Mary Holm is a columnist for the New Zealand Herald.
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Mary Holm: Buying shares? A dollar here, a dollar there - it adds up
Even if your share investments are tiny, it pays to spread them around.

Mary Holm: Will low-fee KiwiSaver fund perform similar to higher fee funds?
There's no good evidence that funds that charge higher fees perform better.

Mary Holm: The property market v the sharemarket - pondering the differences
Property has been a sellers' market, but the shoe's on the other foot now.

Mary Holm: Will KiwiSaver be around in 40 years time?
Our grandson believes it won't be around when he's 65 and would rather invest in shares.

Mary Holm: Should KiwiSaver fees drop when performance does?
Bonuses for fund managers may not deliver the hoped-for results.

Mary Holm: Should I cut my losses on KiwiSaver and buy this house?
This may not be the perfect time for home ownership — but it's the right time.

Mary Holm: 'Do not take part in this - I am certain you will regret it'
An unsolicited cryptocurrency offer isn't worth wasting time on.

Mary Holm: My house value has climbed from $47k to $3.5m
What to make of interest rate rises?

Mary Holm: What to do with an $800,000 investment?
Investing in a few funds is good, but juggling 30 of them is plain crazy.

Mary Holm: The risks of being a renter landlord
Buy in one place, rent in another? Yes it can work out — maybe.

Mary Holm: Everyone wants a home of their own - or do they?
Rates, insurance, home maintenance ... maybe renting isn't such a bad alternative.

Mary Holm: Winning on the sharemarket - busting some investing myths
OPINION: Make sure kids get the right message about share investing.

Mary Holm: Bonus Bonds $100 returned $10 in 36 years - would it have been better in a savings account?
What my $100 would have been worth if it had been in a savings account for the 36 years.

Mary Holm: Got $100k, where's a safe place to stash it?
Huge inheritance comes with a problem: How to keep it secure?

Mary Holm: Moving house — why it's best to try before you buy
If you shift to a new area, what happens if you don't like the place?

Mary Holm: Million-dollar club is getting crowded
Soaring house values have made lots of people rich... on paper.

Mary Holm: Thinking of telling a fib on your NZ Super? Think again
A foreign pension can complicate things, but it's best to come clean.

Mary Holm: Freeing up wealth when your savings have dried up
There is a way you can still keep the holiday home and continue the family memories.

Mary Holm: What to do when markets plunge?
When the markets plunge, sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing.

Mary Holm: Don't wait for disaster before making sure you're covered
There's an easy way to check that you can meet the cost of rebuilding.

Mary Holm: Why both partners need to know how the finances work
For a busy couple, it makes sense to allocate most of the chores. But not money.

Mary Holm: Is it better to invest or pay down a mortgage?
Maybe you can borrow for that rental property — but are you sure you won't get dunked?

Mary Holm: I have a spare $200k, should I top up my KiwiSaver fund?
Plus, how to save up for that trip to Venice

Mary Holm: Where to turn for a loan when the bank says no
Solid balance sheet not enough to qualify for a short-term loan.

Mary Holm: Should this teenager get a credit card?
Sometimes a homemade gift can be as welcome as a big-budget present.

Mary Holm: Mum's legacy that wasn't - a tough investment lesson from 1980
OPINION: A well-intentioned parent's 42-year investment strategy doesn't pay off.

Go ahead, don't be afraid to spend the kids' inheritance
Many people deprive themselves during retirement so they can leave money to children.

Mary Holm: Facing the challenges of a landlord's life
Investing in a rental is about your personality, not just money.

Mary Holm: Where should I invest $150,000 for the greatest return?
How a fund does for a few months, or even a year, isn't the issue.

Mary Holm: What's first - get into a home, or out of a debt?
How quickly to repay $100,000 student loan is a question of ethics, not just finances.

Mary Holm: The millionaire, mortgage-free single woman earning a benefit
Are you obliged to tell authorities about an inheritance if you're earning a benefit?

Mary Holm: Can a keen young saver borrow to invest?
The faster you climb, the greater the danger.

Mary Holm: 'I always take financial advice from US celebrities ...' Yeah, right!
While many shun oil and gas, Taranaki resident takes the opposite approach.

Mary Holm: How to get into the investing game
You're better off playing, than waiting too long on the sidelines.

Mary Holm: Gambling v investing - a question that really got me thinking
Both involve taking a risk, but that doesn't make them the same.

Mary Holm: Why our obsession with property doesn't work well in retirement
Rising real estate values may not translate into retirement income.

Mary Holm: I'm 95 with $105,000 — what should I do?
If you can afford it, why not have a little fun instead of playing it safe.

Mary Holm: $200k saved and a joint income of $150k - what are our house-buying hopes?
Can a couple with a joint income of $150K afford three children and a mortgage?

Mary Holm: I'm 24 and saving $300 a week. Should I buy a house?
Whichever your choice, good habits early will help you later on.

Mary Holm: Single, in my 50s, with an $800,000 home and low debt - is it a mad idea to quit my job?
I'm a single woman in her 50s, am I mad to sell my house, quit my job and start fresh?

Mary Holm: Would a KiwiSaver account be a good investment present?
"It's very powerful to save even quite small amounts over long periods," says Mary Holm.

Mary Holm: Starting again after a split - what should I do with $700,000?
Risk is one thing you don't need when coming out of a relationship with money in the bank.

Mary Holm: Small business idea better than chasing a fast buck
When the going is tough animals offer a lifeline.

Mary Holm: Coming back home to a capital gain
A returning Kiwi looks certain to come out ahead.

Mary Holm: Could a decades old term deposit yield any treasure?
Will digging up a long-forgotten term deposit be all hunt and no treasure?

Mary Holm: Over-saving for retirement? Treat yourself now
Some people take saving to extremes and miss out on life's finer things.

Mary Holm: Do you pay for education or invest and hope for a financial payoff?
The answer is about more than just maths.

Mary Holm: One way to narrow KiwiSaver gulf between the haves and the have-nots
Should employers have to contribute for staff who aren't doing it for themselves?

Mary Holm: How to avoid inflation stealing your savings
The scary thing is sticking with low-risk investments while your buying power dwindles.

Mary Holm: Agents' commissions aren't set in stone
However fees are sliced, there's nothing to stop you trying for a better deal.

Mary Holm: Love the product, should I buy the shares?
Is just liking the brand and its product/service a good enough reason to invest in it?

Mary Holm: I have $1m in super schemes, should I keep adding $1000 a month?
Would agents work harder if they got more money for getting the very best price?

Mary Holm: Should KiwiSaver fund managers provide a refund for sub-par performance?
KiwiSaver, tax, property - our financial expert answers your questions.

Mary Holm: $50,000 paid in insurance premiums and no payout. Time to cancel?
Insurance may be expensive, but no insurance can have an even higher price.

Mary Holm: I'm 22 and my parents are gone - what do I do with my inheritance?
While you're still young, the key is to keep your financial options open.

Mary Holm: Market volatility got you stressed? Just relax
Take the long-term view and lie back and watch your money grow.

Mary Holm: How to pick the best investment fund for you
The new KiwiSaver default schemes weren't chosen for their past returns.

Mary Holm: Helping the kids into a home - probing the tax issues
Change to default funds opens up opportunities for many members.

Mary Holm: After penny pinching for decades, why not splurge a little?
I'm a multi-millionaire, and have been for many years, but still buy cheap beer.

Mary Holm: Buying a house for your kids to get on the property ladder - the fishhooks
Funds offer a return on your money while helping others get into a place of their own.

Mary Holm: How parents helped daughter land her first home
Here's the place to go for advice on tough financial challenges.

Mary Holm: Help! I'm building up to $250,000 - but I really hate my job
Do I hold on for five years in my current job just for the money?

Mary Holm: Nesting or investing - what's the point of owning a home?
A home should be a place for living, not just an investment, says a reader.

Mary Holm: I have $300,000 to invest. Where should I put it?
If weighing up a high-return investment, first find out how they're doing it.

Mary Holm: What if you are a renter and a landlord? One of many questions
A renter who's also a landlord misses out both ways from latest Govt changes.

Mary Holm: What makes a winning KiwiSaver fund?
Has a winning KiwiSaver fund picked the best course — or just enjoyed a good breeze?

Mary Holm: Rents — is this why the only way is up?
Rents around New Zealand are rising faster than incomes.

Mary Holm: There's more than one way to get a mortgage
If a family member can help, you may be able to find an answer that works for everyone.

Mary Holm: On mortgages, managed funds and investing in Kiwi shares
Is it better to buy a lifestyle block or keep on saving? Why not follow your dreams?

Mary Holm: Returns bloom if you take the long-term view
We're a long way from the crazy days of the Dutch tulip mania.

Mary Holm: How to invest a spare $340k
Want to earn a better return than the banks offer? Take the plunge into managed funds.

Mary Holm: Putting a price on shares - is it really worth the effort?
Yes, you can use measures like P/E ratios when choosing investments — but it may not help.

Mary Holm: Share prices soar — until they don't
The markets could continue to climb for a while yet, but the growth never goes on forever.

Mary Holm: Time gets tight when you're buying a house at 60
When you can't borrow for a long time, you need to do some hard thinking.

Mary Holm: Is it better to be in the real estate market - or on the sidelines?
A young couple tired of house hunting may be happier taking a breather for a while.