Your KiwiSaver Q & A 2013
10 December 2013 Hurdles to clear before signing up kids in scheme
Q. How do I go about signing up my children to KiwiSaver, and can their grandparents put money into their accounts?
3 December 2013 New tool for KiwiSaver investors
Q. I have been pleased by how fast my KiwiSaver is growing - it is now over $30,000. I have been in a conservative default fund since it started. How do I find out if it's a good scheme? I don't want to spend too much time thinking about my KiwiSaver. I would prefer to check it once a year and get a happy surprise.
26 November 2013 First home withdrawal a one-off opportunity
Q. My partner and I are looking at buying our first home. The question is, will we be better off apply to withdraw about $22,000 from our KiwiSaver accounts or leaving the money there for the long term? They say that the longer you save, the better. We can scrape enough together for a deposit without using KiwiSaver, but of course we will have a bigger mortgage. We are both in our late 20's.
18 November 2013 I don't know which fund I'm in or what I have saved
Q. When I started my current job three years ago, I was opted into KiwiSaver. Becuase I still have a student loan I was going to opt out but never got round to it. I see from my wage slip my KiwiSaver contributions are being paid each week but I don't think I have had anything in the mail (or email) about KiwiSaver. How do I find out what fund I am in and how much money I have saved?
Q. I have an interesting issue with an employer. The contract he offered me stipulates that if I opt-out of KiwiSaver, fine, but if I opt-in, my pay is instantly reduced by the amount he'd have to contribute, so I've been opting out; however, I've been working there 6 months and by his own admission I've singlehandedly built the business up from losses to a state of profit. I've had one pay rise and am on more than the minimum hourly wage. I don't want to bring this issue up and risk retaliation, or miss the next pay rise. Opting into KiwiSaver will give me Gov't tax credits, and could help my wife and I get a housing subsidy. Can Inland Revenue intervene in this situation?
8 October 2013 Is it worth joining scheme at 58?
Q. We are now permanent residents so could start KiwiSaver - but is it worth me starting? I am self employed and shall be 58 in December. How long do you have to save for and would I get any worthwhile return?
23 September 2013 KiwiSaver's lift on home front
Q. My wife and I have been living in our rather small home for 5 years. The property is in my name. We are looking at buying something bigger. If we bought another property jointly, could my wife access her KiwiSaver funds, as she has not owned a house before?
Q. I am a solo working parent with 2 children aged 6 and 8. I have seen the benefits of KiwiSaver for myself, and decided to sign up my children. But when I talked to my bank they said I needed their father’s signature as well. Now that’s a problem. He is somewhere in Australia and I don’t know how to contact him. Is there any way round this?
Q. We opened KiwiSaver accounts for our first three grandchildren when they were born. We would like to do the same for grandchild No 4 who was born in New Zealand last year but now resides with his parents in Australia. Can we open an account for him now while he is in Australia or when next back on holiday in NZ - or when the family returns to reside in NZ?
27 August 2013 Grandparent gives a leg up
Super transfers super-slow from Australia
20 August 2013
No big KiwiSaver rake off
6 August 2013
KiwiSaver and capital guarantee?
30 July 2013
Diversify to avoid fund losses
23 July 2013
16 July 2013
No Government boost for overseas savers
9 July 2013
Will admin fees whittle away KiwiSaver?
2 July 2013
KiwiSaver and our changing dollar
25 June 2013
Accessing Govm't Tax Credits
18 June 2013
KiwiSaver starts with first job
28 May 2013
Funds to be paid back after elibility error
21 May 2012
Absent KiwiSavers can't gain MTC
14 May 2013
Bank dangles the 'no fees carrot for KiwiSaver
7 May 2013
A dabble or a plunge into Mighty River?
30 April 2013
23 April 2013
Limited choices to boost KiwiSaver accounts
16 April 2013
Bank failure policy shouldn't alarm
9 April 2013
Keeping KiwiSaver alive at 65
Put cash into student loan or KiwiSaver?
26 March 2013
What if my Scheme winds up?
19 March 2013
Boss won't pay KiwiSaver
12 March 2013
Bank staff too eager to talk about KiwiSaver
5 March 2013
Is it time to review your KiwiSaver?
26 February 2013
KiwiSaver still worth joining at 61
20 February 2013
KiwiSaver helps to resist temptation
29 January 2013
Is KiwiSaver over when I turn 65?
22 January 2013
KiwiSaver is a key to the door
15 January 2013
Payments need to be put right
8 January 2013