The Adviser Talk

This week on the show Nick chats inflation (which is both a thief and a snowball), skyrocketing house prices, and how both aren't likely to go anywhere anytime soon. Topics include nasty surprises at the fuel pump, elasticity, and the wisdom of burying cash under the lemon tree. Read the articles: Let's Talk Inflation Is Property Still the Golden Goose? Nick Stewart is a Financial Adviser and CEO...

This week Nick and Ken chat money in relationships, what might be causing financial stress here and abroad, and a few things that may not be savvy investments in retrospect - goats and possum fur, anyone? Topics include our five year anniversary with our Canny View column, transparency with your partner, and changing attitudes towards money over generations. Read more of the article that inspired...

The social media is blowing up with ongoing talks about a hamster. A hamster? It may come as a surprise, but a hamster in Germany is proving "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" author Burton Malkiel's hypothesis that a blindfolded monkey throwing darts at a stock ticker list in the newspaper could do just as well as a human investment professional. The information provided, or any opinions expressed...

While we understand the impact of COVID-19, the biggest global health crisis in 4 generations, Alzheimer’s disease demands more attention. But why? Every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops dementia and with the current number of dementia being 50 million people this number is only set to double over the next 20 years reaching 82 million in 2030. The information provided, or any opinions expr...

The outbreak of COVID-19 has ushered in a new situation. Risk sits at the forefront of every investor's thinking right now. For retirement savers, it is uncomforting to see the value of their portfolios shrink substantially within such a short period. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be construed or relied on as a recomme...

The outbreak of COVID-19 has ushered in a new situation. Risk sits at the forefront of every investor's thinking right now. For retirement savers, it is uncomforting to see the value of their portfolios shrink substantially within such a short period. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be construed or relied on as a recomme...

A topic we can all understand is coffee, wouldn’t it be great if making financial decisions were as simple as buying a cup of coffee? This is where financial advisors come to play and become the answer booklets to these questions. Their primary goal is to help clients determine whether they are on the right track to meet their goals and outline their path to overall financial success. The informat...

Okay, the annual inflation is now running at 3.3%. In the June 2021 quarter compared with the March 2021 quarter, the New Zealand Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.3%. A much stronger lift than the market expectations. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be construed or relied on as a recommendation to invest in a financial...

Why would the couple in their 50’s have such a different outlook to the man in his 30’s? It’s hard to be a successful investor unless you’re an optimist. Firstly, if everyone does well, you’re likely to do better as an investor. And if you understand everyone is doing better, and that we have always gotten better, you’re less likely to be agonising over someone huffing and puffing about the next c...

 The breaking news that got everyone talking is the government's new set of measures to confront the housing crisis in New Zealand. It’s a welcome change: the constant pressure by media and the public outcry finally moved the needle. This course correction is long overdue. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be construed or...

If you are wrestling with a prickly investment question or simply hoping to seek some financial advice, engaging a financial adviser might sound appealing. But searching for one who would put your interest above all can quickly get confusing. NOT ANYMORE! The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be construed or relied on as a rec...

Many people want to align their environmental views with their portfolio objectives. But can you support your values while maintaining sound investment principles and pursuing higher expected returns? Here are three important questions that are important to ask your financial adviser. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be c...

It’s easy to view the stories of market speculation that have dominated the news recently as cautionary tales for individual investors. With swings by GameStop stock grabbing headlines, this is probably a good time to mention that investing and gambling are not the same thing. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be cons...

On 27th January 2021, Stewart Group completed 34 years as a comprehensive financial planning firm with evidence-based investments and risk insurance expertise. Stewart Group in 2021 bears very little resemblance to the business that Don Stewart set up 34 years ago. A lot was done since 1987 to stay on our toes as far as the newest financial regulations go. In this podcast, Don & Nick Stewart c...

On 27th January 2021 , Stewart Group completed 34 years as a comprehensive, independent financial planning firm with evidence-based investments and risk insurance expertise.  Stewart Group in 2021 bears very little resemblance to the business that Don Stewart set up 34 years ago. A lot was done since 1987 to stay on our toes as far as the newest financial regulations go. However, one thing th...

People with money in the bank are getting the lowest rates of interest since the 1960s and those rates could still fall further, it is warned. According to Newsroom's Business Editor Nikki Mandow, more than a third of the money New Zealanders have in our Aussie-owned banks is earning us no interest - or virtually none. And it’s costing us somewhere between $400 million and $900 million a year in l...

Many investors took advantage of the market turmoil in March to rotate into socially-conscious ESG investing. You’ve probably heard the term. ESG investing is the integration of Environmental, Social and Governance factors into the fundamental investment process. It may also be termed sustainable investing. It is a wide term as it can cover several areas, but essentially, it’s for investors who co...

As a society, we are finally beginning to have more honest and supportive public conversations about mental health, but too often the connection between mental health and money hasn’t been recognised. Financial stress is a major factor in many of our lives today. Some people may be facing an uncertain financial future, given the potential impact on everyday life, our jobs and income. The informati...

Okay, this one created quite a stir in financial circles. ANZ Investment Services (New Zealand) decided to stop Bonus Bonds and wind up the investment scheme by the end of October and return funds to bondholders. Folks are weighing up their options and wanting to know what is the best investment vehicle out there to put their Bonus Bonds money in as the ANZ's 50-year-old scheme will be wound up wi...

Investing during an election year can be tough on the nerves and 2020 promises to be no different. By now, most people are aware that our world – especially the situation with COVID-19 pandemic – is changing and developing lightning fast. In its latest interest rate decision on 12th August, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand maintained its official cash rate at 0.25 per cent but also raised the possi...

Although the outcome of any election is uncertain, one thing we can count on is that plenty of opinions and predictions will be floated in the months and days leading up to Election Day. In financial circles, we will almost certainly hear perceptions and views of market impacts. But, do election results really matter and need to be followed closely by long-term investors, or is it just noise that...

Whatever the cause, investors should remember: volatility is typically a short-term phenomenon, and retirement is a long-term prospect. Sticking to a long-term investment plan can be one way to offset the stresses of volatility. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be construed or relied on as a recommendation to invest in a...

We are absolutely thrilled with our recent KiwiSaver 'Free Money' campaign results. 75% of our KiwiSaver clients received full government contributions ($521.43) this year, i.e. $500,000 'Free Money' from the government to our eligible KiwiSaver clients. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be construed or relied on as a reco...

In mid-January 2020, China was announcing confirmed human to human contact of Covid-19, locking down Wuhan province and building temporary hospitals. While many investment managers carried out daily operations, some had their eye on China. Nucleus Wealth was one. It is a small active manager in Melbourne with an international focus. The call was made in late January. They dumped their clients’ inv...

Published on 23 June 2020. The coronavirus-induced economic downturn is taking a toll on a popular source of investment income for retires: dividends. Dividend stocks are a staple of every income investor, and they can play an important role in any portfolio, regardless of age and financial circumstances. But it is very much possible that dividend investors can fall into the trap of hindsight bias...