14 minute read
HOME
by Times Media
An Educated Eye…
INSPIRATION STATIONS: All play and no work can make Jack (and Jill) dull too! As the last couple of years have shown, having a comfortable, practical study environment is essential for young, enquiring minds. Even if only to help build homework havens – or provide remote learning sanctuaries – Circu’s range has everything needed to make a corner of a child’s room the place get down to business.
Creating inspirational desks and chairs to bookshelves and more, the designers at this Portugal-based company regularly make the grade with their children’s furniture. Fun, funky and functional, their furniture is indicative of designers who appreciate that environment is vital in encouraging kids (from little ones to teens) to hit the books.
All products in Circu’s range can be purchased and shipped to New Zealand. For more information visit www.circu.net.
EASTCLIFFE ON ORAKEI
RETIREMENT VILLAGE
• One and a half bedroom, 2nd floor apartment with a large deck and views out to Browns Island – $850,000 – Available now! • Two large 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartments in our main building nearing completion. Please call for further information.
CONTACT US TO VIEW
217 Kupe Street, Orakei, Auckland. Ph: (09) 521 9015 E: reception@eastcliffe.co.nz www.eastcliffe.co.nz
All occupational licenses for units at the village are secured by a first ranking encumbrance over the village land in favour of the Statutory Supervisor.
BOOKS – A MIXED BAG
Elaine Blick.
A SHINING PATH BY ELAINE BLICK
YOUR MONEY, YOUR FUTURE GET IT DONE
A sequel to the enthralling novel Beyond the Horizon, Elaine Blick's latest effort continues on with the story of convict women transported to Australia in the 1800s. Elaine is already working on a third book for this series too. Although it’s a work of fiction, A Shining Path is based on thorough research about women who built a nation. Books can be ordered online via www.elaine-blick-author.webnode.com. Frances Cook (author of Tales from a Financial Hot Mess) has released another book designed to help us better manage our money. Revealing that, even on lower incomes, we can still achieve financial freedom, this book provides sensible steps and practical plans all designed to help us take better control of our resources, however limited they may be. Achieving goals actually can be a lot easier when someone else is cracking the whip, however how do we motivate ourselves, especially when working from home? In this book, Dr Ayelet Fishbach (an acclaimed psychologist) provides a framework for selfmotivation. Whatever the tasks before us – personal or professional – Get it Done provides us with the tools to… get it done!
Elaine Blick: A Shining Path | RRP $20 (plus postage) | Strategic Book Publishing
TALL TALES for LITTLE ONES
MARVIN MAKES A FRIEND
The talented Nadia Lim has cooked up another children’s book following the adventures of Marvellous Marvin. No longer a newly hatched chick, Marvin is a cocky young rooster trying to find his brood as this story (ideal for children aged 3-7) unfolds. Frances Cook: Your Money, Your Future | RRP $35 | Random House NZ Ayelet Fishbach: Get it Done | RRP $39.99 | Macmillan Publishing
ICE THE MAORI PICTURE DICTIONARY
Named for her icy blue eyes, Ice is no ordinary dog. Based on the true story of a tenacious canine, this gripping story (best suited to children aged 9-14 years) sees its young hero, Zac, undertake an exciting adventure. Can Ice’s dogged determination prove indispensable to her intrepid young owner? There's only one way to find out! Colourfully illustrated, this book is designed to be a comprehensive guide for young people (ideally nine to 12 year-olds) who are enthusiastic to learn a language native only to our nation. Te Reo is the star of this book as it takes a fun approach to embracing a national taonga (treasure).
Ross Calman, Margaret Sinclair, Josh Morgan & Isobel Te Aho White: The Maori Picture Dictionary | RRP $30 | Picture Puffin
GOOD FINANCIAL HABITS
NEED OF THE HOUR
Banks are no longer happy to rely on estimates for servicing your mortgage. Financial coach DIANNE BARLOW from enable.me can help put the right system in place to change the equation.
News stories abound at present about people hopeful of obtaining a mortgage being declined due to their spending habits at shops such as Kmart and more.
Legislation that brought in tough new lending rules is affecting those that were never intended to be in its sights – but splurges at discount retailers don’t quite tell the full story.
Banks have always looked at how much you earn and how much you spend to check there’s a gap between the two – a surplus. They need to be sure that you can not only service the debt but pay the mortgage if you happen to be hit with a financial curveball – because life happens. That’s not draconian, that’s responsible.
The difference now is they’re no longer happy to rely on estimates of what you spend; they’re delving into (excruciating) detail to confirm it. Plus, they no longer assume you’ll pull your socks up once you have a mortgage – they want to see evidence that you can rein it in first.
And that is sometimes where people come unstuck – because New Zealanders don’t have great financial habits.
But in my experience as a financial coach, what you’ve done is seldom an indication of what you’re capable of.
With the right motivation, the right systems and a dose of accountability – we see people up their savings by 300 per cent which can be a game-changer.
While the bank rules have made things difficult for some, it’s shone a light on the fact that financial habits do matter, no matter how much you earn. They’ve always mattered – they just matter even more now.
As a fan of nice things and an advocate of living a life you enjoy, I’d be the last person to suggest you cut all the fun out of your life in a bid to satisfy the bank.
But I would suggest examining your financial habits.
Building better habits requires a good incentive (your ‘why’), solid systems (to save you when willpower fails), a plan (so you know what you’re aiming for) and accountability (so you actually do it!).
That’s where enable.me can be your greatest ally.
Dianne Barlow is a financial coach at enable.me – financial strategy and coaching Botany.
Get mortgage-free faster with a plan to secure your financial future.
Book a discounted consultation by March 31st with an enable.me coach for only $250 incl. GST (usually $350+GST)
WHAT’S UP WITH ANGELA INS AND OUTS OF THE AML CHECK
Perhaps you haven’t sold a property recently and you are not familiar with the term AML then continue reading as ANGELA RUDLING from Bayleys Howick explains Anti-Money Laundering, what it involves and what to expect so you are prepared before your home goes on the market.
WHAT IS AN AML CHECK?
Obligatory for everyone, the AML check verifies a vendor’s identity and credentials. In August 2019, the Anti-Money Laundering amendment bill finally introduced stringent obligations to the real estate industry. We are legally required to instruct a government-approved compliance officer, and this is a non-judgmental procedure that ensures the industry remains free from illegal transactional activities.
WHAT IS MONEY LAUNDERING?
There are some who try to ‘disguise’ money through criminal activities by ‘cleaning’ it, camouflaging the illegal origins of their money, protecting the identity of those involved and turning it into apparently legitimate funds. This has been widespread in New Zealand – with an estimated $1.36 billion being laundered annually.
WHAT IS YOUR OBLIGATION?
For individuals, directors or shareholders of a company, it’s quite simple – expect to provide proof of your identity (passport or NZ driving licence) and residential address (a utility bill or bank statement).
With a Trust, all Trustees and Settlors (person who established the trust) will provide proof of identity, the Trust Deed, and any amendment documents. For beneficiaries, the names and D.O B’s, plus the Trust’s source of funds/wealth. Examples of such include: a recent annual financial statement; a recent Trust account bank statement; a formal letter issued by a lawyer/ accountant acting for the Trust with a summary of the source of funds/wealth.
It is not unusual to be contacted by the compliance company directly if they have further questions. It may seem frustrating to provide this information but remember you cannot sell a property without successful completion. If you are considering listing your property, now is a great time to start the process, please feel free to contact me if you need further advice.
For anyone needing first-hand advice, please feel free to call my number below.
THE A TEAM
HOW WILL INFLATION AFFECT YOUR RETIREMENT?
We recently saw inflation reach a 30-year high in New Zealand of 5.9 per cent and economists anticipate inflation to remain at this rate for the majority of 2022. Consumer prices have risen at the fastest pace since 1990 and there have been sharp price increases in construction, petrol, food and rent.
HEATHER KENTSLEY, investment manager at Southern Cross Partners, talks about doing your own diligence with where your hard earned money is invested and what happens with it.
High inflation can erode the value of savings sitting in the bank, lowers the value of pensions, and indicates we’re paying more for our basic necessities. It means many don’t have as much for discretionary spending on luxuries.
However, assets such as real estate usually keep up with inflation. In fact, CoreLogic found a 2.1 per cent increase in house prices in January 2022, up from 1.9 per cent in December 2021.
Higher inflation means people may be looking at other avenues for their savings outside of the banks, generating interest in other investment opportunities.
During these periods it’s important to stay mindful. Investors hunting for better returns need to be careful with where they’re looking and who they’re investing with. If an interest rate or investment term looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Researching and understanding the product you’re investing in is vital, especially now, so get in touch with companies offering certain products to get information for yourself.
Remember it’s your money you’ve worked hard for, and ultimately you need to decide what you do with it. That includes doing your own due diligence with where your money’s going and what happens with that money when you give it to someone. At Southern Cross Partners our peer to peer mortgage investments continue to abide by our conservative lending approach ensuring we offer our investors sound investment opportunities that they get to choose from out of the current list available. Go to www. southerncrosspartners.co.nz to find out if this type of investing is right for you or contact us on 0800 00 58 43
Disclaimer: Southern Cross Partners is licenced to provide peer to peer lender lending services under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. This article is general in nature only and has not taken into account any particular person’s objectives or circumstances. We recommend you speak with a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
Make the most of it.
Get monthly returns from 5.00% p.a.* that make the most of your savings, so you can make the most out of life.
Sometimes it can be hard to balance the need to save for your future, as well as enjoying the adventures that pop up every day. Our unique investment model offers you the flexibility to do both. At Southern Cross Partners, we offer mortgage secured loans that allow investors to pick and choose their level of involvement. With current returns from 5.00% p.a.* paid out monthly. Talk to us today about a new, flexible way to invest, minimum investment $10,000.00.^
To find out more, visit us online at southerncrosspartners.co.nz
* Investment rate subject to change. ^Subject to availability. Southern
Cross Partners Ltd is licensed to provide peer-to-peer lending services under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.
ENTERING INTO A RELATIONSHIP?
Keen to protect your assets?
ZAID MOHAMMED from Wynyard Wood outlines the importance of Contracting Out Agreements when couples wish to protect their own assets.
Typically, at the end of a de facto relationship or marriage, the general presumption under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 is that all relationship property (including the family home, family vehicle, furniture and chattels regardless of when or how it was acquired) will be divided equally between the parties who have been living together in a relationship for more than three years.
Often, people don’t want their assets shared, especially if they are bringing into the relationship substantially more assets than the other party. To protect their assets, parties are able to enter into a contracting out agreement (or more commonly referred to as prenup) to determine the ownership and division of their property upon death or separation.
When should you enter into a Contracting Out Agreement?
Talking about what should happen if the relationship ends can often be overwhelming and overly negative, but if your new relationship is becoming serious and you have property you want to protect, it is probably a conversation you should have as soon as possible. Other times when you may also wish to discuss this option is when you purchase your first home and make contributions of unequal amounts or if you have children from a previous relationship and wish to protect their future inheritance.
It is important to note that this process takes time. It is not a process you want to rush because you are getting married or have been in a relationship for three years.
There are certain requirements that must be met for a Contracting Out Agreement to be valid. These are: • The agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties. • Each party must obtain independent legal advice before signing the agreement. • The signature of each party must be witnessed by their lawyer. • The lawyer who witnesses the signature must certify that they have provided independent legal advice as to the effects and implications of the agreement.
For more about entering into a Contracting Out Agreement, call Zaid Mohammed, (09) 969 7903 or at zaid@wynyardwood.co.nz.
2022: IT’S REALITY TIME
BILL POTTER – Maverick Thinker. Global Speaker. Personal Power Coach. Bill has made personal presentations in 53 countries. Here is a summary of a keynote to 7,600 in Hong Kong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToRhF22nARM
In my February 2022 ‘Eastlife’ column, I focused on a Universal truth. It is dynamic. It is powerful.
It inspires like no other influence, upon your life. It offers your future, two distinct paths. It is your personal choice to embrace one and reject the other. I choose this definition of it to keep it simple.
It is this: In psychology, an attitude refers to a set of emotions, beliefs and behaviours toward a particular object, person, thing or event. The two distinctive paths are even simpler. Either you consistently display a GOOD attitude or a BAD attitude. Good people know the difference!
Another ‘either/or’ reference to a person’s behaviour is that he or she is either a positive person or a negative one. Our world is overflowing with madness and we are unable to find authentic leaders anywhere! We must protect the future, especially for our children and grandchildren!
From now, please know that many people will ask you why the world is going through turmoil and... what efforts you made, to minimise or stop it. Most of them will be your extended family.
Look into their innocent, worried little eyes, and give them the hope they so desperately seek.
Let’s get ourselves ‘fixed’ first. Positive people always win in the end! Be in the winning Team, OK. (a) https://www. aconsciousrethink.com/16827/ bad-attitude-signs/ (b) https:// positivepsychology.com/ positive-mindset/
My LeaderSpeak© Course 2022, will be available on March 31 2022. It is only for achievers who have the courage to inspire and lead, especially for those who have ‘lost their way’ during’ the Pandemic. I am a lifelong ‘Maverick’, so I do things ‘differently’. Many Leader courses do not! If you want to believe in yourself and in a new good future... contact me. Now is good! Cheers. Bill.
duitdammit@gmail.com
THINKING ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS?
If your new relationship is becoming serious and you have property you want to protect, a Contracting Out – or Prenup – Agreement is probably a conversation you should have sooner rather than later. Contact Wynyard Wood if you’d like to know more about a Contracting Out Agreement.
wynyardwood.co.nz/prenup Tel. 09 969 0126
