Mary Holm
Columnist
Mary Holm is a columnist for the New Zealand Herald.
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Mary’s latest content
Mary Holm: Should I pay off my student loan or invest in an index fund?
OPINION: You need to consider interest, taxes and fees.
Mary Holm: We came to NZ with nothing and managed to buy a house
OPINION: But it's not so easy for those with physical or mental health issues.
Mary Holm: The biggest winners and losers from the Government's KiwiSaver changes
OPINION: Young people are the only clear winners in the Budget announcements.
Mary Holm: Are bond investments a scam?
OPINION: Many KiwiSaver funds include high-quality bonds, except for the most risky ones.
Mary Holm: Gold's risks outweigh rewards for cautious savers
OPINION: Gold offers no dividends, unlike shares, which provide returns even in downturns.
Mary Holm: Is there a pot of gold waiting for those who invest in non-bank deposits?
OPINION: There are a number of factors to be aware of once a new scheme comes into force.
Mary Holm: Trying to time the share or property market is a fool’s game
OPINION: You never know when bad luck might strike.
Mary Holm: Home ownership vs shares - the great Kiwi debate
OPINION: Balancing home ownership with investment strategies.
Mary Holm: How do we make sure a home deposit gift is fair for both our sons
OPINION: You will need to explain to both sons why the amounts differ.
Mary Holm: How to weather sharemarket turbulence
OPINION: Knowing when to invest again is impossible so it's better to stay put.
Mary Holm: I’m spending half my pay on my mortgage and I’m struggling to save
OPINION: It sounds to me as if you're being too tough on yourself.
Mary Holm: I’ve inherited $450,000 - should I invest in gold?
OPINION: The gold price has risen a lot in recent years but it can also fall fast.
Mary Holm: We borrowed to invest in shares and now we’ve lost money
OPINION: Fire your adviser and lay a complaint!
Mary Holm: Don’t wait to claim your benefit
OPINION: A woman has finally claimed her Veteran Spouse pension 44 years late.
Mary Holm: What’s the best way to keep a family heirloom from being sold
OPINION: Such a situation can’t be remedied by simply saying in a will.
Mary Holm: Should I use an inheritance to buy a rental property for my 18 year old?
OPINION: There are a number of downsides and risks to investment property.
Mary Holm: Can we provide more for a financially worse-off child in our will?
OPINION: Our son needs more help than our successful daughter – but she doesn't agree.
Mary Holm: Why do some generations still prioritise boys over girls?
OPINION: And why do some employers behave the same way?
Mary Holm: Do we really need to save $1.45m for retirement?
OPINION: The figures provided by the FinEd centre seem high.
Mary Holm: Where’s the best place to save a home deposit?
OPINION: Some employers put more than 3% into KiwiSaver.
Mary Holm: I own a $1.1m home and have $530k, will I have to keep working?
OPINION: Five of the top columns of the year from Mary Holm.
What a Boomer thinks about untaxed capital gains – Mary Holm
Our columnist on the big Super debate and the letters that were kind – and not so kind.
Mary Holm: Can I use my KiwiSaver to buy a campervan?
OPINION: There are rules and restrictions on what you can take your money out for.
Mary Holm: How do you find a good financial adviser?
OPINION: There two ways to get help – through either a mentor or an adviser.
Mary Holm: Will helping out an older friend affect my pension?
OPINION: Most of the answers to a prospective carer's questions are pretty good news.
Mary Holm: We’ve got $8.5 million in assets – can I afford to retire?
OPINION: There are simple guidelines that indicate what income you can pay yourself.
Mary Holm: Paying higher KiwiSaver fees doesn’t guarantee better returns
OPINION: It's not like buying a car, coat or a catamaran.
Mary Holm: I want a backyard, should I sell my home and rent?
OPINION: Renting is an option but it has lots of drawbacks.
Mary Holm: Should Lotto wins be taxed?
OPINION: Plus, Should I sell the rental and pay down the mortgage on our home?
Mary Holm: I'm worth $15m, should I self-insure?
OPINION: There are situations when you may not need to pay for insurance.
'If someone leaves me something in their will, am I obliged to accept it?'
OPINION: Mary Holm on inheritances, shares for uni students and the red-hot CGT debate.
Mary Holm: How rental property would work with a capital gains tax
OPINION: Holm also tackles student loan controversy, staff shares and big dividends.
Mary Holm: How a student loan eats into your borrowing power
One student wants to use her loan for a home deposit.
I own a $1.1m home and have $530k, will I have to keep working? - Mary Holm
OPINION: If the $1m estimate were correct, a big proportion of retirees would struggle.
Mary Holm: How to split your mortgage when refixing
OPINION: With interest rates on the way down, what should you do?
Mary Holm: Focusing on share returns for less than a year - that’s just silly
OPINION: Plus, Lotto chief executive explains how people react to winning big.
Mary Holm: What happens to your KiwiSaver money when you die
OPINION: It might not be as straight forward as you think.
Mary Holm: Hanging on for the share market ride
OPINION: Why it's not a good idea to flick in and out of shares.
Mary Holm: Whatever happened to the $20m Lotto winner?
The story didn't end well for everyone. Expert on what you should do with winnings.
Mary Holm: How to teach kids an investment lesson with just $2
OPINION: It's never too soon to learn the value of saving money rather than spending it.
Mary Holm: Two ways to painlessly build your wealth
OPINION: Tax cuts and lower mortgage rates provide opportunities.
Mary Holm: My teenager has saved $20k - where should she invest it?
A KiwiSaver fund could be a good option if she wants to buy a house.
Mary Holm: Rich and unhappy – why not volunteer?
OPINION: You could try being a business mentor or sitting on a not-for-profit board.
Mary Holm: Our daughter has ongoing health issues and we want to set up KiwiSaver for her
OPINION: And what happens when your daughter turns 65?
Mary Holm: I’ve won $82,000 worth of prizes from competitions and won’t touch Lotto
OPINION: Want a better chance at winning something?
Mary Holm: Can you win the lottery and stay happy?
OPINION: Loneliness after winning the lottery is not all that surprising.
Mary Holm: More tax support after 65? Careful Boomers! You haven't had it too bad financially
OPINION: Let's not start an all-out intergenerational war.
Mary Holm: Invited to an overseas wedding? You should say ‘I do’
OPINION: It seems that many people are too cautious, and regret it later.
Mary Holm: Should I ditch KiwiSaver for term deposits?
OPINION: Financial advice and common sense.
Mary Holm: I’ve come into some money - how can I use it to help my grandkids?
OPINION: It can be sad the way unequal treatment in a family can cause upset.
Mary Holm column: The first-home grant is gone, should I cut back on KiwiSaver?
OPINION: There are plenty of other advantages in keeping your payments up.
Mary Holm: Job shock - how to prepare for the prospect of losing your income
OPINION: All over the country, workers are worrying about losing their jobs.
Mary Holm: Do I really need life insurance? What about health insurance?
OPINION: If you pay a lot and claim little, count yourself lucky, rather than ripped off.
I own a $1.1m home and have $530k, will I have to keep working? - Mary Holm
OPINION: If the $1m estimate were correct, a big proportion of retirees would struggle.
Mary Holm: Financial tips for graduating to the working world
OPINION: Start out saving a big portion of your pay while you can still live on little.
How to kill debt without selling that classic car or treasured artwork - Mary Holm
OPINION: How to balance debt repayment and investment growth in NZ.
How to put your kids on the path to financial success - Mary Holm
OPINION: The key is to let young people make mistakes early on.
Mary Holm: Fear or dare? When to move out of high-risk investments
OPINION: For a growth fund, you could shift it 10 years before you plan to spend it.
KiwiSaver’s confusing for me: should I cash out when I hit 65? - Mary Holm
OPINION: Savings scheme outperforms term deposits in the long run.
First job? How to get your KiwiSaver working for you - Mary Holm
OPINION: Getting into the right fund from the start can help you buy a house.
Mary Holm: My tech stocks are running hot - is it time to cash in?
OPINION: What to do with high-performing - but risky - investments.
Mary Holm: Please help - my husband keeps dropping debt bombshells on me
OPINION: I am a born saver but my husband is a born spender.
Mary Holm: How to turn a $20 a week saving into $165,000
OPINION: But make sure you have emergency savings first.
Mary Holm: I’ve got terminal cancer - should I use savings to pay the mortgage?
OPINION: A reverse mortgage could also be an option.
Mary Holm: Is it time to sell the investment property?
OPINION: Higher interest rates and stress may not be worth it.
Mary Holm: Why dodging the tax department could backfire on you
OPINION: Some people hire accountants just to pay less but there is a downside.
Mary Holm: My husband is worried our $4m isn’t enough to retire on
OPINION: He is 69 and is starting to have a few health issues.
Mary Holm: Should I pay off the mortgage or put all my money into KiwiSaver?
OPINION: Five of the top columns of the year from Mary Holm.
Mary Holm: How to find out if you are owed missing money
OPINION: Plus inspiring letters from readers to help get you on the right track.
Mary Holm: DIY investing - what could possibly go wrong?
OPINION: Trying to avoid paying fees may not be worth it in the long run.
Mary Holm: Taking the plunge - making a career change at 50
OPINION: I’m not sure how to make my remaining $140,000 in savings grow.
Mary Holm: How did our homes get to be so big?
OPINION: Houses have been gentrified out of reach for some people to buy, a reader says.
Mary Holm: Flick the rental and have a little fun
OPINION: No clear winner between investment property and a share fund.
Mary Holm: Don’t play it too safe - get your investments off to a fast start
OPINION: Some words of wisdom for a beginner.
Mary Holm: For house prices, up is not the only way
OPINION: I’ve been bothered for some time about property valuations.
Mary Holm: Best investments for old age & what to know about residential-care rules
Exercise can pay dividends too.
Mary Holm: If our kids get good grades should we pay off their student loans?
OPINION: How an incentive system seemed to work for one family.
Mary Holm: Should you switch to a KiwiSaver growth fund?
OPINION: I'm 53 and have been in a conservative fund for years. Should I make the switch?
Mary Holm: It’s your funeral, so why not do it yourself?
OPINION: A DIY funeral could save you thousands of dollars.