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KiwiSavers and investors are bemoaning the fall in value of their investments. Over the last few months, investment returns for balanced and growth portfolios have been negative, causing many to rethink their feelings about risk and return. It’s all very well to be an aggressive, risk-taking investor when share markets are rising, but the true test of your risk aversion comes when the market takes a tumble.

As we come to the close of another year, there are no doubt many people who are feeling glad the year is over. For some people, it would well have been the worst year of their lives, with everything imaginable having gone wrong. Death of loved ones, loss of a job, poor health, business failure, the end of a relationship – all manner of traumatic events are possibilities in any year and some people cop more than their fair share.

Volatility is a new experience for KiwiSaver investors who have known nothing but stable markets in recent years. There will be plenty of opportunity over the next two or three years for nervous investors to make bad choices about how their funds are invested.

There’s never been a cheaper time to borrow money, with some banks having dropped their mortgage interest rates below 4%. Rates this low make it very tempting to borrow more to buy a bigger house, add an extension, take an overseas trip, or trade in the car for a newer model.

Since the 1970s a deluge of research studies, books, documentaries, media and internet articles have conditioned us to believe that stress is bad.

We are told that work related stress has reached epidemic proportions. So why are our workplaces increasingly full of people suffering with stress? And what can organisations do about it?

I am both a personal coach and digital marketing consultant and set up Tony Cutting Digital earlier this year. I had over 25 years in the talent management industry prior to moving into digital marketing.

I am now on the hunt to find and/or create Wellington Region's very own Social Media Influencer collective.

Our moment to moment decisions and actions are almost ALWAYS driven by our need to meet one or more of our Emotional Needs.

In many stress management books and articles we are painted as hapless victims of a pathetically primitive survival system – the Fight or Flight response (aka the stress response). The argument goes that the Fight or Flight response whilst suitable for helping our ancestors deal with sabre-tooth tigers and the suchlike, is wholly inappropriate for us modern day humans when, for example, we're stuck in a traffic jam or facing an unrealistic deadline at work.

It’s easy to invest when markets are running smoothly but when they fall your confidence can be sorely tested. More uncertainty in investment markets means more volatility and a need to review your investment strategy.

Egg salad makes a wonderful lunch or a side for your next barbeque. Using mini cucumbers would make great low carb finger food too. Makng home made Aioli ensures you are eating good fats instead of processed vegetable oil.

Everyone experiences anxiety to some degree - but individuals who suffer from severe anxiety have excessive and unrealistic feelings of dread, apprehension and impending disaster that interfere with their normal everyday lives and relationships.

There is an increasing trend for young couples to manage their money separately, unlike previous generations who pooled their financial resources. Women are becoming more financially independent, which is great, however there are a number of factors which mean that women lag behind men in the wealth creation stakes.

Who knew 10 years ago we would be replacing our starches with Cauliflower! There is cauliflower rice and cauliflower mash and even whole roasted cauliflower! This is a very versatile vegetable.

One of the barriers to people working with a financial adviser is knowing who to talk to. The relationship between an adviser and a client is founded on trust and it takes time to develop. There is an element of risk in putting your trust in someone when you don’t them that well, but there are some signals that can indicate whether you are talking to the right person.

The theme of World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is young people and mental health in a changing world, and it recognises that children and young adults are facing a crisis in mental health with fast-rising rates of anxiety, self-harm and depression.

Bread alternatives normally taste terrible and eggy or dry and nothing like the real thing. This bread is life changing, not because it tastes like the addictive stuff that is hard to give up but because it is dense, tasty and satisfying. It makes a great base for many toppings or slathered with butter or nut butter.

Successive generations always seem to be better off than the last. Our parents had a better standard of living than their parents and our children seem set to have a much more than we ever had.

Monday 8 October marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week here in NZ. This year’s theme is: Let nature in, strengthen your wellbeing – Mā te taiao kia whakapakari tōu oranga!

Investing in shares is becoming a popular option with young people keen to get ahead. It’s much easier than investing in property. The entry cost is much lower (you can literally start with just a few dollars), you don’t have to borrow money to invest, there are no rules and regulations to restrict you, and you don’t have all the hassles of maintenance and dealing with tenants.

New Zealand - Robbie Schneider, a noted financial specialist has recently spent time in USA discussing his business Succession First, a niche investment service that helps people get involved in SRI. Financial advisor, Robbie Schneider offers a solution that the consumer can easily understand.

One of the ways in which I explain anxiety to my clients is: “it's a mind/body system by which our subconscious mind (i.e. our out of conscious awareness) alerts our conscious mind (i.e. our conscious awareness) to potential danger.”

They say the best way to become a billionaire is to act like one. You can find the secrets of billionaires in their values, beliefs and strategies which, if you study them, can guide you to great wealth.

For a while now, there has been talk of a possible share market crash. Since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, share markets have shown a strong upward trend, and we have forgotten what it’s like when returns are negative.

Toyota has enhanced the daring styling of the C-HR compact SUV with the availability of a two-tone paint scheme on a new Limited variant.

A recent survey done by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) for Money Week shows that we still have a lot to learn about KiwiSaver.

When I thought up this joke on the way to the bank, I was laughing all the way to the bank. I put lots of money in the bank; I guess a genius and money are soon parted. I don’t bank my pennies though, because I burn through them so fast I keep them in a rather large urn. I guess a penny saved is a penny urned.

There is no question that it is hard to save – and harder for some people than for others. While it might be prudent to save 10% of your income towards your retirement, not everyone has an income high enough to do this. A focus on saving often results in feelings of guilt, failure and inadequacy which lead to a vicious circle of saving even less, and feeling even worse. With a fixed income, it is the level of spending that determines how much is saved.

This healthy-fat laden hollandaise sauce is made with the egg yolks left over from making the grain free bread. I posted that recipe a few weeks ago.

Situated at the corner of Molesworth and Aitken Streets, Wellington’s National Library houses a huge amount of wonderful resources for the entrepreneurial researcher.

When I was a child a treat was a special food to be eaten on special occasions such as birthdays. These days treats have become everyday foods and unfortunately all of that sugar and starch we are eating every day is having a massive impact on our health.

One of the greatest gifts you can give your kids is to teach them about money. It has been shown many times over that while academic success can lead to higher paying jobs, it is financial capability that gives young people the ability to create wealth. The earlier you start teaching kids about money the better. It just got easier to do that with the launch of Sharesies Kids Accounts.

Investing in managed funds such as KiwiSaver is a great way to save for retirement. For investors with small amounts or who wish to make regular, small contributions, managed funds offer a cost-effective, simple solution with diversification to help reduce investment risk.

Imagine taking a leisurely walk in the park when a gun wielding man emerges from the bushes a few feet in front of you and demands you hand over your wallet/purse.

Hi there. Welcome to my first blog post. My name is Theresa Joyce. I've been an internationally qualified beauty therapist for the last 30 years, with 7 of those years abroad. Where have those years gone? Its true that time flies when you're having fun!! And yes... I so love my work.

In last week’s blog I wrote about the difference between normal and problematic worrying and how categorising our worries can help us to deal with it. This week I’m sharing another practical, effective technique for controlling problematic worry – Worry Time.

One of the biggest fears for retirees is the prospect of ending life in a rest home, and seeing the family fortune eaten up by fees. While at any given time only around 5-7% of people over the age of 65 are living in residential care, statistics show that just under 40% of older people die in care.

I discovered a wonderful little pub in Wellington last night. I’ve been living in Mount Victoria for the last year and a half, and while I’ve walked past The Hop Garden a few times, I had never been inside.

When a major change in your life hits you, some people handle it well and others at times struggle. The fact is life is always changing, and well, it kind of has to. If it wasn’t so big or so shocking, we probably would not call it a change at all.

It’s estimated we have between 12,000-80,000 thoughts per day. A large proportion of these thoughts involve us asking ourselves....

The basic principles of financial success do not change over time. Despite this, younger generations don’t always take on board the lessons learned by their parents and grandparents.

Agile allows teams to deliver things of greatest value for the stakeholders every single time. But what do I mean by that and how?

Last Saturday I bought an herb, mint. It grew nicely for a week or so, now it’s wilting. I think this is because I put it into a glass jar (because I’m a hippy and don’t like plastic) and there were no holes in the bottom. I realised yesterday the soil was still water-logged, so today I transferred it back to plastic.

There is nothing complicated about money; you either spend it or save it. Over the course of a lifetime it mostly gets spent, so saving is just money to be set aside for spending at some point in the future.

To stop stress impacting adversely on our performance, health and enjoyment of life there are three key things we need to do. But, before I discuss those three things, let’s take a look at what stress is.

I bought you at Pak N’ Save for three dollars. I haven’t been with a mint plant for a few years, so I was a little shy. But you’re not judgemental so I don’t seem to have a problem opening up, the way you open up your frondy goodness to me.

As every investor knows, there is no such thing as a completely risk-free investment, and the lower the investment risk, the lower the investment return is likely to be.

Have you heard about the Vagus Nerve? It’s the most important nerve you perhaps didn’t know you had.

As the saying goes, there is nothing more certain in life than death and taxes. The minute we are born we are on a gradual path towards the inevitable, while paying taxes along the way! Around the age of eighty people start to become conscious of their mortality. Beyond this point, a traumatic health event, such as surgery, a critical illness or a serious fracture, can trigger a sudden decline in overall health which may be difficult to recover from.

Whittaker’s have searched the world for the finest ingredients to showcase in their world class chocolate and created three delicious new flavours to add to their premium 100g Destinations. The new flavours give Whittaker’s Chocolate Lovers a chance to enjoy the tastes of Colombia, Madagascar, and Australia.

I went outside (inadvertently) to use nature’s restroom you see – one of my housemates has a room a little close to the toilet and I didn’t want to wake him. I looked up, and here’s what I saw...

Choosing the time to retire is a key life decision that some people find extremely difficult. No doubt we can all think of someone who has stayed in the workforce a bit too long. There are a number of reasons why people can be reluctant to retire.

The luxury brand is the only prestige marque to have double figure sales increases – up 17 per cent to the end of June over last year.

There are four key steps that we need to take in order to regain, and maintain, control over our stress and anxiety:

Once a month I go to this café. If you haven’t been there, and you’re something of an intrepid explorer with good taste, go check it out.

Solo Art Exhibition: Held at Zealandia Ecosanctuary (gallery space on the stairwell up to Rata café)

Research tells us that writing about our core values is one of the most effective psychological interventions we can engage in.

Here we are half way through the year, with distant memories of summer, the start of the New Year and all those resolutions that were made. In the middle of winter, everything seems like a hard grind. In the darkness and cold it is easy to let go of promises made to get fit, lose weight and save more.

So you are getting close to 50 years old or maybe you are like me and now into your 50's?

When I was staring down the barrel of redundancy for the first time in my career, I experienced anxiety and stress big time. The trigger for my anxiety was a combination of intrusive, negative, distressing thoughts and images.

Drion sanitary products are hypoallergenic, ultra-absorbent and technologically advanced, and support menstrual comfort. They contain a green strip infused with far infrared rays and negative ions. Drion sanitary products also help minimise vaginal odours.

The latest Prius Prime Plug-in Hybrid, C-HR, Camry and soon to be launched Corolla are a result of Toyota’s global president Akio Toyoda challenging the company’s designers to create cars that speak to people’s emotions.

The Electrical (Safety) Regulations 2010 require all electrical equipment and fittings that are available for use in the workplace, in rental or leased accommodation, or are offered for hire, to be electrically safe.

The light-bulb moment that changed the direction of my life for ever, was when a fellow trainee coach read out to me the core values he’d just elicited from me. I thought he was reading from someone else’s values listing, because the ones he was reading out didn’t align with my perception of who I was.

Your retirement years are around a third of your adult life and it’s worth planning ahead to make sure they are the best years of your life. Approaching retirement age is a bit like running up to the finishing line after a marathon race. A big spurt of effort is needed just at a time when you feel like giving up and taking it easy.

Every adviser dreams of the day when they can kick back and just wait for the leads to come rolling in effortlessly. Sure, there are some advisers who love the thrill of the chase, hunting down clients, but the majority of advisers I know would rather spend their time doing what they are good at – providing advice and looking after their clients.

At this time of year it is a good idea to prepare for rainy days. That’s not just the wet stuff! Rainy days cause problems with our financial affairs as well, hence the old adage about saving for a rainy day.

This month it’s Men’s Health month: #menstarttalking

This year's theme is about encouraging us guys to open up and start talking about our health (mental and physical) and to get along to the Doc for a check-up. The strap-line is “Ask Your Mate How He’s Doing.”

How do you feel right now? Are you happy? If not it is time to make some changes.

Throughout my life, I have been successful in many ways. I have genuinely succeeded in most things I put my heart and soul into.

Whether you are starting out or have an established business you are wanting to grow there are some actions you need to take if you want to succeed quickly.

New Zealanders have always been good at giving to others. Whether it is selling sausages, baking for a cake stall or running errands for elderly neighbours, most Kiwis pitch in at some stage in their lives to lend a helping hand.

I live in New Zealand and people here generally do not like to promote themselves. We like to be humble and there really is quite a tall poppy syndrome that goes on here.

World Smokefree Day is on 31 May – if you are keen to stop smoking then hypnosis could be the secret weapon you’ve been searching for.

Being active during childhood helps with brain development and leads to lower rates of degenerative diseases later in life, a national exercise expert says.

There has been much talk lately about KiwiSaver fees and the impact this has on the value of KiwiSaver funds over time. Simplicity KiwiSaver is a recent market entrant which prides itself on low fees and uses this as a selling point. The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has recently changed the way in which KiwiSaver providers disclose fees so that funds can be more easily compared.

Whittaker’s is delighted to have been named New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brand for the seventh consecutive year, and thanks the New Zealand public for their ongoing support.

You’ve probably had this experience many times…..

You get in the car and drive to work. During the journey, your mind is focused on an upcoming holiday, or what to buy your partner for their birthday, or where to go for dinner on Saturday etc. You arrive at work but can’t recall anything of the journey. Why is that?

Life has seasons. There are good times and bad times, and the changes are often caused by factors outside our control. At a personal level, our health, employment status and family relationships can all work either in our favour or against us. At a higher level, the economic state of the region we live in, of New Zealand, and of the world, can have an impact.

Up until my mid-thirties, I chewed my nails down to the quick, very often until my fingers bled. It was a habit I’d learned as child when, unable to master trimming my nails with scissors, I’d resorted to using my teeth to trim them. Then one day I stopped, and I haven’t bitten them since. Read on to find out how I achieved that breakthrough ….

If you want to know how to manage your money and create wealth, look no further than your garden. The principles you use to create a beautiful, flourishing garden are exactly the same as you need for wealth creation.

Electrical safety and hazard prevention are the key to longevity and success for every business in New Zealand. Imagine, after the all the hard work you’ve poured into your business, that your organisation is closed down due to safety issues. If you fail to deal with hazards, it won’t be just your reputation that’s damaged – you could receive huge fines and have your operating licenses removed – not to mention the lives that could be damaged in the process.

Whittaker’s has perfected a new caramel filling and is releasing two new caramel products. As well as pairing the new creamier, smoother and more velvety caramel with Whittaker’s 5 Roll Refined Creamy Milk Chocolate, Whittaker’s has also created a 62% Dark Salted Caramel.

“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” ~ William Shakespeare

Shakespeare was correct – we’re all performers and we play many roles each and every day. Each of those roles places demands on us and we strive to satisfy those ever increasing demands to the best of our ability but often the pressure becomes excessive and it all becomes too overwhelming.…..

Managing money is more of an art than a science. There is no right and wrong when it comes to managing money. It is simply a matter of finding the right balance.

Graduating from Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand in 2015, Josh has achieved a lot within the last three years; now Head Chef at the Logan Brown-owned restaurant Bellamys, he tells us about his time at Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand, his experience at Logan Brown, and his future plans for the new restaurant.

One of the biggest dilemmas for people with a limited budget is whether it is worth taking out health insurance. This group of people includes retirees, young people at the beginning of their career and couples with young families. For retirees the dilemma is magnified, because both claims and premiums escalate very quickly with age. In the event of an accident, emergency, or critical illness, the public health system generally provides an excellent standard of care. However, our aging population is putting severe pressure on health services which is only going to get worse.

New Zealand – Robbie Schneider, a noted financial specialist has recently launched
Succession First, a niche investment service that helps people get involved in SRI.

Retirement planning is not easy, and it’s made even harder when there is a significant difference in age or health status between two partners in retirement.

All through my childhood, teenage years and early adulthood I was described as quiet and shy – someone who much preferred their own company to that of others.

So, you finished College, University or your trade course, started work or founded a cool business, it must be time to forget about learning and focus on making the most of the time you have, right?

Conventional wisdom says that once you are retired you shouldn’t take risks with your money. That’s good advice, however it doesn’t mean you need to be a ‘conservative’ investor. It simply means that if you invest in assets such as shares and property which have a high return but high volatility, you need strategies for minimising the risk of loss.

Compulsory retirement ended in New Zealand in 1999, and since then, the percentage of people over the age of 65 who are working has rapidly increased. It is estimated that 27% of men and 17% of women aged 65 or more are working – some through choice and some because they cannot afford to retire.

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

~ Winston Churchill

One of the most contentious issues with financial advice is the way in which advisers are remunerated. There is a great deal of variation between advisers as to how they are rewarded for their services to clients and regulators struggle to achieve consistency and transparency of how much is paid by whom to whom.

“Frustrated. Perhaps a little angry. There’s some stuff going on at work I’m not happy about.” He stared at me, holding my gaze. “But, I’m not stressed....,” he paused, “.... you know, I’m only here because my wife wanted me to come.”

Baby boomers are not only getting older – they are getting wealthier. As they reach retirement age, they bring along with them a large amount of wealth that needs to be invested, spent, and finally bequeathed to their heirs or charity.

Interest rates have been low for some time now - great for borrowers but bad news for investors. Looking ahead, there are signs that interest rates will rise, albeit slowly. We have had low inflation, so leaving your money invested in the bank at a low rate hasn’t led to a loss of purchasing power.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

Last week I performed as the right hand man for a blue puppet in Late Night Puppets  produced by the Wellington Improvisers Troupe (WIT), as part of the Fringe Festival.

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of women which occurs on 8 March every year. While women continue to make progress on gender parity, this year’s theme of #PressforProgress indicates there is still lots to be done. Women face a range of specific financial risks stemming from gender related issues - the gender pay gap, the roles they are expected to play in families and society, and how they perceive themselves.

We’ve all been affected at some point in our lives by the fear of being judged.

There are two ways to build wealth – the slow way and the fast way. The slow way involves saving and investing part of your income over a long period of time, in other words, building wealth using your own money. The key to building wealth faster is to use other people’s money; that is, to invest borrowed funds. This is the principle of leverage, and it allows you to multiply your investment gains. It is highly unlikely that significant wealth can be created without using this principle, barring a windfall such as an inheritance or a lottery win.

As a holistic health practitioner, it’s been a revelation to learn that periods needn't be a painful or negative experience, particularly when I help so many women deal with this often debilitating issue.

Are YOU Wanting to Create a Simple 90-Day Action Plan for Your Business?…
and have the competitive edge?

Join us in a relaxed down-to-earth workshop as we give you practical tools & strategies to improve your communication & leadership skills.

Today I’m going to share a simple, yet powerful, mind-set shift that helped me to be more successful in my life.

Financial freedom is a concept that most people aspire to, but which few people understand and even fewer people achieve. The term financial freedom means different things to different people.

Whether you are building your business or developing a career there is one essential skill that you must put time into - networking.

The New Zealand Health Survey 2016/17 found that around 1 in 3 adults (aged 15 years and over) were obese (32%) and a further 34% of adults were overweight but not obese.

It’s estimated that at any point in time, one in four adults are trying to lose weight, most of the time usually by going on a diet. Most of those people are going to be disappointed because as I wrote a few weeks ago, diets don't work long-term (The BIG Con – Diets Don’t Work).

The Government has recently released its report ‘Stocktake of New Zealand Housing’ which looks at homelessness and housing-related poverty. Undertaken by a team of independent experts, this report brings into the open the consequences of falling home ownership. A significant cause is the under-supply of housing; the number of houses being built has fallen behind the rate of population increase. This has pushed up house prices and rents.

A penthouse in the sky, look at all this information
Vendor highly motivated. Property vacant. Registered valuation of Fritz Stigter. Market value range $1,000,000 - $1,100,000. Dated valuation 14 November 2017.

Its not too late...
Spoil a loved one with beautiful flowers on this special day. Choose from Juliettes special valentines collection or choose from her everyday bouquets....

On Wednesday morning I woke up at 4am. The bedroom was way too hot (see below for the optimum temperature for sleep). I gave myself 10 minutes to get back to sleep and, when I didn’t, decided to get up and start work for the day. I re-framed the situation as an opportunity to use the two extra hours to progress a project I’m working on. When I turned on my PC I discovered it was #InternationalWellbeingWednesday, and that the theme for 2018 was all about getting a good night’s sleep! How timely!!

Over the last few days we have been reminded of something that has almost been forgotten; that share markets don’t always keep going up. The last ten years have been very good for share investors. The long period of good returns followed the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, which prompted various central banks around the world to inject cash into their economies and drop interest rates.

Toyota Hilux will ramp up its attitude with the introduction of the SR5 Cruiser variant, which sits above the SR5 and replaces the outgoing SR5 limited in the 21 strong range.

There are several different ways to generate cash from an investment portfolio to top up your retirement income. Many retirees make the mistake of confusing cash with income and this leads them to invest in interest-bearing investments such as bonds and term deposits to supplement their superannuation. Yet interest is only one of the ‘four pillars’ of retirement income.

Be. Accessible's journey in Wellington began in 2011 with the genesis of our organisation. We started with a vision to make Aotearoa a leader in accessibility, beginning by working with organisations and councils to adopt best practice in preparation for the Rugby World Cup.

For many people, their New Year’s resolutions concerned breaking bad habits or building new, more useful ones.

If you were one of those people, then perhaps you’ve already discovered that breaking an unwanted habit, and installing a new one, can be more challenging than you anticipated.

It is common for two people to stay in an unhappy relationship for the sake of children and because they can’t afford to split their assets and income in half. But is seems that now, the number of people who divorce later in life is on the increase. Known as silver splitters, they are over 50, the kids are off their hands, they have a home with little or no debt and they are looking for freedom and independence.

There is a lot to remember when you are motivated to change your life for the better.

The first step is to make a personal plan that covers all aspects of our life which may include career or business, relationships, health, financial, friends & family, personal growth and development, fun and recreation, and environment etc. For more information on goal setting visit my blog ‘Dreaming and goal setting’

Holiday time is a great time to declutter. Just as cupboards and wardrobes fill up with unused or out of date items, your financial affairs can become cluttered. Whether it is bank accounts, credit cards, store cards, loyalty cards, loans, investments or insurance, you can easily get to the point where you have so much going on you lose track.

Did you read The BIG Con article in the Your Weekend section of last Saturday’s Dominion Post (written by Rose Hoare)? It carried the by-line: “If you’ve been thinking about going on a diet as part of a New Year resolution, don’t bother.”

I don’t know about you, but over the last few weeks, my inbox has been bombarded with offers of help and advice on setting my goals for 2018.

Having goals focuses your mind on what you need to know and do to be successful, so that you can make the most of your life. The start of a new year is great time to set goals. However, if you want to be able to achieve your goals there a few secrets in how you set them.

The New Year is a chance to make resolutions to eat healthier food, exercise more often and manage money better. Just like diet and exercise, money is something that people feel often guilty about. Opening your credit card bill after Christmas and the New Year sales can certainly create the feeling that you have done something wrong or spent money you weren’t supposed to. However, while an initial rush of guilt can trigger desire to change money behaviours, New Year’s resolutions get forgotten about as life settles back to normal. There is an easy way to avoid feeling guilty about money and to keep on track with money goals.

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful, enjoyable festive season and wish you a healthy, happy, successful and prosperous New Year.

A Christmas Carol published in 1843, is one of Charles Dicken’s most popular novels and has been the subject of numerous films, TV series and musicals. Dickens wrote the story in six weeks, during October and November of 1843 to highlight the plight of poor children.

With Xmas Day just over a week away, how’s your stress level? Did you know that according to the UK’s Stress Management Society, one in 20 people consider Christmas more stressful than a burglary!

Starting out in life after school or tertiary education is an exciting milestone. It is one of the best times in life, with a future full of potential opportunities, without the responsibilities of dependent children to support and with few financial commitments. Anything is possible at this stage of life. However, it is also a critical time as making the wrong financial decisions when starting out can have long term consequences.

My advice is that we need to take extra special care of ourselves in the lead up to and during our period. At this time our body is working extra hard to clear out the lining of the uterus that it was hoping would be a nice nest for an embryo. Our immune system is challenged at this time; we feel extra tired, achy and more cold than usual, so it's common sense to take extra care and rest more. Moderate exercise is good especially just before your period and can help reduce cramping.

Whether you are investing money, setting up a business or gambling on horses, your first consideration, before parting with any money, should be how much risk you can afford to take. Risk is not necessarily the probability of loss – it is the probability that an outcome will be different than you expect. For example, an investment might make a positive return, but a lower (or higher) return than you expected.

Giving to others brings great pleasure and happiness and there is no better evidence of this than the joy of Christmas. However, giving is often loaded with emotion and purpose. We place various meanings on the act of both giving and receiving. In some cases, people give to make themselves feel better – perhaps by absolving themselves of guilt - or as a way of demonstrating love, particularly if they have trouble expressing love in other ways.

On Wednesday night at the recently opened Scruffy Bunny Improv Theatre in Wellington, two of the Base Jump Improv teams put on an end of term show (Improv is short for improvisation).

KiwiSaver is an easy way to invest. Your contributions are deducted automatically, along with the contributions from your employer, and every year the Government pays you a tax credit. You could argue that KiwiSaver is a ‘set and forget’ type of investment. However, paying little or no attention to your KiwiSaver is not wise.

Last week we looked at ways to reduce the amount of pressure we experience in the run up to Xmas, and in so doing reduce the amount of stress we experience. This week let’s look at three highly effective, proven, ways to reduce and/or cope with stress at any time of the year:

For many people the run up to Xmas can be a highly demanding time that sees their stress levels soar.

Stress is triggered by the fear that one or more of our emotional needs is under threat. In the run up to Xmas the emotional need that most often comes under threat is our need for control.

There is no doubt that Christmas is one of the most expensive times of the year. Many families find themselves still paying off Christmas debt months later. Here are a few tips to help keep you out of the cycle of debt over Christmas:

Now, more than ever, it is time to make sure your KiwiSaver investment strategy is matched to your investment time frame. KiwiSaver was introduced ten years ago and since that time we have seen strong growth in the share market. KiwiSaver members have not yet experienced a period of high volatility. The share market is overdue for a correction, and with all the uncertainties in the world at the moment the next few years could be quite volatile.

I have. It’s not a pleasant experience.

During my 30 year accounting career I experienced burnout a number of times thanks to excessively long hours in the office, working under excessive pressure, combined with inadequate exercise, nutrition and sleep.

If you’re like most solo entrepreneurs or small business owners, you are under constant pressure from work and personal demands. The range of business related demands you face is wide ranging and ever increasing - demands from customers, suppliers, employees, new legislation etc.

It is not always easy to work efficiently and effectively when you run your own business. There are external pressures that can de-rail you from your purpose.

Microsoft Word doesn’t make adding macrons to Māori words in your documents a straightforward exercise, or at least it doesn’t feel like one. There’s no key you can just type them in with, and increasingly we’re becoming aware of words that we should have been including macrons on.

One of the biggest mistakes retirees make is to underspend in their retirement. Retirement is full of uncertainties, so the safest strategy is to spend as little as possible. There is nothing wrong with that approach if you don’t mind going without for the benefit of your children.

The apparent impossibility of buying a first home has many young people questioning whether owning a property should still be part of long term financial plan. Does it really make sense to put aside other things in life such as travel, having children, paying off student loans or simply having fun, just to save a deposit and pay off a mortgage?

Did you know stress management is a critical part of any weight-loss programme?

Kapiti's annual Arts Trail kicks off this Saturday the 28th of October at 10:00 am. The trail which has been running for 17 years showcases a diverse range of artists from Paekakariki in the South all the way through to Otaki in the North.

The lessons of the 1918 influenza pandemic could help inform planning for a future pandemic in New Zealand, according to historian Dr Geoffrey Rice.

Facelift and specification upgrades for the exclusively-electric hybrid CT 200h have further enhanced its desirability for young drivers who enjoy sporty driving while still maintaining their sustainable lifestyle.

The Financial Markets Authority has given the go-ahead for personalised advice to be offered online. Such advice is referred to as ‘robo-advice’. Under current legislation, personalised investment advice can only be given by certain categories of advisers in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct for Authorised Financial Advisers. From 2018, there will be an exemption which will allow personalised advice to be given electronically, however the advice given must meet the same standards that apply to Authorised Financial Advisers.

This edition of the blog was prompted by the fact that it’s Mental Health Awareness Week here in NZ. The theme this year is “Nature is key – unlock your well-being.”

One of the best ways to create substantial wealth is to set up your own business. However, not everybody has the skills, confidence or entrepreneurial flair to build a business from the ground up, or even to buy an existing business and grow it.

STRESS IS A NATURAL RESPONSE. IN FACT, IT’S A NECESSARY RESPONSE. A LITTLE STRESS HELPS US TO AVOID DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND ACT WHEN NECESSARY. HOWEVER, STRESS CAN BECOME A PROBLEM WHEN USED IRRATIONALLY.

So, you have a new business or maybe you have an existing business and its time to build more customers, how is the best way to do it locally?

When I’m at a social event meeting new people, the answer to the “what do you do” question “I’m an acupuncturist” is usually a conversation killer! There is such a fear of needles even mentioning the word needle sends people into a frenzy of anxiety and distress. They politely move away and find someone else to talk to…unless they have a health condition that they like to talk about endlessly and get free advice! Lol!

I have been a fast talker, from the moment sentences formed in my mind I spat them out like machinegun fire, why, why ,what if, why not, the list was endless. It was this ADHD approach that made my mother fear educating me, as because she was giving me the information I expected her to know why, fair enough eh?

Managing finances can be very stressful, even if you are savvy with your money. A recent global survey by the Financial Planning Standards Board, an international body which oversees professional standards for financial planners, found that most people feel challenged by their finances. However, people who work with financial advisers feel better prepared to achieve their financial goals.

Research suggests that two-thirds of small business owners suffer work related stress.

In our consumerist society the basic tenet is the more we have to spend, the happier we will be. Research shows that, while there is a link between money and happiness, it is a weak one. However, it is possible to get more happiness for your money by making good decisions about what you do with it.

For a moment lets think of what success really is. It is not about winning or losing or attaining objects that we think may or may not represent success. To first understand what success really is we need to take away what other people think success is and what they think success for you is.

We’ve had a good run in share markets since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008. Initially this growth was underpinned by central banks engaging in quantitative easing – otherwise known as ‘printing money’. Central banks released funds into circulation through purchasing securities as a way of reducing the likelihood of economies going into recession after the GFC.

I’m guessing that if you’re a small business owner, like me, you love what you do and would never consider doing anything else.

There are two golden rules for creating wealth that stand out above all others. The first, and most important, is to Spend Less Than You Earn. The second is to Pay Yourself First (PYF). Under the PYF principle, you give yourself top priority when it comes to deciding how to spend your income. Pay Yourself First by transferring money into a savings or investment account before you pay your living expenses.

The September 9th issue of the Listener has an excellent and important article by Nicky Pellegrino, called Taking Off The Mask.

The word ‘cash’ has a very different meaning now than it did a few decades ago but it is still a vital part of a financial plan. Cash provides liquidity; that is, money when you need it. Liquidity can take many different forms. It can be notes and coin, bank deposits, credit – such as revolving credit mortgage or a credit card – or a financial asset that can be quickly and easily sold, such as bonus bonds, corporate bonds, or shares. Ideally liquid assets should be available immediately if required, with no cost or risk of loss of value associated with access to the funds.

NCEA exams are on the horizon. This can be a stressful time.

The pressure to perform during exams generates huge amounts of stress and anxiety that inhibits peak performance and creates a nerve-wracking home and school environment.

Toyota New Zealand has built on the driving pleasure of its 86 sports coupé with a limited-edition ‘Chris Amon Edition’ GT86 which is available in a unique Solar Flare exterior colour.

Whittaker’s is proud to have been named New Zealand’s ‘Most Loved Brand’ for the sixth consecutive year, sharing the number one spot with the All Blacks for the first time, in the annual Colmar Brunton ‘Brands I Love’ survey.

Persistence and understanding the Law of Accumulation will help you achieve things you may never have thought possible.

Everybody creates a certain amount of income and during their lifetime by one means or another – through employment, investment or setting up a business. What you do with that income determines how financially successful you will be and ultimately impacts on your enjoyment of life.

Hi, I’m Belinda and I’m an advocate for women’s health. As the sole distributor for Drion to New Zealand, I am passionate about the product and have experienced the amazing effects that the Drion product range has had on my own health, as well as the lives of my clients.

Conventional wisdom says the first significant step towards creating wealth is to get on the property ladder. However, it’s hard for young people to start creating wealth when property prices are out of reach and lending restrictions are tight. Not only that, but young people prefer to be mobile and don’t necessarily want to be tied down by owning a property. So what are the alternatives?

The term 'pressure' means to press. All kinds of thoughts, situations, expectations and demands press on us as we go about our day. The demands can come from others (workload, work related responsibilities, performance targets etc.) or they can be demands we put on ourselves (I need to .... , I must ..... , I have to .....).

The New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD), is celebrating 50 years of training and inspiring world class professional young dancers. Show attendees will be moved and inspired in this year's contemporary solo season ONCE.

Did you know that America celebrates National Relaxation Day? What a fantastic idea! This year America celebrated National Relaxation Day on August 15.

If you are serious about getting ahead financially, then getting rid of debt should be one of your top priorities. Short term debt is the worst kind as it generally has very high interest rates and high repayments. It comes about for three reasons – an unexpected expense, sudden loss of income or long-term overspending. Here are five steps that will help you get rid of short term debt faster:

The role of engineers in post-disaster recovery will be brought to light at an upcoming lecture at Victoria University of Wellington.

This week I had an unexpected opportunity to put some of the stress and anxiety reducing techniques in my Anxiety Solutions Toolkit into practice.

With a bit of luck and hard work, you will arrive at retirement with a pot of money to supplement your income from NZ Superannuation and allow you to live comfortably. The problem is, so many uncertainties lie ahead. How long will you live? How much money will you need? What will your investment returns be? Where should you invest your money?

This morning I heard Jacinda Adern, the newly elected leader of the Labour Party respond to a question by Guy Espinner, stating that she is a pragmatic idealist. I’ve never heard these terms put together in this way. What is a pragmatic idealist? The two words seem diametrically opposed!

Emotions and investment are best kept apart. Put them together and you have the ingredients of a disappointing investment outcome, if not a failure. The best investment decision is one which is based on thorough financial analysis using well founded assumptions about the future. There are some investment decisions where emotions are more likely to get in the way.

When you wake up do you immediately start thinking about all the things you've got to do, all the problems you're struggling to overcome, all the deadlines you're facing? How does all that thinking make you feel? You probably want to climb back into bed and pull the sheets over your head.

The Wages Protection & Contractors Liens Act Repeal Act 1987 states that a person or business repairing or improving goods this could include mechanic or a computer repair business is entitled to a lien over the repaired goods for payment of that work. In effect the lien gives the repairer the right to retain possession of the goods until the account is paid

Join us in a relaxed down-to-earth workshop as we give you the practical tools & strategies to sell yourself & watch your profits and cashflow soar.

The word failure is often used to describe a situation in which your desired goals were not realized at a specific point in time. There are many reasons that could have played a part in your goal not being realized and absolutely none of them have to do with your value as a person.

Dragon speech recognition software is a great tool for improving productivity in the workplace.

It is natural for parents to want to give their children a good start in life, and often parents will have a financial goal of saving for their children’s education.

Do you feel that you are constantly walking a pressure tightrope? One false move and you will tumble into stress?

Maleerat Lertruedeeporn is an accidental pâtisserie chef. Growing up in Thailand she never learned to bake. “Baking in ovens is not part of Thai culture,” said Maleerat. “We only use pots and pans. There is no oven in my parent’s house.”

Getting to a financial position where early retirement is a real possibility is not as difficult as it may seem. There are three key ingredients to being able to retire early; spending less, saving more and starting to invest as soon as possible.

In your personal life or business life, you may need to change the way you are approaching things if you want to take big steps forward. In fact, if you are not making progress in leaps and bounds then it is time to embrace the science of the quantum leap.

The last few years before you stop working are crucial for setting yourself up for a fantastic retirement. They need careful planning to achieve your goals. Of course, with more people now working past the age of 65 it is not always possible to plan towards a specific retirement date. Here are the most important things to do.

I've been busy this week developing my latest one day workshop - Perform Under Pressure Without Stressing Out. The workshop will take place in Island Bay on Saturday 16 September and promises to be informative, fun, and above all life changing. You can register for the workshop here. Numbers are limited.

Whittaker’s new Destinations Collection showcases the finest ingredients from around the world combined with Whittaker’s delicious chocolate. This exciting new range gives Whittaker’s Chocolate Lovers a chance to enjoy a taste of India, Canada, Italy and Nicaragua with hero ingredients for each sourced from world-class producers in those locations.

We all experience stress at one stage or another and it can make our lives miserable. Fortunately there are many treatments and techniques that you can practice to get your stress level back under control, including hypnotherapy.

Throughout life there are various points where key financial decisions need to be made that involve a substantial amount of money or which can take you off on a different path

When I was researching my book 7 Ways to Reduce Anxiety in 7 Minutes or Less I collected a large number of simple, effective, and quick to apply techniques that can help reduce the level of stress we experience. One super easy technique that didn’t make it into the book is one I use many times a day because it’s so effective at quietening the mind. The technique involves taking conscious control of your tongue.

Isaac ‘s family lived in Kapiti whilst the two boys were at Primary School – Jodan & Isaac Letoa attended Raumati Beach School, before they moved into Wellington just before older brother Jordan started College.

Your retirement years should be the best years of your life. With life expectancy increasing, the average person can expect to live to around 90, so retiring at 65 means you will spend over a quarter of your life not working. You can choose for that period of life to be ordinary; or you can choose for it to be extraordinary.

There is something about human nature that makes us wired to believe that anything which is scarce or available only for a limited time is something we must have, despite the price. It’s called FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – and it is without doubt the biggest driver of poor financial decisions. Everywhere you look there are examples of selling tactics that prey on our FOMO insecurities.

In the book The Upside Of Stress Kelly McGonigal refers to a 1990s study in which a group of Stanford University college students were given the task of keeping a daily journal over the winter break. Some of the students were asked to write about their most important personal values and then describe how the events of each day connected with those values

Unfortunately, in general, we men are not very good at looking after our health. Here are some of the facts you can find on the Men’s Health Week website:

Becoming an expert in your field is easier than you think.

It goes without saying that one of the reasons entrepreneurs are successful at growing wealth is that they are risk takers. Some entrepreneurs argue that in fact there is little risk in what they do, because they fully analyse the financial implications of their wealth-building strategies before they part with their money.

Do you have in place terms of trade and procedures for the handling any overdue accounts or slower payers.

This is a completely new idea on how to manage situations in one’s life with different techniques and strategies.

There are very few people who, if offered a 50% guaranteed return on their money, would turn it down, particularly with investment returns being so low at present. Yet every June, thousands of people miss such an opportunity by failing to realise that their KiwiSaver contributions are less than what is required to get the full Member Tax Credit.

The Swindale Shield, Harper Lock Shield and both Colts first round divisions are done and dusted for another year!

Whether you are in business or wanting to build a network to increase career options here are a few simple steps to help you get started – even if you are a naturally shy person.

This week’s post is prompted by the fact that May 31 was World Smokefree Day (WSFD), internationally known as World No Tobacco Day.

There is an emerging socio-economic class which I call Fifty and Broke (FAB). FABs are post- baby boomers, from a generation of divorce, serial relationships, corporate restructuring, multiple career changes, consumerism, and increased longevity. Many people suffer at least one crisis during their lives, such as relationship breakdown, redundancy, business failure, bankruptcy, mental health problems or a serious illness such as cancer. Such crises are a test of resilience.

The last issue of Rugby prints from Internationally reknown Wellington artist Michel Tuffery has just been released. The perfect gift for that Rugby mad person in your house.

Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand Chef De Cuisine, Francis Motta won the coveted 2017 'Chef of The Capital award'. Along with six Le Cordon Bleu students achieving Gold & Silver medals during the NZChefs competition.

For young singles with a reasonably good income, life is full of possibilities. There is a lifetime ahead with many choices and opportunities along the way and plenty of time to recover from any mistakes made. However, choice can create uncertainty and confusion. It can be very hard to set goals when there are so many possible opportunities and unknowns. A financial plan is a set of strategies that help you achieve goals and without goals, it is hard to plan.

Do you believe you’re not good enough?

“I am me. In all the world there is no one else exactly like me. There are persons who have parts like me, but no one who adds up exactly like me. Therefore, everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it.” ~ Virginia Satir

In early 2016 a friend of mine, who suffers from pain attacks, came up with the Idea to visualize all sorts of usually hidden, invisible illnesses, via Photography.

We have all heard that saying. “For Less than a cup of Coffee” or “For less than a dollar a day”

Well my answer to that is that one size does not fit all and as individuals all our needs are different.

Opening a bank account and buying and selling investments are not such simple processes as they were a few years ago. Now you must provide formal photo identification such as a passport or driver’s licence, proof of address, and, if you are transacting a large sum of money, evidence of how you came to have the money.

Over the last couple of months I’ve written a number of posts about work related stress. Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking on this topic to the Wellington Leadership Meetup Group. The title of my presentation was How leaders/managers can identify and help staff who are experiencing stress.

Lexus aficionados will be relieved to know the wait is almost over – the arrival in New Zealand of the unprecedented Lexus LC coupe is set to deliver an amazing driving experience from mid-July.

It’s been a profound revelation to me that periods don’t need to be a painful, negative experience for women. Whilst a small percentage of women suffer extreme pain from endometriosis, thought to be an autoimmune condition, another small percentage suffer no pain at all, but for most women, menstrual discomfort and premenstrual tension (PMT) is a fact of life.

Check your bank account and you are sure to find lots of small transactions that average at least $20 a day. A coffee, lunch, snacks, a beer or wine after work; each transaction is low in value but combined they can add up to a significant sum. Money can only be spent once and should be spent on what gives you the most satisfaction. It helps to have a clear understanding of how else money could be spent now and in the future so the best choice can be made. Let’s look at what else $20 a day could be used for over a period of five years.

A new bilingual children’s book written by a Victoria University of Wellington academic is using te reo Māori to connect with a new generation of speakers.

Once you have defined what motivates you through working through what you want to achieve in your life, and understanding where you are in terms of your all-around balance between Mental, Physical, Emotional and Spiritual desires the ability to set goals and make plans to achieve them is KEY to success.

Many of the people I coach have been living with stress for so long (chronic stress) that they’ve become used to the effects. They’ve forgotten how much better their life was prior to stress. For many people it takes some kind of wake-up call, like a relationship break-up, the loss of a job or a physical illness to make them aware that something is wrong.

How many ways is your pet inducing chemicals on a regular basis?

It’s good to be cautious with money. However, is there such a thing as too much caution? When is it OK to take a risk? Throughout life there are significant events that require large amounts of money or which come with a high level of financial risk. The anxiety that comes with this risk can hold cautious people back from taking vital steps – whether it is taking on a student loan in order to study, getting married, buying a house, having children, setting up a business, paying for a medical procedure or making the decision to retire.

The first step towards creating wealth is also the hardest. Being able to spend less than you earn is a pre-requisite of every other strategy for wealth creation. Despite good intentions, savings plans are easily de-railed by distractions, disasters and lack of discipline. Here are some simple tips for improving your chances of being a successful saver:

I’ve been working with a client recently who’d secured a job interview after some years out of the workforce. My client was feeling anxious about the interview and was experiencing stress.

New Zealand exercise facilities score significantly higher than United Kingdom and United States operators when it comes to customers recommending the business and this has been put down to an exceptionally high standard of personal trainers and customer focus.

Toyota has won back-to-back World Green Car of the Year awards, reaffirming its global leadership in automotive environmental responsibility.

The fear of missing out is continuing to fuel the property market. Buying in a heated market can lead to impulsive decisions with negative financial consequences. Here are the top five mistakes people make when borrowing money to buy a house:

Wellington Mic Drop is an exciting new web series, featuring the very best of Wellington's thriving comedy scene.

The next book I recommend you invest in if you are truly interested in developing your personal skills – The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.

In my first post in this series about work related stress, I wrote that there is no such thing as workplace stress – workplaces are not full of stress – workplaces are full of people who are experiencing some level of stress.

An interactive online map has recently been launched in Wellington, highlighting the unique connection the city has to its natural surroundings, environment, and local wildlife.

If there is one blog I hope my children (and eventually my grandchildren) read I hope it is this one.

“Workplace stress” is a misnomer. Workplaces aren’t full of stress, they’re full of employees experiencing some level of stress.

A small but innovative Christchurch app developer is today rubbing shoulders with the cream of New Zealand’s top chief information officers (CIO) by being named among the top 100 CIOs in the country.

Once you understand that whatever your age you should be learning, keeping your mind active becomes even more crucial as we grow older. Committing to personal development will help you stay young and of course provide you with new skills and awareness.

Well I am glad to say I tried the new VR tool from the New Zealand Fire Service and managed to 'escape my house'. However, it immediately reminds you to check if everyone managed to get out. This VR app should be applauded it really send you a strong message. It feels real and the fact it uses clever technology so that when you finally escape your house, you find yourself actually outside your real house the real impact of a fire at home hits you.

Stress is NOT a thing it's something we experience

Remember stress is not a tangible thing, it's a mind/body experience - a cocktail of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms.

If stress was a thing, then all an organisation would need to do, in order to create a stress free workplace, would be to gather up all the stress in the building and deposit it in the nearest skip. Hey presto! No more stressful workplace.

After a cracking, and successful Gala Day start to the season clubs will be looking forward to familiarity of home grounds from this weekend on.

Tony Fleming is an experienced worker with much to offer the right employer. Take a look at this profile and if you like what you see please feel free to contact Tony directly - no recruitment fees

I believe that gaining an understanding of anxiety (and it’s connection to stress) is one of the keys to gaining long-term freedom from problematic anxiety. Helping people develop a better and richer understanding of anxiety is one of my goals in writing these blog posts. I’ve covered a lot of ground over the last twelve months and I thought it was time to provide a snapshot of some of the key points I’ve written about.

After a six month break club rugby is back, and its shaping up to be a cracker or a year!

Prior to becoming a performance coach and clinical hypnotherapist, I spent 30+ years as an accountant. A considerable amount of my time was spent auditing – checking facts and figures against the available evidence to ensure that information was true and fair and complied with applicable rules and regulations. The need for evidence became part of my modus operandi.

Collective Marketing is the commitment of a group of businesses with a common agenda to build a marketplace, using a structured form of collaboration.

Financial service providers are regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Part of the FMA’s role is to educate consumers of financial services and for that reason they have released a checklist of things you can expect from your financial services provider

When our body is experiencing stress the adrenal glands on top of our kidneys release a powerful hormone called cortisol.

Our business solution is to ensure you and your business remains financially secure through life’s journey. We do this by understanding you, identifying your goals and aspirations, and providing a tailor made solution specific to you.

Toyota owners will get a rare opportunity to drive their pride and joy on the Hampton Downs full international race circuit, when the annual Toyota Festival is held there on Saturday 1 April.

A great opportunity to network and learn from international Guest Speaker John Wareham.

Wellington Phoenix is celebrating it's tenth year in the Hyundai A-League and throughout it all, through the highs and the lows, there's been one man - Vince Lia.

2016 saw a host of changes to employment laws aimed at improving the productivity and fairness of New Zealand workplaces. To help you prepare for a successful 2017, we have identified the most notable developments that took place in the past year.

This year, Z will give away a total of more than $1 million to neighbourhood groups and projects that help people who need it and/or the environment. You can apply to be part of Good in the Hood by visiting www.z.co.nz/GoodintheHood. Applications are open until 28 February.

Peter brings over 30 years of IT experience to all over IT Limited. Having only just missed out on the punch card era that got Neil Armstrong to the Moon, Peter started his IT career programming mainframes for the banking industry in Wellington.