Investment News NZ (IN NZ) wraps up another year with a return to the default option: the 10 most-read stories out of the 450 or so perused during the 12-month period.
The 2020 recap – as readers may recall – was a special double-feature that, after careful analysis, has been rated unsustainable by environmental, social and governance (ESG) experts.
Incidentally, no ESG-related stories made it into the top 10 rankings for 2021 despite the high volume of copy generated by the trend: maybe next year.
But as per the mixed-up, COVID-interrupted nature of 2021, the IN NZ 10 smash-hits list has a truly random flavour this year.
Aside from the usual high dose of KiwiSaver-related stories – including perennial favourite, the IN NZ KiwiSaver report (14th edition) – the most-wanted subjects ranged from bitcoin (although, the story in question was really about fees) to academia/fund marketing to fintech.
Only one pure piece of people-move news made the charts in 2021 and, in stark contrast to last year, AMP remained absent from the top headlines.
In keeping with the unpredictable, pandemic-era theme, however, the highest-ranked IN NZ story in 2021 – by a factor of about four – is about tax: even more weirdly, the number one hit is a 2020 production, rocketing to the top this year after achieving minor pop status in the previous period.
Reversing standard practice, the 2021 IN NZ list goes from bottom-to-top in the countdown style made famous by NASA and, more importantly, some billionaires…
10 – Bitcoin bonus sees NZ Funds book 24 per cent annual fee
9 – Generate to double KiwiSaver options
8 – KiwiSaver Year 14 unmasked: FREE report opens up on scheme trends
7 – Community Trusts debunk Otago/Simplicity paper
6 – Fintech treasure hunt tipped for ForBar
5 – Sharesies looks to plant flag in Aussie market, readies ASX equities
4 – New adviser-run KiwiSaver hits town, Henaghan as CIO
3 – Wealth head quits ASB for Tower job; Platinum loses Asia manager; Matterson moves from Milliman
2 – Government dumps five defaults adds two in major overhaul
1 – NZ share-trading splurge could trigger tax alarms…
This is the last IN NZ issue for 2021 before a, weather-pending, lift-off scheduled for mid-January.
A huge thanks to the audience and advertisers who kept IN NZ fueled-up during the year as well as special mention to contributors Lachlan Maddock and Greg Bright for the ongoing support. And, unforgettably, Vicky.
Stay festive (and in a safe space) everyone…