In a slight break from tradition, Investment News NZ (IN NZ) winds up the decade-opening (this claim is disputed) 2020 by doubling down on the usual annual top 10 hits list.
But with 20 popular vote-winning stories vying for attention (lawsuits pending), the 2020 version follows a themed approach rather than the standard countdown method – although the usual descent starting from most-read holds true within each category.
Unfortunately, relying on Google-generated reader stats has left some cult favourites out of the running for the end-of-year rerun – such as this market panic classic unearthed during a trip to the dump.
There is no prize for coming 405th, however: we must move on from the tip to the top, which, in a stand-alone section, is safely held by a bank…
Westpac NZ flags retail advice sale to Forsyth Barr
The Westpac deal with Forsyth Barr was clearly a surprise to many but it probably shouldn’t have been. Australian-owned banks have been rapidly reversing out of wealth management in their home territories and may have just noticed the NZ anomaly. Others could well repeat the Westpac example.
The KiwiSaver collection
KiwiSaver always features high in the annual hit-list but in 2020 the $70 billion savings regime represented almost half of the top 20. While the perennial favourite – the Investment News NZ annual report – won the category, KiwiSaver attracted attention from multiple angles ranging from new schemes to regulation to robo-advice…
The horror year in technicolour: free KiwiSaver 13 report released
Kitset KiwiSaver scheme set to unwrap in spring
Funds eye bargains, self-shoppers hoard cash, KiwiSavers turn conservative
FMA study debunks KiwiSaver index-hugging but puts the squeeze on fees…
KiwiSaver’s Achilles’ heel (and why advice is the cure)
FMA goes hard on KiwiSaver fees in draft guidelines
Milford to add robo for KiwiSaver advice
Generate stung by data attack, 26,000 members potentially hit
KiwiSaver passive billions need new location as Vanguard shifts to retail
Letters from A…M…P
If it wasn’t KiwiSaver, it must’ve been AMP: and sometimes it was both. The ASX-listed company was a big mess of news this year both at its corporate HQ and spilling out through NZ subsidiaries.
For example, AMP NZ was for sale, then it wasn’t, and now it probably is again as the ASX entity dallies with US investment firm, Ares Management. Despite most of the action emanating from Australia, readers were more interested in the local AMP moves.
More to follow.
AMP Capital NZ chief quits amid equities exodus offshore
AMP fires AMP Capital to go passive with KiwiSaver, NZRT
Henaghan quits AMP Capital, makes NZ home again
Sale on the table as AMP confirms asset ‘review’
‘Help’ is on its way: AMP NZ sale edges closer
Platforms revisited, at home with ETFs
Moving right along…
Flint set to spark platform competition
Four to the core: Smartshares to expand, rearrange and reprice ETFs
Craigs to go all-in on NZX platform; Smartshares has super year
NZ share-trading splurge could trigger tax alarms…
And, finally, with a story that took a long time to come true, the top 20 ends as it began, with a bank…
BNZ staff super scheme makes master trust choice
This is the last edition of IN NZ for 2020. We return in mid-January, after refreshments.
Many thanks to readers, advertisers and news-makers who kept IN NZ on the road (figuratively) in 2020. Special shout-outs, too, must go to IN NZ Australian contributor, Greg Bright, and Vicky, without whom nothing works.
Wishing everyone a safe, happy holiday season and a better New Year.