All in Shares

Begin at the Beginning: Step-by-step Path to Financial Independence

Begin at the Beginning: Step-by-step Path to Financial Independence

Ruth
Budgeting, ETFs, Index Funds, Investment, KiwiSaver, Personal Finance, Shares, Sharesies, Sharesight, Simplicity, SmartShares

Whatever it is that you are embarking on that’s always the best place to start in my opinion. The beginning. Then just follow the path, in my case, the path to financial independence and eventually not being tied to a job to earn my income. It’s a long journey but it’s one worth starting. I’m often writing emails that cover the same points over and over again, so I thought that today I’d put that information into a blog post for all of the people wondering where to start and how to string all the bits of information you have learned about money into a cohesive order.

KiwiSaver and First Home - Invest For Both

KiwiSaver and First Home - Invest For Both

Ruth
ETFs, Index Funds, KiwiSaver, Retirement, Saving, Shares, Simplicity, SmartShares, Sharesies

With our house prices continuing to climb, more and more pressure is going on first home buyers to save up the large deposit they need to buy a house. This is hardly news to you I know and this blog post is not really aimed at those of you who are poised and on the cusp of buying your first home, instead, it’s aimed at your far younger children, siblings, nieces, nephews and friends who might also want to both buy a home one day AND retire.

Should I buy VTSAX or US 500 in New Zealand?

Should I buy VTSAX or US 500 in New Zealand?

Ruth
ETFs, Hatch, Index Funds, Investment, Kernel, Shares, Sharesies, Sharesight, SmartShares

This week I read a question on the Kiwi Mustachian Facebook page from a woman by the name of Kimberly who was asking a particularly good question. I thought that such a question required more than a social media soundbite and that it might also be useful to other Happy Savers. This is an important question and it needs a detailed answer because in my view Kimberly is on the brink of making one of the most important investment decisions of her life and she needs to feel comfortable with what she is doing.

I don’t believe the phrase “don’t put money in the share market that you can’t afford to lose”

I don’t believe the phrase “don’t put money in the share market that you can’t afford to lose”

Ruth
ETFs, Index Funds, Money Education, Shares

I think this well-worn phrase, “Don’t put money in the share market that you can’t afford to lose”, contributes to our over-reliance on housing as the only way to grow your wealth in New Zealand. That’s a great shame in my mind because people have turned their back on our strong share market. When I hear prominent Kiwi’s in the New Zealand investing space I want them to educate and inform me. I want them to show me that investing in something other than housing is a viable option for growing the wealth of my family over time. I don’t want them to confirm any biases that I might hold about the share market being risky and akin to a casino. Because it’s not. Yet when they repeat the phrase “don’t put money in the share market that you can’t afford to lose”, that’s exactly what they are telling myself and others.

What should I do with my Bonus Bonds?

What should I do with my Bonus Bonds?

Ruth
Bonds, ETFs, Financial Advisors, Hatch, Index Funds, Investment, Kernel, KiwiSaver, Saving, Shares, Sharesies, Simplicity, SmartShares

This week I’ve received even more emails about Bonus Bonds with people asking what investment options are out there for the money that will be released from the scheme when it winds up shortly and also asking what they could do with the ongoing monthly payments that people had previously been making into the scheme. They don’t want to stop this regular savings habit, but they have no idea where to put it.

US shares now available on Sharesies

US shares now available on Sharesies

Ruth
Sharesies, Shares, Index Funds, ETFs, Hatch, Investment, Kernel, Money Education, Simplicity, SuperLife, SmartShares

You may have noticed that Sharesies now offer you access to the American share market. So now we are faced with yet another choice for our investment dollar. And don’t get me wrong, the choice is great but it can add a layer of confusion too for first-time investors. So, while Sharesies and others like them have filled a gaping hole in the market - providing easy and affordable access to the share market - they have created another void and that is the education of investors.

Applying The Barefoot Investor in NZ - UPDATE

Applying The Barefoot Investor in NZ - UPDATE

Ruth
Index Funds, KiwiSaver, Personal Finance, Retirement, Shares, Simplicity, SmartShares, SuperLife, Insurance, Sharesight, Hatch, Sharesies, ETF

I originally wrote this blog post back in December 2018 and I’ve decided it was time to make a few updates to it so that all those people reading the book for the first time and those who are following along with the Barefoot Investor principles have a good New Zealand resource to come to. If you have read my original post, while it’s still relevant, this one is quite different because it takes into account different providers of services, so I encourage you to read this one too!

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