News

KiwiSaver provider to offer insurance
2015-09-16

KiwiSaver provider Mercer is set to expand into the insurance market for the first time in a bid to capture more savers.Mercer, which has about 100,000 people signed up to its KiwiSaver scheme, is to offer life insurance and bill protection insurance in a white labelled product provided through Cigna Life Insurance.
Members of its KiwiSaver scheme who buy the insurance policies will also get an additional function called SaverProtect which will pay $200 per month into their KiwiSaver scheme for up to six months if they are unable to work due to illness, disability or lose their job through redundancy.
 
保险市场有多火？KiwiSaver供应商也卖保险！...

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Government begins consultation on plans for a withholding tax on offshore-based sellers of NZ houses
2015-09-11

he Government's commenced public consultation begins today on the proposed residential land withholding tax aimed at offshore investors selling New Zealand houses within two years of buying them.The tax, aimed at being introduced on July 1 next year, was part of the package of proposals unveiled by the Government in May's Budget and fits in with the the so-called bright-line test targeting investors selling properties within two years,which was introduced into Parliament last week.Revenue Minister Todd McClay said the new proposed withholding tax was "an important part of the Government’s residential property tax compliance work and will ensure tax is paid under...

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A Rothbury financial adviser discusses the pros and cons of taking out health insurance when you're young, and suggests a cheaper alternative
2015-09-09

Student loan repayments, rent, mortgage payments, childcare bills, rates, phone bills, internet, power, car registrations… the list of expenses we routinely fork out for, simply to maintain a reasonable standard of living seems endless.As new products are packaged up and dangled before us as “necessities”, we face the challenge of deciding whether they really warrant yet another direct debit.
I’ll leave you to decide whether you “need” a Netflix subscription or a gym membership, and tackle the tough stuff – health insurance.The Health Funds Association has just released ...

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