How you feel about your wealth can have a huge effect on your financial future. It is a well known fact that when people feel wealthy, they spend more, take on more debt or take more risks.

Retirement planning is not just about saving for retirement; it’s also about having a clear idea how you want to live your life in retirement …

Many New Zealanders are still missing out on an opportunity to double or even treble their money. Recent statistics show that over 60% of Kiwis who are eligible to join KiwiSaver have not yet done so.

There’s an old proverb that says: ‘May your charity increase as much as your wealth’. Given the many charitable organisations existing in New Zealand, helping others …

The beginning of the new tax year on 1 April is a reminder to check that your investments are being taxed at the correct rate and that you are taking advantage of available tax benefits.

What kind of relationship do you have with money? Is your money plentiful or scarce? Are you afraid to take risks with money or are you a high roller? The relationship you have with money is determined by your money personality which in turn is influenced by many complex factors.

There is only one way to create a lot of wealth (other than buying a winning lottery ticket) and that is to invest in assets that grow in value. That means investing in property, shares, or your own business.

It is now much easier than it was to spot a risky investment. On 1 March, 2010 it became compulsory for all non-bank deposit takers (including finance companies, building societies and credit unions) to have a credit rating from an approved rating agency such as Standard & Poor, Moody or Fitch.

The year 2008 will long be remembered as the start of the Global Financial Crisis which was triggered by defaults in sub-prime lending in the US and a downturn in the housing market.

One of the fundamental principles of managing money is that time and money are inextricably linked. People who are successful at creating wealth are those who understand the connection between time and money and use it to their advantage.

One of the key lessons we learn in life is that it is important to save. There is a big difference though, between what we learn and what we do and many people find saving difficult.

Retirement is seen to be the ultimate but somewhat elusive goal that we all aspire to and for which financial planners chide us that we must be well prepared.