News from the New Zealand Banking Association suggest less bank customers applied for hardship status. Mary picks through the data to see what that suggests about the current economy. She also explains why banks are rolling out Confirmation of Payee next month, what it is and what it means.

Mary explains why high-risk KiwiSaver funds ae at least worth considering as a good investment.

Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission has created a quiz for organisations working on improving financial capability. This doesn't test financial knowledge, but how well you are coping with your money. Feel free to give the quiz a try at home! tinyurl.com/MoneyNZ

Have your rates gone sky high? The Mistress of Money Mary Holm says it might be time for a rates postponement.

The magical Mary talks about the current wave of interest rate cuts and how you can use them to make big progress with your mortgage.

This week Mary explains index funds and ETFs; what are they and why you look at them for somewhere to invest.

With tax cuts looming Mary has some words of advice for what to do with that extra take-home money.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about how the tax bracket creep 'robs' us. She explains the government's new tax cuts take effect from July 31 are a start to ending the bracket creep.

Today Mary Holm talks to Mark about all things KiwiSaver and why it's important to look at your annual KiwiSaver statements.

Today Mary talks about first home buying following the loss of the Kiwisaver first home buyer grant. She has some tips about using Kiwisaver to buy a home and other options for those looking to purchase their first property.

This week Mary talks about a recent conference run by the Retirement Commission - Te Ara Ahunga Ora. It was all about planning next steps in their National Strategy for Financial Capability. Mary talks to Jesse about what that means for us.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about the reality for a number of people balancing their finances and suspending their payments. 

Today Mary Holm talks to Jesse about some important points of Kiwisaver for children and the difference it can make for them later on in life whether it's buying a home or their retirement plans.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about some quick tricks with numbers to help with Kiwisaver and almost any investing. She runs through what the "Rule of 72 and dollar cost averaging" is and how it can help to make investment choices.

Today Mary Holm talks to Jesse about the great year Kiwisaver funds have just had.

Today Mary's focusing on women and money ahead of International Women's Day tomorrow. She has facts and figures on women's finances and found that women invest well in some ways but could do better.

Today Mary talks to Mark about people's financial knowledge and some of the reasons people are choosing not to be part of the KiwiSaver scheme.

KiwiSaver funds are moving away from investing in harmful products, the charity Mindful Money revealed last week. Their website is a good place to check out the kind of investments your own KiwiSaver provider is involved in, says personal finance expert Mary Holm.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about bank term deposits, the rates and the risks.

Today Mary Holm wraps up the big financial issues that have been around in 2023.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about repaying debt and why wealth is a bit like a tank full of water. She's also urging people to avoid running up high-interest debt over the Christmas season.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about which Kiwisaver providers are the best - and worst - at offering various services to their members. She also looks at some of the services that listeners might not be aware you can get from some providers, and naming them.

Today Mary has a close look at investing in shares both in Aotearoa and overseas. She's collated some interesting numbers about how the different stocks have fared over the past five decades.

This week Mary talk to Jesse about getting smarter with Kiwisaver choices and overall trends for funds.

This week Mary Holm is back to talk about the pros and cons of being either a regular or casual investor.

This week Mary Holm is back to talk about ways to boost your savings. It's insights she included in her book Rich Enough. She recommends setting goals that are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable (w)ritten and time-bound. She also talks about having small rewards when you reach milestones.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about how much insurance we should have, especially with premiums on the rise at the same time there appears to be more climate related damaged being caused.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about whether house prices are still too high and that buyers may have to adjust their expectations.

Today Mary Holm looks at options for people who are struggling to pay the never ending increasing rates bills. She explains there are rebates for people on low incomes and the option to postpone payments until after you die.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about a question sent in by a listener who is over 65 on what to do with money they don't need to access right now. Mary talks about the options of Kiwisaver or term deposits and the pros and cons of both.

Today Mary talks about options with mortgage repayments and options when you need to renew at a higher interest rate.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about important information in your annual KiwiSaver statement and how to improve it next time.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about how it's OK to give up on ever owning a home and how it can work to be a long-term renter.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about children and Kiwisaver a way to get them started early and potentially set up with a 33 thousand dollar home deposit by the time they turn 18.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about the Kiwisaver positive results for the first quarter of 2023. There's also new Kiwisaver help for new parents.

This week Mary Holm talks to Jesse about 'laddering' a clever way with term deposits and even mortgages. She explains exactly what it is and how it can give longer term returns on deposits; frequent access to some of your money; some protection from back luck and timing.

Today Mary talks about the importance of 'emergency money'. A recent Financial Services Council survey found that 39% of New Zealanders don't have access to $5000 within a week without borrowing. She has some tips on how to have an emergency fund on hand and how easy it can be.

Today Mary Holm speaks to Charlotte Ryan about how to complain about any financial service in NZ. Research from the FMA shows that only a third of New Zealanders would know what to do if they were treated unfairly by a financial services provider.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about what she's learnt from the Film Fraud Festival. The festival has been on a the the Q Theatre in Auckland and Mary is talking about some of the warning signs that you're being contacted by a fraudster and ways to check who they are.mon

Today Mary talks about unusual KiwiSaver investments.

    Today Mary talks about why Kiwisaver default members are getting a bad deal, and problems with benchmarks for all KiwiSaver funds.  

Today Mary Holm talks to Jesse about a harrowing few days being trapped in Piha while visiting friends. She's manage to leave the flood hit suburb, but says it's been a tough time for locals with no power, no phone and no runnig water.

For her first chat of 2023 with Jesse, Mary Holm talks about some positive financial issues. She has a list of spending that makes people happy, including paying off debt, paying for travel and events, as well as beautifying homes with plants and art.

This week Mary talks to Jesse about the worrying state of the finances for the over 65 age group in New Zealand. She's been looking at the latest data in the Retirement Commission's report which is released every three years. 

Today Mary talks to Jesse about the emails she received from people explaining who they would gift one of her two books to!

Today Mary talks about 3 types of mortgages she's describing as clever. You also have a chance to win a copy of one of her two latest books. You can enter by saying in 30 words or fewer who you would give the book to and why. You send the email to [email protected]. 

Today Mary Holm talks to Jesse about which funds, in and out of Kiwisaver, are best at different life stages. She says it's less about age than it is about how you will spend the money and risk tolerance.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about mortgages and whether or not you should be fixing them while there's such volatility with interest rates. She also discusses ways to split your risk with investments in these uncertain times, such as diversifying your investing.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about the Financial Markets Authority report on KiwiSaver. She also answers a question from a retired listener who has lost a substantial amount of money from her Kiwisaver in the past 10 months and wonders what she should change to stop the losses.

Your Money with Mary Holm

Today Mary talks to Jesse about the range of numbers around in terms of Kiwisaver and what they all mean. She also recommends using the Sorted KiwiSaver calculator to help work out what messages they are sending.

Today Mary Holm talks to Jesse about whether retired people can "eat their houses". She's exploring the idea that many retirees are short of cash but own very valuable homes. She has some ideas on how to get an income from your assets.

This week Mary talks about what we can learn from animal investors..

Mary talks today about growing women's financial wellbeing. She's been at at Financial Council summit on women and finances which was looking closely at the gender retirement gap. Mary shares what was discussed at that session. If you are in the Wairarapa and want to hear more of what Mary has to say about finances and Kiwisaver, she's due to speak at the Caterton Event Centre next week.

Today Mary Holm answers questions from listeners who're concerned about their Kiwisaver balances going down and when they should consider changing out their funds.

Today Mary Holm's shifting her focus away from the woes of current Kiwisaver accounts to ways of curbing spending as the cost of living rises and mortgage interest rates increase. 

This week Mary Holm is tackling the issue of whether or not Kiwisaver Funds are good value for money and what you can do about it if they're not.

Today Mary Holm talks about the worries listeners have about their Kiwisaver accounts right now.

This week Mary Holm addresses more listener questions about investment and the comparison between shares and rental property returns.

Today Mary Holm answers a list of questions from a listener regarding when it's a good idea to suspend Kiwisaver payments.

This week financial journalist and author Mary Holm talks to Jesse about the latest Canstar Consumer Pulse report. It shows that 55% of New Zealanders are spending more than they earn.

New Zealand's inflation rate has hovered around 2 percent for most of this century, but experts say it could reach 7 percent this year. Financial journalist Mary Holm offers some advice for people worried about how to secure their money in the face of rising inflation and wobbly sharemarkets.

Today Mary talks about why comparing returns on rental property and shares is tricky. She explains that people usually borrow to invest in rental property, and most don't in shares. Borrowing to invest is called gearing in NZ, leveraging in the US. If you borrow, you get growth on the bank's money as well as your own. So she says a geared rental property is likely to bring higher returns than an ungeared share investment. But Mary warns there are other pitfalls to think about.

Mary talks to Jesse about dividend reinvestment and how to grow your shareholdings painlessly. The idea is that instead of shareholders being given a cash dividend they are given more shares instead.

Today Mary talks about why everyone should be in Kiwisaver and how to do it well. She says that age is no barrier to having a Kiwisaver account. She also has some tips on how to keep an eye on your provider and the fees they are charging.

Today Mary Holm talks to Jesse about the New Zealand share market's current downward trend and what to do when your Kiwisaver value wobbles.

Today Mary continues her talk on money and relationships and how this time of the year can cause tension.

Mary Holm talks to Jesse about economic harm and how it affects more than half of all New Zealand women at some point. 

Today Mary Holm talks about some big changes coming to Kiwisaver. From December first your provider and your risk level may change without you knowing about it. Mary shares how to find out if the changes will affect you and suit you, and what to do about it if they don't.

Today Mary looks at the 'buy now pay later' option and whether or not these are a good idea. The products are usually quite tempting as you don't pay any interest, but Mary warns there are quite high penalties for late payments.

Today Mary is talking about IPO FOMO. Translated it means Initial Public Offerings when a new stock is launched and people feel they need to invest in them because everyone else is! She talks about what you should be thinking of if you're keen on investing money in shares and IPOs.

Today Mary Holm talks about how people are doing Kiwisaver badly and how that can change. She also has some answers to listener questions sent in during previous appearances.

Mary talks about ethical investing following on from a report by The Responsible Investment Association of Australasia which reviewed the investment practices of 27 financial institutions in New Zealand.

Today Mary looks at ways to manage your mortgage in particular with an eye on interest rates which are predicted to rise in the near future.

Today Mary talks to Jesse about the money quiz and talk in particular question which many listeners believe we have the wrong answer for. Spoiler alert - we don't!

Today Mary Holm talks to Jesse about online share trading. She says research shows that nearly 40 percent of adult New Zealanders use or plan to use micro-investing platforms.

Mary Holm answers listener questions about their Kiwisaver options and personal finances. 

Today Mary talks about gender differences in handling money and investing. Research shows that fewer women live from payday to payday but have less financial knowledge than me. She talks to Jesse about the research she's been looking at which also shows that women with children also have less financial know how than women who don't have any.

Today Mary Holm talks to Jesse about Kiwisaver for all non-employees of all ages.

After speaking about reverse mortgages with Jesse one of the two banks which offers them, Heartland, got in touch with Mary to argue she was being too negative about taking up that financial option.

Mary Holm talks about reverse mortgages, which are seen as a way to free up money for retired homeowners.

Today Mary is talking about what's been happening at the Financial Services Complaints conference. Among other things, there are going to be changes to consumer loan laws.

This week Mary has advice on how to not be scammed at a time when people are keen on making returns on their money than banks can offer.

This week Mary Holm discusses low-risk funds, which she says are a good alternative to bank term deposits which currently have very low rates of return.

Mary announces the winners of the 5 copies of her new book, A Richer You - how to make the most of your money. She'll share some of the wisdom in the winning entries and also some of the runners up.

Today Mary talks about the importance of having emergency money set aside for a 'rainy day', how much you should save and when you should use it.

Mary Holm talks more about shares as an investment option and people's fears of putting their money into them.

Today Mary talks about whether or not paying down your mortgage is still the best strategy with interest rates at all time lows.

Personal investment expert Mary Holm argues that you don't have to jump on the house buying bandwagon!

Mary Holm responds to listener questions and comments on her financial literacy quiz from two weeks ago, and talks about a new survey by the Commission for Financial Capability - on money and relationship problems. 

Last week Commission for Financial Capability released a survey on New Zealander's financial knowledge. Mary discusses some of the findings and tests your knowledge of financial basics.

Financial journalist Mary Holm says there are two reasons for investing - the obvious one is to see your wealth grow over time, but on the rise are investors who dip their toes in the water, purely for fun.

It's World Investor Week and financial author and journalist Mary Holm talks today about the eight myths of investing. 

Financial author and journalist Mary Holm examines the options for dealing with debt.

With interests rates so low - where can you put your money so that it works for you? Financial author and journalist Mary Holm explores the options.

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm talks Kiwisaver and managed funds during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Financial author and journalist Mary Holm discusses how you can work out what's a reasonable goal for you for your retirement savings.

Today financial author and journalist Mary Holm discusses economic wellness.

Today financial author and journalist Mary Holm discusses economic wellness.

Financial author and journalist Mary Holm looks again at mixed messages New Zealanders are receiving about what to do with their money - today she explores whether or not you should be investing in New Zealand assets or international ones.

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm discusses how you play the markets to your favour.

How are your finances looking four weeks into Lockdown? Financial author and journalist Mary Holm looks at whether you should take advantage of lower mortgage rates, if it would be wise to defer your mortgage payments and how to prepare for a possible rate rise in the future.

Mary discusses what you should and shouldn't be doing with your investments at the moment.

Financial author and journalist Mary Holm looks at getting a WOF for your KiwiSaver.

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm is in to tell us why she disagrees with the result of a recent FMA debate on passive versus active funds, including KiwiSaver.

Investors in shares - and most KiwiSaver investors - are doing "too well" says financial author and journalist Mary Holm, but can it last?

Popular financial journalist and author Mary Holm is back to go over the Review of Retirement Income Policy 2019,  released yesterday.

Christmas is a time for reflection and so financial author and journalist Mary Holm examines what financial decisions she has made and regretted.

Financial author and journalist Mary Holm has been at a conference this morning looking at financial education in schools and payday lending.

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm and Jesse discuss some research on why people are not in KiwiSaver. Many of their reasons, although not all, are not really valid.

Financial journalist and seminar presenter talks about the best way to invest in shares. She's also giving two talks at the Tauranga Arts Festival on Sunday 3 November.

Financial journalist and author, Mary Holm participated in The Mindful Money Conference in Auckland this week and discusses some of the key points raised.

How often do you think about insurance, do you even have insurance and if you do is it the right type of insurance for your situation? Is the cover adequate? 

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm discusses the factors that most affect your KiwiSaver growth.

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm looks at your options in a rising share market - should you get out or stay in? And if you stay in - what should your approach be?

Mary talks ethical investment.

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm talks about how KiwiSaver has reached two milestones.

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm looks today at understanding risk and return. In a recent ASB survey, people were asked "which type of savings or investment product gives the best return?" and given a list of possible answers.

Financial journalist and author Mary Holm is our regular money expert and today she's looking specifically at investments. 

Mary Holm offers insights from conference on retirement income policies at the University of Auckland’s Retirement Policy and Research Centre.

Financial columnist and author Mary Holm answers two listeners' questions about shares and warns listeners about the dangers of insider trading

KiwiSaver is getting more flexible, and opening its doors to those over 65 - although not completely. Mary Holm explains what it all means.

Having some money that you can easily access when things go wrong is one of the most important aspects of managing your finances. 

Couples often differ over money - and unless you can deal with them, such differences will at least create tensions, and sometimes cause breakups.

Mary explains a bit about an online tool called Smart Investor, which has been created to give financial information to everyday New Zealanders

Mary discusses three ways to play with numbers. The first is dollar cost averaging. The second is the rule of 72. The third is what happens if you have 40 years in KiwiSaver. 

Have KiwiSaver concerns? RNZ listeners share theirs with personal finance advisor Mary Holm, asking if it's better to switch funds when their KiwiSaver balance falls, whether to move KiwiSaver money to term deposits in retirement, how self-employed people can make the most of KiwiSaver and how to tell if their fund is low or high-risk.

In Mary's last segment with Jesse, she asked listeners to send in questions. The best five questions are answered in this segment.

In Mary's new book, Rich Enough? A laid-back guide for every Kiwi, she writes about eight steps to get your finances sorted. She talks with Jesse about why it's best to do it in steps.

Mary Holm discusses reverse mortgages, which can be a good way for retired people to make use of the money they have tied up in their homes.

Shall I go for a fixed or floating mortgage, and how long a term? Is it better to put extra money into my mortgage or my KiwiSaver fund? Can I use my KiwiSaver fund to buy a container house? Mary Holm answers listeners' questions about mortgages.

Is that new item of clothing really going to make you happier in the long run? Do you really need to hold on to your Saturday brunch habit? Mary Holm looks into why we spend unnecessarily and suggests how we can take more control. She also discusses how to tell lenders you don't want to be offered loans, ideas for making Christmas less expensive, and places you can get free support to help cut your spending. 

Mary answers listeners' worries about KiwiSaver. They include: how to learn the basics of the scheme; whether the government can be trusted not to take the money; whether fees are ripping off children in KiwiSaver and more. 

A new survey shows New Zealanders are keen on ethical - sometimes called responsible - investing. But not so many are taking steps to ensure their KiwiSaver and other investments follow these principles.

A recent gathering of a group called Women in Super looked at findings from a Financial Markets Authority survey that showed men tend to know more about investing than women and are more confident at it. 

Everybody, can be victims of money making or investment scams, fraud, or bad deals. This week on Your Money with Mary Holm, she offers advice and information on warning signs and some known scams. 

Mary and remuneration expert Geoff Summers discuss a controversial issue from the last segment about employer contributions to KiwiSaver - a practice called total remuneration. Then Mary turns to a survey on KiwiSaver.

Mary discusses suggestions made by a panel of experts at a recent conference on how to improve KiwiSaver. She's not keen on making the scheme compulsory, and wants to see an end to "total remuneration".

The Commission for Financial Capability is suggesting that some KiwiSaver contributions be diverted into a rainy day fund, which people can draw on in a financial crisis.

Mary discusses a listener's letter questioning the spending habits of elderly and single women, before taking a look at gender differences in money management, investment and risk. 

It's important to meet several financial advisors before committing to one, says Mary Holm. She talks about why you might want to use a financial advisor, how to make a shortlist and some good questions to ask when you meet them. 

It’s unwise to keep moving investments around in response to market surges or slumps, not least because by the time you act they're likely to have moved again, says Mary Holm.

Sticking with only NZ investments is foolish Mary Holm says. She explains why and answers listener questions.

Over the long term a renter could win over a home buyer if their extra money is invested steadily and wisely, personal finance expert Mary Holm says.

This week personal finance expert Mary Holm asks if rental properties are still a good investment.

Is a young person better to go into an apprenticeship, or an undergraduate degree? 

How to best deal with a student loan.

This week Mary tackles the worries and misunderstandings about the New Zealand Super.

It's the ten years since the KiwiSaver scheme was launched and Mary Holm has been looking what impact it's had on New Zealanders' nest eggs.

Most of us are in bonds via our superannuation and kiwisaver schemes. Personal Finance expert Mary Holm looks at bonds - what they are, how safe they are, and why you should know about credit ratings.

Mary Holm answers more listener questions on Kiwisaver, particularly for people who are near retirement or already 65.

"Why I'm sticking with shares for the long term - despite recent research."

Mary Holm discusses Kiwisaver and ethical investment, plus her approach to investing in shares - is it really 'dangerous'?

Personal finance expert Mary Holm looks at clever and not-so-clever moves with mortgages.

Why do some people spend too much, while others are more miserly? Personal finance expert Mary Holm talks about bad shopping habits and has some advice for big spenders.