Higher- and medium-income earners will benefit over the longer-term following government budget re-engineering of KiwiSaver last week, according to a Retirement Commission study, but the bottom 20 per cent could be worse-off. The Retirement Commission (Te Ara Ahunga Ora) analysis found that halving of the annual government member tax credit to about $260 would disproportionately hit low-income earners and the self-employed. “For self-employed people and those not currently in paid work, who only receive the government contribution and no employer contribution, the change will result in a decrease in their KiwiSaver retirement savings … [Read More...] about KiwiSaver comes out mixed in budget wash
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Calming influences
With the Budget confirming the weakness in our economy, and inflation within the RBNZ’s target range, there is a clear case to argue that the OCR should already be at the neutral rate (according to the RBNZ) of 3% right now, and the central bank should cut rates by 0.50% this week. Greg Smith, Devon Funds head of retail, does the numbers… What a difference a few weeks makes. After what was a very volatile April, markets have gained a semblance of calm. Most indices have recouped all their post “Liberation Day” losses, and … [Read More...] about Calming influences
Recent New Zealand Investment News
FMA wins $6.7m pay rise on compliance, enforcement upgrades
Government has handed the financial services regulator almost $6.7 million of extra funding in the latest budget to boost enforcement and conduct licensing powers. The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) operational allocation rose from about $71.3 million in the previous fiscal year to almost $78 million for the 2025/26 period. More than $3.4 … [Read More...] about FMA wins $6.7m pay rise on compliance, enforcement upgrades
Amplifi names new CEO; Fisher CFO quits; Alvarium fills CIO gap
Mint Asset Management founder, Rebecca Thomas, has stepped back as chief of firm’s parent group, Amplifi, with Kirsten Boldarin to assume the leadership position. Boldarin joined Mint early in 2023 in the newly created head of distribution role after more than a decade spent working with a high net-worth investment firm in the UK. Thomas will … [Read More...] about Amplifi names new CEO; Fisher CFO quits; Alvarium fills CIO gap
NZX investment platform wins more advice clients; FNZ court date looms
The NZX Wealth Technologies investment platform has shifted two new financial advisory clients across from rivals Apex and Consilium with four more queued-up or already aboard. Following a bumper 2024 that saw 11 new clients on-platform, the NZX service confirmed Private Wealth Advisers (PWA) and Fortitude Financial as first arrivals this … [Read More...] about NZX investment platform wins more advice clients; FNZ court date looms
New direction: where the NZ financial advice industry needs to go next
Heathcote Investment Partners founder, Clayton Coplestone, reviews the past and future of financial advice in NZ… “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” Written more than 70 years ago as the opening sentence to the novel The Go-Between, the above quote, somewhat ironically, remains current: nothing stays … [Read More...] about New direction: where the NZ financial advice industry needs to go next
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Trade walls, profit falls: NZX 50’s tariff exposure unpacked
Sam Arcand, Mint Asset Management investment analyst does the numbers on how proposed US tariffs could impact the largest NZ listed companies... The Trump administration’s tariff strategy is a hot topic in the … [Read More...] about Trade walls, profit falls: NZX 50’s tariff exposure unpacked
Portfolio in a storm: why global listed infrastructure is taking off
Tyler Rosenlicht has seen a lot of airports. And the Cohen & Steers head of natural resource equities reckons terminals in Australia and NZ offer a more pleasurable experience for travellers than most in his home country of the US. In NZ last week at the tail-end of an eight-day Australasian tour, Rosenlicht said the difference in airport … [Read More...] about Portfolio in a storm: why global listed infrastructure is taking off
Regulator lines up mass exemptions for review
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has dusted-off more than a dozen let-off notes and product ‘designations’ for tighter scrutiny with some potentially destined for the bin. In a release last week, the FMA identified “14 existing class exemption notices that will expire between December 2025 and November 2026” for an omnibus review … [Read More...] about Regulator lines up mass exemptions for review
Wanted: IOSCO calls for clean-up in digital fin-town
Global regulators have made a rearguard attempt to rein-in the lawless online financial wild west with a triptych of papers laying out final ‘good practice’ guidelines for policing the digital money-lands. In the three reports published simultaneously, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) takes on so-called … [Read More...] about Wanted: IOSCO calls for clean-up in digital fin-town
Consilium sells to FirstCape
FirstCape has kicked off a long-awaited consolidation cycle with the surprise purchase of financial adviser services and platform business, Consilium. In a move confirmed this morning, FirstCape will acquire all shares in the Christchurch-headquartered Consilium, headed by Australian Scott Alman. The deal remains subject to “various … [Read More...] about Consilium sells to FirstCape
More Investment News...
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