. Of course the calculation does not include the tax paid on your investment.

Another name for the rule of 72 is compounding interest or dividends as is the case when investing in the share markets. You are receiving an income from your original investment plus from the dividends and interest which are left untouched.

This is called compound interest.

There may be a temptation to hasten the doubling up period by searching for high interest investments. My advice is to be careful because if a finance company is paying it’s depositor’s higher than normal interest rates it only means that they are charging their borrowers higher interest rates than the banks. The reason why someone would pay higher interest rates is because they couldn’t get a bank loan because they are considered risky borrowers.

Several finance companies went belly up during the Global Financial Crisis of 2007/2008. These were companies paying higher interest to their investors than market rates.

I did lose money on some of these companies. On reflection, instead of letting the interest compound I should have taken them and invested the interest into my Kiwisaver account.

The rule of 72 is just as applicable to investing in the share market. Your investment can grow using the same principle in managed funds or mutual funds as they are also called but profits can vary. 

You can calculate how much your investment needs to grow per annum in order to double within a specified time. 

72 / your time frame (years)

If you want your money to double in 10 years then you would need an average annual return of 7.2%

The important factor is time. Young people have that in their favour. 

Someone on the verge of retirement is not going to make plans for what they are going to do in thirty years time. Your age is an important consideration to where and what you invest in.

The rule of 72 also works for borrowers. You can work out how long it will take for your debt to grow with this simple formula: 72 / interest rate so if you are paying 15 percent interest rate the amount you owe will double in 4.8 years.

That is of course assuming that you have done nothing to pay off the debt.

It underlines the importance of paying off debt as quickly as possible.

About this article

This article is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised. You are welcome to use this article as content for your blog or website. 

I may receive a small commission if you sign up for Sharesies or Coinbase.

www.robertastewart.com

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The Golden Rule of Investing

The Golden Rule of Investing

Written by R. A. Stewart

The one question you MUST ask yourself before investing your money is, “Can I afford to lose this money?”

Only you can answer this question, but…

that depends on when you need the money and what the loss of your investment will mean for your other goals.

For example if your goal is to save for a car within the next 18 months or so then this is considered a short to medium term goal which means that investing in something with low risk is imperative. Growth funds on the share market and bitcoin are out of the question because the loss of your investment could mean that you may not be able to purchase that car. It really comes down to how badly you require that car. If it is essential for you to get to and from work then you cannot afford to lose the money that you are saving for a car.

The same is said for money which you are saving for a house deposit but it really depends on how soon you require the money. If you are looking at a 10 year timeframe then investing in growth funds may increase your savings faster but no one can predict when and if the markets will crash so it is really a risk to invest your house deposit money this way but the flip side is that if there is a 1987 style crash then house prices will also tumble so less money will be needed to purchase a house.

Can you afford to lose your retirement fund? The answer is no but…

Where your retirement fund is invested all depends on how soon you need the money. Some financial advisors will tell you to scale back the risk as you are approaching retirement but the problem is that if you start doing that when the markets are down you are taking a loss and missing out on any gains which will happen when the markets rebound. The other thing to remember is that you are not going to just spend all of your retirement funds as soon as you retire. You may live another 20 years and that is ample time to recover from any crash which will occur near your retirement. Of course you may want to tick off as many items off your bucket list as you possibly can so the early stage of your retirement will be when you will want to do as much as you can. You certainly do not want to sit in an old folks home at 90 with any regrets.

The size of your retirement fund when you require it is determined by where you have invested your money. If you just saved your money and just left it in low interest accounts you will lose.

How? 

Because inflation will erode the value of your money. Then there is tax on the interest.

It is important to learn how to invest for a better outcome and where you invest should be determined by your age and how soon you need the money.

Saving up for a house is the biggest single investment in one’s life with a car being the second biggest. Not everyone has ever bought a house or car but have saved money for other things; here is a list of other items which many people are spending their money on:

*Paying off a student loan

*Saving for an overseas holiday

*Saving for a business

*Paying off a medical/dental bill

These are major items. It has to be said that saving for a holiday can be considered discretionary spending and therefore will not cause you a great deal of hardship, just disappointment if you lose this money in the share market.

Setting priorities is an important part of managing your finances and the one question that should be asked is, “Can I afford to lose this money?”

Disclaimer: The information in this article is of the writer’s opinion and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised. I may receive a small commission if you sign up for Sharesies or Coinbase.

NOTE: You may use this article as content for your website or ebook. Feel free to share this item.

www.robertastewart.com

 

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How to make or lose a fortune

Written by R. A. Stewart

“How can I make a fortune on the share market?”-a question some random person may be thinking to him or herself and if I really knew the answer to that question then I would be rich beyond my wildest dreams.

I can’t tell you how to get rich but at least I can give you some hints to help save you losing your shirt and a lot more.

Share prices do not always represent value, but rather the opinions of the wisest men in finance. The markets tell the story of the times. The stock market moves according to the news coming out from various companies. Shares prices are often ahead of actual happenings.

When you are trading on shares you are competing with some of the best financial brains in the country. They have the benefit of years of research and experience behind them. Not to mention huge financial resources and every conceivable aid to assist them.

Never lose sight of the fact that someone’s gain is nearly always someone else’s loss-don’t let it be yours. Share prices can drop sudden and faster than they rise. Don’t let it overwhelm you.

A “tip” is just an opinion. There are plenty of people who are willing to advise you to sell or to buy. Don’t let any of this throw you off course.

Some companies have professional directors whose job it is to enhance the company’s image. They add little else to the company’s bottom line.

All of the glossy brochures about a company may look impressive but they can be doctored to look better than they really are.

The financial jungle can be rough and those losses can be hard to swallow but one must learn to take a financial hit occasional and not be discouraged from taking further risks. When I say risks I mean calculated ones. 

If you are going to make yourself ill by worrying if your shares drop by a percentage point or more then stay out of the share market and be a little more on the conservative side with your investing. 

In this day and age with modern technology and online share market platforms it is much easier for ordinary people to build a portfolio on a modest income. Managed funds enable anyone to tap into the best financial brains in finance-even the financially ignorant.

Even so, keeping up to date with the financial world will help you in the long run.

Share trading can be divided into three categories.

1 Long term: For people wanting to build a nest egg for their retirement. The type of investment will depend on your risk profile and your age. Investors may want to just invest regularly into this type of fund and forget them.

2 Medium Term: For investors wanting a reasonable return up to five years with a chance of a capital gain.

3 Short term: This is for money that may be needed within the next 12-24 months. It should be placed in more conservative accounts. Money in this category may be required for appliance repairs or replacement and so forth. It is for the unforeseeable expenses. Many financial advisors even suggest having an emergency fund for this purpose.

About this article

This article is of the opinion of the writer and may not necessarily be applicable to your own personal circumstances, therefore caution is advised. Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com 

 

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Diversification in the share market

Written by Robert A. Stewart

Diversification is a term we often come across in the investment industry but what does this really mean for the Mum and Dad investor and how can the ordinary investor profit from diversification? Here is an article written in simple language which everyday investors can understand.

Diversification in the share market

What it is and how you can make it work for you

Diversify, diversify, diversify are terms you will come across in the world of investments so what does it mean and how can you make it work to grow your wealth?

When someone says you should diversify your investments what is meant is that your investments are spread out among different companies and sectors in order to reduce your risk.

An investor may have shares in a phone company, a power company, a bank, an insurance company and so on.

This kind of diversification was once beyond the means of the average investor because one had to purchase at least $3,000 worth of each share just to make it viable because of the broker’s commission on each buy and sell transaction.

Not any more!

Online share market trading platforms such as Sharesies in New Zealand and Robinhood in the US have opened the way for anyone of any means to get involved in the markets. These platforms enable anyone to build up their financial literacy on a shoestring. There are lots of other online investment platforms similar to Sharesies and Robinhood which gives you a wide choice. 

With sharesies the minimum investment you can make is $5 but with Kernel Wealth, another online investment platform in New Zealand the minimum investment is $100. This is just an example of different rules for different companies.

Mum and Dad investors can buy into a range of diverse companies on a shoestring with sharesies and robin hood which in the long term is good for those astute enough to participate.

Investing in individual companies is not the only way to build up a diverse portfolio; the other way is investing in managed funds or as it is referred to in the States, Mutual Funds. 

When buying into these funds you are combining your money with other investors to purchase units  in the funds. Fund managers will purchase shares in a range of companies on your behalf.

The level of risk can vary depending on the industry in which the fund manager invests your money.

These investments are generally referred to as Growth Funds which have the potential to grow your savings but at a higher risk. 

Those investors who want a mixture of high risk and low risk funds will invest in what is called Balanced funds. This is a combination of growth and balanced funds. Investors may have the option of choosing which percentage of their investment they would like in growth or conservative funds..

Diversification is an excellent wealth building strategy for the average investors who wants to create a nest egg for the future. It is a matter knowing what you want to achieve with your investments and investing accordingly.

About this article

This article is based on the writer’s experience and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised. You are welcome to use this article as content for your ebook or website. Feel free to share this article. 

www.robertastewart.com

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Share consolidation

Share consolidation-what is it?

One term you do not hear very often is share consolidation. It is a term seldom used because not many companies have used this as an option. This article sheds more light on the term. Hopefully I have explained it well enough in terms that even the novice investor will understand.

Share market price increase may be misleading

If you are a casual share market follower and notice a particular company’s share price has jumped up in price suddenly and you are thinking, “What have I missed out on,” then it all may not be as it seems.

Let me explain.

Years ago around 2001 I think, I owned some shares in Air New Zealand. The company almost went broke. The company almost went bust. It was the government who bailed them out. The share price went from about $1.95 per share down to 14 cents per share. The share price increased a little but still only a fraction of what I bought them for.

What the company then did was increase the share price but you owned fewer shares.

This is how it works:

For the sake of simple mathematics, let’s assume company xyz’s share price is 20 cents per share.  xyz then decides to increase the price of the share to $1. 

If an investor owned 1000 shares at 20 cents, they will now own 200 shares worth $1 each.

Unless you are a follower of the share market you may be unaware of this actually happening. 

I don’t know how often this situation occurs but it may pay to do your homework if a particular share increases dramatically for no apparent reason.

What I have just tried to explain is known as reverse stock split or share consolidation.

This makes the company more attractive to investors. They may hold fewer shares but the real value of the total shares in that particular company is the same. It is just that now they hold proportionately fewer shares.

Share consolidation can be viewed negatively by investors as a company in trouble and this could impact the share price.

One reason why a company may choose share consolidation is that if it’s shares fall below $0.50 for 30 consecutive days then it will be delisted. This is applicable to the New York Stock Exchange and there may be different rules for other countries. 

Another benefit of share consolidation is that it will mean fewer share certificates will need to be printed which will reduce costs.

ABOUT THIS ARTICLE

You may use this article as content for your ebook or website/blog. The information may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised.

 

www.robertastewart.com

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Investing in share trading platforms

Investing in share trading platforms

Online share market platforms are gaining in popularity; they provide a terrific opportunity for ordinary folk to get involved in the share market on a shoestring budget. Just deposit $5, $10, $20, or more per week and given the benefit of time and patience this can all grow into a tidy sum.

The beauty of this is that your financial literacy increases as you get more and more involved in choosing which shares to buy.

In New Zealand Sharesies is the number one share market platform. It enables anyone of small means to invest directly into the share market and even in individual companies. 80% of sharesies investors are under 40 so it is appealing to the young folk. That is a good thing as it shows that the young are interested in matters of finance. It is also a good thing that the young are improving their financial literacy.

I cannot speak for other sharesies investors but here is my strategy. It may not necessarily be right for your personal circumstances but I will share it with you. 

I choose one company per year to invest in with sharesies and drip feed money into it every two weeks which means that whether its share price is up or down I have bought shares in it. If I had just made one purchase of the share then chances are that I have bought it at the higher price and its value has dropped a few weeks later but spreading my investment out means that I have bought some at the lower price.

You can use different strategies to suit your budget, goals and personal circumstances.

Here is the link to join Sharesies if you are keen to give investing a go. This is only for those living in New Zealand or Australia.

 

https://sharesies.com/r/377DFM

www.robertastewart.com