OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Provincial town trends can changeSelling up to rent could leave you high and dry if prices firm and you want to get back into the market, writes Mary Holm.13 Mar 04:30 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Deposit guarantees have downsidesInsurance of this kind is not always effective, may be unfair and can lead to risky lending by banks, writes Mary Holm.06 Mar 04:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Haircuts possible on bank depositsMoney columnist Mary Holm answers your questions on making and saving more money.27 Feb 04:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Term deposits less risky than bondsMary Holm answers more questions this week.20 Feb 10:00 PM
OpinionMary Holm: A lending plan to stop sibling rivalryIt surprises me how many people don't check every now and then what money is going into their KiwiSaver account, writes Mary Holm. Then again, some people don't even know who their provider is.13 Feb 04:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Take it slowly on decisions after splitBorrowing to pay for a rental do-up at family home could be a good idea, but check out options carefully first.06 Feb 04:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Beware first-home subsidy trapsA Q&A on buying a first home using KiwiSaver funds prompted me to share our daughter's experience.19 Dec 11:30 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Sustainable fund not so sustainableI am disappointed that my KiwiSaver provider, ASB, has decided to close down its FirstChoice KiwiSaver Scheme, and in particular the Global Sustainability Fund.12 Dec 04:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Invest or save - it's a question of riskI am a widow turning 65 shortly, own my own home mortgage-free (worth about $460,000), working 12 hours a week, semi-supporting my son who is at uni.05 Dec 04:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Rental road to riches can be rockyMy partner and I have our own home at the moment with a sizeable mortgage, and we're thinking of starting a property rental portfolio.22 Nov 01:49 AM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Nerve needed to cope with crashesGosh, that was a baptism by fire. I remember the day, in the aftermath of the October 1987 crash, when the Brierley share price dropped below $2 - down from more than $5 just a few weeks before.07 Nov 04:00 PM
Personal FinanceMary Holm: Loans can threaten family harmonyOur son will be studying in Australia for the next few years and will need to borrow money from us for fees, living expenses and so on.24 Oct 04:00 PM
OpinionMary Holm: Markets knowhow great gift for teenOur son has his 17th birthday in three weeks' time.17 Oct 04:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Mistake to judge over the short termI joined KiwiSaver the day it started. I am in the Kiwi Wealth balanced fund. I am a 67-year-old retired widow with no other income apart from NZ Superannuation.22 Aug 05:00 PM
KiwiSaverMary Holm: Labour's capital gains tax plan explainedI find it remarkable that Labour's proposed capital gains tax has generated so little debate.15 Aug 05:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Strong dollar driving car prices downA few final words in regards to the discussion about purchasing a new vs used car. Your previous contributors have all made some valid points in regards to both options.08 Aug 05:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Insurance option on KiwiSaver cashQ: I saw the CEO of the Financial Services Council on TV talking about an insurance option to protect the loss of KiwiSaver amounts due to a recession. Does this cover have any merit?25 Jul 05:30 PM
OpinionMary Holm: Kiwisaver bank link?Account provider can’t use KiwiSaver funds to settle debts without permission, but there could be exceptions.11 Jul 05:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: How to beat the exchange rateQ: I am 29 years old and working in the Middle East - not really because I want to but because I need to, to get ahead financially.04 Jul 05:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Logic rarely enters new car questionThey say a new car loses 20 per cent of its value the second you drive it off the showroom floor, writes Mary Holm. Still, buying a car isn't always rational.27 Jun 05:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: KiwiSaver debate benefits everybodyQ: Is KiwiSaver an innovation to solve a demographic bulge and mitigate some perceived future social issues? Or is it an attempt to change attitudes on saving?20 Jun 05:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Taking on troubling KiwiSaver mythsMary Holm takes on some KiwiSaver myths.13 Jun 05:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: KiwiSaver can help with tough timesQ: I'm in the process of withdrawing my KiwiSaver funds under the financial hardship criteria. Hopefully, this will be successful.06 Jun 11:56 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Bill English's balancing act on the levelThe Government plans to borrow about $75 million a week for capital spending - buying assets that are expected to give long-term benefit to the country, writes Mary Holm.30 May 05:00 PM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Take the plunge, research KiwiSaverArmed with info on the fund's past returns, you can roughly compare them with term deposit returns, writes Mary Holm.24 May 12:32 AM
OpinionMary HolmMary Holm: Sell shares to lower the mortgageAvoiding having to pay for something is the equivalent to receiving money, writes Mary Holm. Both improve your wealth.17 May 01:05 AM
