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At SuperLife, our aim is to give you information so you can make the best decisions for you and your family. We want you to be in control. After all, you know your circumstances best.

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest" - Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790).

Have a look through our website, read our articles and guides below, our frequently asked questions (FAQs) and product disclosure statements, and use our calculators. If you can't find what you’re looking for, don't hesitate to ask us. You can do this by filling out the contact us form, but please be aware that we do not give personalised financial advice.

If you need personalised investment advice, we recommend that you contact an appropriately experienced authorised financial advisor (AFA).

 

KiwiSaver

Mary Holm – which KiwiSaver scheme?

Mary Holm from the NZ Herald Business section (Saturday 13 February 2010) provided a step-by-step guide on how to choose the best KiwiSaver provider. It was from her book The Complete KiwiSaver. Read more.

Buying your first home with KiwiSaver

If you have not owned a house or land before, KiwiSaver is a great way to help save for your first home. If you have owned a house before but do not now, and are in a similar financial position as a “first home buyer”, KiwiSaver may also be able to help you. This is referred to as a “second chance”. Read more.

Fees are important

This article discusses the significance of fees in the context of KiwiSaver. Read more.

First home withdrawal

This article provides details about the KiwiSaver first home withdrawal rules. Read more.

Guardianship for children under KiwiSaver

This article covers the basics about guardianship including its role in signing up children to KiwiSaver and the different types of guardians. Read more.

Increase your KiwiSaver savings with government contribution

This article looks at how you can maximise the government's contributions. Read more.

KiwiSaver – understanding government contributions

This article explains the government contributions that are paid by the government into eligible accounts each year. Read more.

KiwiSaver – key features for employees and employers

This article looks at the features of KiwiSaver as they apply to employees and employers. Read more.

Saving for retirement – the KiwiSaver way

One of the best ways to save for retirement is through KiwiSaver – this article explains why. Read more.

KiwiSaver – significant financial hardship application

If you experience significant financial hardship. This maximum withdrawal excludes the government paid money but includes the investment earnings on it. The government paid money must stay invested for retirement. Learn more.

KiwiSaver - permanent emigration withdrawal request

If you permanently emigrate. This withdrawal excludes the government contributions if you emigrate to a country other than Australia, which are paid back to the government, but includes the investment earnings on them. From 1 July 2013, special rules apply for transfers to Australia. Learn more.

KiwiSaver – serious illness withdrawal request

If you suffer serious illness. This withdrawal includes your full KiwiSaver Account savings. Learn more.

 

Understanding the annual KiwiSaver statement

The article explains the annual KiwiSaver statement. Read more.

 

Investments

Understanding debt

Debt occurs because we spend more than we earn and borrow the shortfall.  High debt levels occur when we spend more than we earn for a long period of time. Read more.

Living with investment risk

For the purposes of this article, we look at investment risk as the chance of losing all or some of your savings. We note that risk is more than simply losing some money, but avoiding the permanent loss of money is important. Read more.

Investing - it's time not timing

There is a saying about investing - ‘it’s time, not timing that is important’.  You cannot get a good 10 year average return, if you are not invested in the markets for 10 years. Read more.

A stock picker's market

When you invest, shares have to be chosen. It is therefore always a stock picker's market. The key is getting the right basis to picking the stock. Read more.

The golden principles of investing

When it comes to investing, there’s no “one size fits all” approach. But there are a few golden principles that might be worth following. Read more.

Winning strategies

For an investor to be successful, they need to achieve their financial goals and have the confidence that they will. Read more.

Cash, bonds or shares?

The pros and cons of investing in cash, bonds or shares. Read more.

Passive is best

Find out why a low cost, low turnover, highly diversified investment approach probably results in better outcomes for most investors. Read more.

Secrets of successful investors

Most successful investors adopt policies based on tried and true investment practices and principles. They do this consistently in both good times and bad times to avoid chasing returns and investing in what is currently “hot”. Read more.

Understanding investment risk

The term risk means different things to different people. For many, it is something to be avoided. For others, it is an opportunity and and acceptable part of everyday life. Read more.

Understanding negative returns from bonds

This article looks at why we get negative returns from bonds, in particular the key factors of interest rate movements and investment term. Read more.

Understanding negative returns from shares

This article looks at how often should we expect a negative return over set periods of time based on historical data. It also looks at what we can expect in the future. Read more.

Will shares produce the highest returns long-term?

This article discusses why shares are likely to provide the highest returns long-term. Read more.

Understanding inflation

This article looks at the impact that inflation can have on investments and investment returns. Read more.

Investing in retirement

This article discusses, through examples, how someone entering retirement might invest their savings. Read more.

Investing in shares should not be a gamble

When investing in the share market it is normally better to buy quality companies and hold them for the long term. Read more.

Allocation of investment earnings

SuperLife generally credits the investment returns of a Fund to the members’ accounts invested in the Fund on a daily basis (a valuation day). Read more.

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Insurance

How much life insurance do I need?

This article covers the basics of life insurance and provides a comprehensive tool to help you work out your life insurance needs. Read more.

 

Superannuation & Retirement

Thinking about your retirement

Consider the investment aspects of retirement and how best to support your desired lifestyle. Read more.

Saving for your retirement

This guide helps you plan for your financial security in retirement. Find out how much you should save to achieve financial independence. Read more.

How long might I live for in retirement?

See how long you might expect to live in retirement. Read more.

Managed incomes

When you reach retirement there are a few ways to convert your superannuation savings into an income. This article looks specifically at "managed incomes" and explains how they work. Read more.

How much super is enough?

See how much savings you may need to live on in retirement. Read more.

Understanding NZ Super

New Zealand residents are entitled to receive NZ Super (the old age pension) if they satisfy the eligibility criteria. Read more.

Common rules for your retirement plan

Ten things to think about as you plan for retirement. Read more.

Benefit payment options

Under SuperLife, when you cease to be an employee member you automatically become an individual member. As an individual member you are entitled to take a benefit out of your account at any time. Read more.

SuperLife for Employers

7 ways to take advantage of SuperLife

There are many ways employers take advantage of SuperLife to meet their employee benefit and business needs. SuperLife is a vehicle that lets employers implement subsidised and unsubsidised superannuation, KiwiSaver and insurance employee benefits plans. Read more.

Cash is king?

In today's enviroment, the real value an employer can deliver to its employees is access to wholesale insurance and savings products, along with information and education so that they can become aware of the consequences of their decisions. Subsidising employees’ savings can only be justified if there is a clear business advantage. Read more.

Introducing a superannuation plan

This guide provides useful information for successfully introducing a superannuation plan in your workplace, including a step-by-step guide to launching a superannuation plan and a suggested benefit design. Read more.

Pay packaging

Using examples, this article looks at the advantages for employers who adopt a flexible benefits remuneration philosophy. Read more.

Role of superannuation in a total cost environment

Central to any organisation’s people policies is the way it remunerates its employees. In the current environment, what should be the role of superannuation in the employer’s remuneration policy? Read more.

Salary sacrifice

This article discusses how salary sacrifice works and related issues. Read more.

Superannuation – a general discussion

This paper discusses the general philosophy behind employment based superannuation together with the arguments for and against an employer providing employee benefits. It also looks at the general options available to an employer. Read more.

Introducing a funeral benefit

A benefit which targets the provision of a death cover of $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000 and promoted as funeral cover, is a cost effective way of providing a benefit that is often highly valued by employees. Read more.

Taxation - Retirement savings

This paper summarises the tax regime that applies to registered superannuation schemes in New Zealand and separately for approved KiwiSaver schemes. Read more.

Taxation -  Employer contributions

This article discusses how the ESCT regime applies to employer contributions made to a superannuation scheme. Read more.

KiwiSaver – Minimum contribution rates

The minimum KiwiSaver employee and employer contribution rate is 3%.

KiwiSaver – A general guide for employers

This comprehensive guide that covers all of the things employers need to know about KiwiSaver including information about signing up new and existing employees, making contributions, KiwiSaver providers, employer compliance obligations and payroll issues. Read more.

KiwiSaver – Employee benefits made easy

In New Zealand, employers provide employee benefits through a combination of superannuation schemes and KiwiSaver and typically adopt approaches that fall into three groups: KiwiSaver compliance only, proactive KiwiSaver, or KiwiSaver and optional superannuation. Read more.

KiwiSaver – Exempt employers

This article provides details of exempt employers including the requirements for an alternative "exempt" scheme. Read more.

KiwiSaver – Key features for employees and employers

This article looks at the features of KiwiSaver as they apply to employees and employers. Read more.

KiwiSaver – The impact on remuneration

This article discusses the impact of KiwiSaver on the principle of fairness and looks at how employers can overcome this by adopting a total remuneration strategy. Read more.

KiwiSaver – The superannuation component solution

This article summarises the alternative of introducing a superannuation component as part of the remuneration strategy. Read more.

KiwiSaver – Understanding employer contributions

This article looks at the exceptions to employer contributions that apply in respect of employees in pre-May 2007 superannuation arrangements. Read more.

Financial Health & Other Topics

Achieving financial success

The trick to getting ahead is not hoping to win Lotto, it’s about setting sensible long-term goals and learning to be successful along the way, by achieving a series of short-term goals. Read more.

Enduring power of attorney

This article explains the concept of an enduring power of attorney. Read more.

Paying off debt

This article discusses when to pay off debt, and when to save. It also covers basic practices around debt and mortgages as well as the impact that KiwiSaver can have on your situation. Read more.

Wills

This article covers all you need to know about wills including why you should have a will, what is involved in creating a will, and what happens if you don't have a will. Read more.

No asset procedure

This article explains the No Asset Procedure for individuals in financial trouble as an alternative to bankruptcy. Read more.

Payments on death under $15,000

An article explaining what happens with benefit payments when a person dies intestate (without a will) or has not nominated beneficiaries. Read more.

PIR tax rate guide

Use this guide to work out your PIR. It also covers common questions such as "When should I review my PIR?" and "Does my PIE income affect my own tax returns?". Read more.

Family trusts

A general guide about family trusts. Read more.

Money Month 2024

In honour of Money Month, our Head of Investor Education shared some of his personal top tips and insights for making the most of your money. Read more.

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Why try to pick stocks when you can own the whole index? SuperLife lets you access many of Smart Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

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