Grow your wealth with KiwiSaver investment options tailored to your financial goals. Get expert advice on retirement planning with Futurisk Insurance. Kiwisaver/Investment options with Futurisk Our Solutions > Kiwisaver/Investments > Feeling uncertain about investing? Not sure where to start or which option suits you best? At Futurisk, we make investing easy with expert guidance on KiwiSaver, Managed Funds, Term Deposits, and more - helping you grow and protect your wealth for the future! Smart Investing Made Simple - Secure Your Financial Future with Confidence! Managed Funds Managed Funds offer a flexible way to invest in a professionally managed portfolio of assets, including stocks, bonds, and property . With our qualified Investment Advisers, you can: Invest in a diversified portfolio tailored to your risk appetite and financial goals. Enjoy hands-free investment management , where experts handle the decision-making for you Choose from different fund types, from low-risk conservative funds to high-growth funds for better returns. Kiwisaver KiwiSaver is a long-term savings scheme designed to help New Zealanders save for retirement or their first home. We provide expert advice on how KiwiSaver works, its benefits, and how to maximize your contributions. Our team will help you: Choose the right KiwiSaver provider and fund that aligns with your risk profile and financial goals. Understand government contributions and employer benefits to get the most out of your savings. Determine whether you qualify for KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal and other incentives. Term Deposits Term Deposits – Building wealth isn’t just about where you put your money - it’s about having a clear financial plan. Our investment planning services help you: Identify the best investment options based on your income, expenses, and future goals. Create a personalized investment strategy that balances risk and reward. Continuously monitor and adjust your investments to keep you on track toward financial independence. Retirement Savings Secure Your Future with Confidence! Planning for retirement is crucial to ensure you maintain your desired lifestyle in the future. We help you:
 Calculate how much you'll need for retirement and create a customized savings plan. Invest in long-term solutions that provide stable income streams for retirement. Make smart decisions today so you can enjoy financial security when you stop working. Find out more Find out more No matter where you are in your financial journey, Futurisk is here to guide you in making informed decisions and reaching your goals. Start Your Investment Journey Today! Enquire Now Joe Singh Director / Financial Advisor 06 358 3400 ext 701 Bio Joe has been in the insurance industry since 2005 and loves helping clients in protecting what matters the most – their health and financial wellbeing. Joe is a Science Graduate with an MBA in Sales and Marketing and has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry where he has kept himself up to date with industry run courses, CPD credits and has done a Level 5 course in Financial Services. Joe is a Financial Adviser, and specializes in risk management of individuals, families, and business owners. Joe is a proud member of Financial Advice New Zealand (FANZ) and IBANZ and complies with their Code of Ethics in all facets of his business. Away from office Joe, enjoys playing Badminton, Tennis and he loves watching Cricket and Rugby! Joe is married to Vijaya and they have one child! Email Mark Henderson Director / Financial Advisor 07 929 2296 Bio Mark is the Principle Adviser for Futurisk Waikato and has been involved in the financial services industry since 2003 after working in various roles within NZ post for over 16 years. He lives in Hamilton with his wife. Mark has 2 adult sons and loves spending time with his grandchildren. Mark is keen on most sports and enjoys competing in Masters Athletics. Email Carmela Laylo BDM / Financial Advisor 06 358 3400 ext 703 Bio Carmela migrated to New Zealand from the Philippines in 2012. Her passion for creating a positive impact not only to her fellow Filipinos, but also to all people from diverse cultures and background, has led her career in the Insurance Industry. In 2013, she started as an insurance broker doing personal risk management and two years after, she accepted the role of a Business Development Manager (BDM) managing her own team of advisors. As a BDM, she works with her team to come up with marketing ideas that could help Futurisk to grow. Because she realized that there is still a wide range of options to open more opportunities, in 2016, she decided to add Mortgage in her portfolio pursuing her passion to help more people not only to protect their assets, both tangible and intangible, but also to achieve their dream of home/investment ownership. Carmela has received her bachelor's degree in Foreign Service with major in International Trade from Lyceum of the Philippines University. She has gained over 15 years of sales, customer service and management experience from her previous local and international professional exposures. She keeps herself updated with the insurance and mortgage industry by attending regular trainings and seminars and earning CPD credits as well as completing other industry requirements. As the industry is constantly evolving, with new products and technologies always being introduced in the market, Carmela makes sure that she is always on top of everything to provide the best possible service to her clients. She makes things happen and is not afraid of hard work but believes that life should be fun, too! Carmela is involved with beauty pageants and fashions shows, she loves to read, sing, socialize and explore the world! Outside work, she loves to spend her time with her loving and supportive husband, Richard and three lovely kids, Kian, Karl and Kayla. Email Stacey Nevin Financial Adviser – Life and Health plus Investments 06 358 3400 Bio Stacey recently migrated to New Zealand from South Africa in 2023. She has extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of financial planning spanning over 20 years and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning Law (NQF8). She has also completed her New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services and specialises in insurances and investments. Stacey believes that by empowering people to understanding their financial journey can lead to successful lives for all individuals and their families, businesses and communities. She is passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals and will always have your best interests at heart. Stacey and her family enjoy outdoor adventures and water activities, and you would normally find her out exploring the beautiful landscapes and creating memories. Email John Ricky Mercado Financial Advisor 06 358 3400 ext 716 Bio With over 5 years of expertise, John Ricky Mercado is a devoted insurance professional. He has a Master of Business Administration and a Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary International Studies, which gives him an in-depth awareness of the beauty of insurance. John is really committed to using his knowledge and expertise to provide valuable financial advice to people from all walks of life. His profession is driven by a firm belief in the importance of financial security for all. Email Freephone 0800 17 18 19 Here’s how we can support your financial journey: KiwiSaver Grow your retirement savings with expert advice on selecting the right fund for your needs. Futurisk can provide you with information on how Kiwisaver will benefit you with your retirement savings or saving to buy your first home, and help you to decide which fund is most suitable for you Managed Funds Diversify your portfolio with professionally managed investments designed to maximize returns. Our qualified Investment Advisers can help you to achieve your savings goals buy choosing the right funds to invest your money in, based on your Investor Profile. Term Deposits Enjoy stable and secure growth with fixed-term investments offering competitive interest rates. Enjoy stable, low-risk growth with fixed-term investments that offer competitive interest rates. Whether you're looking for short-term security or long-term stability, we help you find the best term deposit options that align with your financial plans. Investment Planning Customized strategies to help you build wealth and achieve your financial goals. We assess your financial situation, risk appetite, and long-term goals to create an investment plan that helps you achieve financial independence with confidence. Retirement Savings Secure your future with tailored investment solutions that align with your lifestyle and aspirations. We help you develop a savings plan that ensures you have the funds to maintain your desired lifestyle when you retire. Why choose Futurisk? Your trusted investment partner At Futurisk, we know that growing your wealth can feel overwhelming - especially with so many options like KiwiSaver, Managed Funds, and Term Deposits. That’s why we’re here to guide you every step of the way, making investing simple, strategic, and stress-free. Expert Guidance for Smarter Investments We provide honest, unbiased advice tailored to your financial goals. Whether you're planning for retirement, building savings, or growing your portfolio, we help you make informed and confident investment decisions. Save Time & Maximize Returns No more guesswork! We help you navigate the investment landscape, ensuring your money is working harder for you with the right strategies and opportunities. A Secure & Future-Focused Approach Investing should be safe, smart, and sustainable. We focus on long-term growth and financial security, giving you peace of mind for the future. As independent advisors, we’re committed to finding the best investment solutions that fit your needs - not what benefits financial institutions. Start Investing with Confidence! Let’s build your financial future together. Let us help you take control of your financial future. Get in touch today! Enquire Now Our Partners Personalized Investment Strategies – Tailored solutions to align with your risk tolerance and long-term goals. Expert Financial Guidance – Whether you're a first-time investor or looking to diversify, we provide insights to make informed decisions. Access to Top Investment Options – We connect you with KiwiSaver, Managed Funds, Term Deposits, and other opportunities to maximize returns. A Seamless, Stress-Free Experience – From planning to execution, we simplify the investment process so you can build your future with confidence. Meet our expert Investment Advisors! Looking to grow your wealth, plan for retirement, or invest wisely? Our experienced investment advisors are here to guide you every step of the way! With deep expertise in financial markets and a commitment to helping clients achieve financial security and growth, our team offers:

Get comprehensive rural insurance coverage for farms, agribusinesses, and agricultural operations. Protect your livelihood with Futurisk Insurance. Rural Insurance Our Solutions > Business Insurance > Rural Insurance > Rural Insurance is specially worded and created policies to cover your farm and lifestyle risk, whether it be liability, farm assets, house, contents, private or farm motor vehicles. Rural Insurance with Futurisk Enquire Now What can it cover? Rural Insurance is specially worded and created policies to cover your farm and lifestyle risk, whether it be liability, farm assets, house, contents, private or farm motor vehicles. The risks associated with a farm can be very different to a basic domestic policy and often requires specialised policy cover. Our team at Futurisk can provide you with specialised and informed advice relevant to protect you and your farm. Chat to one of your local advisors today to organise a personalised insurance plan. Talk to an advisor Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Nine Things to do to get Your Personal Finances in Order Nine Things to do to get Your Personal Finances in Order Contact Us 5. Set financial goals and save for them. Most people have dreams and goals. Problem is we don't plan a strategy to achieve them. Rather than saving for things like a new car or overseas trip, we go into debt to pay for them. Set goals, price how much those goals will cost, work out how much you need to save per month to save that amount, and go for it! 6. Protect what you've got. We all struggle with the "I" word = Insurance. If we never make a claim insurance can seem like money thrown away. Many people have fallen into a lifetime of debt because of inadequate insurance. Here's the general rule of thumb - anything you need but cannot afford to replace with cash if you lost it should be insured. This includes your ability to earn money. (Futurisk give free no-obligation insurance consultations; contact us to make an appointment). 7. Make a financial plan for retirement. People often ask, "When is the best time to save for retirement?" The answer is "now." There are two basic mistakes people make; the first is that they leave it too late to begin saving for their retirement. The second is that they assume their family home is an adequate investment for their retirement when it is only part of what they will actually require. A great way to save for retirement is through a workplace savings scheme, especially if your employer will make a contribution too. And, whatever your age, a great time to start is now. 8. Invest! Make your money work for you. There are many ways to invest other than property or the share market. We all need to determine which is best for us. Simply leaving money idle in the bank, however safe and secure it may be, is not maximising the earning potential of those savings. 9. Teach your kids about money. There is a definite lack in our school system as regards the teaching of basic personal financial management. Teach your children about budgeting, saving for things they want, how to write cheques and use internet banking, the true value of the things we buy etc. It'll pay off in the end - maybe they'll help you build a ‘granny-flat' on the back lawn of their mansion!! The team at Futurisk have three rules regarding personal finance: Spend less than you earn Pay off debt Don't go into debt This article expands on those rules - do these nine things and you need never worry about your finances again. 1. Know what you've got and work to increase it. A person's net worth is the value of everything they own minus everything they owe.In other words; assets minus debt. Many people do not know what their net worth is. Some would be surprised at how high it is, others shocked at how low it is. Set goals and plans that will enable you to increase your net worth. Decide on a figure that you would like to achieve in the next ten years and work out how you can achieve it. I think you might be surprised how much you could increase your net worth over a decade if you just start now and keep at it. 2. Budget! In New Zealand today the average person is spending 17% more than they earn, and that does NOT include mortgages (Dept of Statistics figure) - that means they are now adding to their net worth, they are going into greater debt. The reason people overspend is because they have not calculated how much money they are able to spend without going into debt. The answer is simple; do whatever you have do to ensure you spend less than you earn. Now, it's difficult to never go into debt but it must be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Borrow only what you absolutely need to, e.g. to buy a house. And, when you borrow money, make sure you know the true cost of borrowing that amount. Once interest payments and fees are added onto a purchase it can make for a very expensive item! 3. Pay off debt. This is one of the fundamental principles of good personal finance; pay off debt as quickly as possible. Start with the debt you're paying the highest interest on. This will usually be credit-card and hire purchase debt followed by personal loans and mortgage debt. Remember, the faster you repay debt the better off you are long-term because it is the interest payments that cripple us financially. Paying just the minimum repayments on your debt means you pay thousands of dollars in unnecessary interest. 4. Save for an emergency fund. The killer for the personal finances of many people comes when their washing machine dies or their car breaks down or some other unexpected crisis arises. With no savings we often go into debt that can that haunt us for a long time. Having savings equivalent to three month's income can overcome such an eventuality. NOTE: this is a good thing to do even if you are paying off a mortgage. However, if you have high-interest debt, pay that off first. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

How your bank decides to loan you money How your bank decides to loan you money Contact Us Equity (sometimes called Collateral). Equity is a measure of your net worth. It's the value of what you own minus the value of what you owe. In short, the bank wants to be sure that, if you can't repay your loan, you have enough value in your home so that, if they sell it, they can recoup the money you owe them. This is why part of the application form will include a measure of assets versus liabilities. In recent times this became a problem for the bank (and for the person they loaned money to). You see, the banks were loaning 100% on the value of a home. That meant, if the housing market dipped and a mortgage holder couldn't repay their loan, the bank would sell the property but not recoup all their money. So, the person who borrowed the money is now without a home, and still owes money to the bank. This is why there is so much talk about LVR; that is, your loan to value ratio. LVR is the amount you will owe on your house divided by the amount it is worth. LVR's vary from bank to bank but most will usually only loan up to 80% LVR. That means, if you want to buy a new home you will usually need at least 20% of the purchase price as a deposit. It also makes it quite easy to work out how much you can afford to spend on a house - just multiply your deposit by five. Character. For many banks, your financial character is the most important criteria used to assess whether you qualify for loan or not. Banks will look at your financial track record to determine whether they think they can trust you to repay a loan. They will take into account things like whether you have; previous defaults on any type of loan repayments, fines owing, a poor credit rating, a poor job history, or whether you are constantly going into unarranged overdraft. This is why banks ask for three months' bank transactions before giving out a loan - it's to check how well you manage your finances. This is an aspect of borrowing that many people underestimate. It's not just about having a deposit. The bank is more concerned about getting back the money it gives to you, and to prove that you will do that you need to have a good credit and banking record. The challenge. The challenge is simple; if you think you are going to want a bank loan sometime in the future, you need to be proactive now in ensuring you are an attractive client to the bank in these areas; Serviceability Equity, and Character. The team at Futurisk would love to talk to you about all aspects of your personal finances. You will have read in the news that banks are tightening up on lending money to home buyers. Not so long ago it was easy to get a loan, now many first home buyers are wondering how they will ever secure the money to get into their own home. There are, however, things you can do to make yourself more suitable for a bank loan. But don't leave these things until the last minute. If you think you may want to purchase a home in the future, think about these things now. The bank uses three criteria to assess whether to give you a loan There are three key criteria the bank will measure a potential borrower against; Serviceability Equity Character Serviceability (sometimes called capacity). Serviceability measures your ability to repay a loan. Basically, it is your income minus your expenses. This is why, when you apply for a loan, the bank asks you to complete an application form with records of your monthly earnings and monthly spending. Each bank will have a slightly different mathematical formula to calculate serviceability, and slightly different requirements regarding the surplus funds you should have at the end of each month. However, in general terms, banks will expect you to have a monthly surplus of around $300 after all your expenses have been paid. Two things will greatly affect your serviceability and therefore your chance of getting a loan. The first is overspending. If you're thinking of asking the bank for a loan, begin to economise now so that you can show you're able to live on a minimal budget. The second thing that will affect your ability to service a loan is existing debt. If you have debt, you will be making repayments. Those repayments will count against you being granted a loan; and that includes the debt from a student loan. Remember the old rule - pay off debt as quickly as possible. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Insurances You Can’t Live Without – General Insurance Insurances You Can’t Live Without – General Insurance Contact Us Insuring the things you own – contents insurance. While house insurance covers the actual building you live in, Contents Insurance covers the possessions within that building. Usually it’ll also cover those possessions while they’re temporarily out of your home (but not while they’re overseas). Most insurance companies separate Home Insurance and Contents Insurance into two separate policies and will give a discount if you take out both with them. There are two simple mistakes people can make with Contents Insurance policies. The first is to be under insured. The average New Zealander has their home contents insured for around $50,000. The average value of contents within a home in New Zealand is nearer $100,000. That may seem a lot, but take a walk around your home and begin to total up the value of everything you own—from your television to your computer, bedroom furniture, curtains, tools in your garage… it all adds up. The second mistake is to not read and understand your Contents Insurance policy before signing up for it. Many people assume they have a comprehensive policy only to find, at claim time, that it’s quite basic with many things not covered. Insuring your vehicle. To drive without car insurance is very unwise. It has caused many people to fall into debt that becomes very difficult to get out of. There are two main types of car insurance: The first is third party insurance. This is the most basic of policies and will cover any accidental damage you cause to another person’s vehicle or property, but does not cover damage to your own car. The second is comprehensive or full cover vehicle insurance. This covers damage to both your car, and any other vehicles or property you might accidentally damage. Full cover Vehicle Insurance is more expensive than a third party insurance policy, but, unless you can afford to replace or go without your car while, you save for a replacement, you should purchase full vehicle insurance cover. In all of this, remember that insurance is an essential part of your personal finances. Without it you can find yourself in debt; and once in debt, it can be very difficult to escape it. Sometimes it’s easy to feel like insurance is a waste of money, particularly if we’ve never made a claim. Before you get to thinking this way, however, remind yourself what insurance is for. When we purchase insurance, we’re purchasing a product. It’s like when we pay for groceries or petrol or a new television. In the case of insurance, we’re buying protection for our assets and for our financial future. A simple fact of life is this, unfortunate things happen. These things happen when we least expect them, and often catch us completely by surprise. In New Zealand today, one of the most common ways people fall into debt is through the unexpected need to replace a lost or damaged asset that was not insured. Here’s a general rule to bear in mind: anything you need for day to day living, which you could not replace with cash if you lost it, needs to be insured. In general, that boils down to three things: your home, your house contents, and your vehicle. Insuring your home – house insurance. House insurance—everyone has it, right? No. Not everyone does have their home insured. Following the Christchurch earthquakes it was discovered that around 15% of people were not insured and almost half of the homes that were severely damaged, were underinsured. You never know when your home will be damaged or how. Insuring your house: Following the Christchurch earthquakes, insurers have revised their method of assessing a home’s worth. For many years, insurance companies have used a formula based on size, improvements, building materials, etc. to calculate the cost of rebuilding a property. This is about to change. From this year, homeowners will have to state the amount they wish their home to be insured for, and the premiums will be set accordingly. This is good in one sense because it means you will receive the amount of money required to rebuild your home—provided you have insured your home for the proper amount. This new assessment method means you may require a valuation on your home to determine its replacement cost. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Futurisk's Hot Tips for Saving Money on your Insurances Futurisk's Hot Tips for Saving Money on your Insurances Contact Us 4. Increase your excess. For most insurances (not life insurance), you will almost always have to pay an excess when you make a claim. By agreeing to pay a little more if and when you make a claim you can often get a discount on your insurance premiums. The one thing to be careful of is that whatever the excess is, you are able to meet that amount should you have to make a claim. 5. Work out the best way to make your payments. Insurance companies will often give a discount if you pay your insurance premiums in a yearly lump sum. That suits some people while others may prefer weekly or monthly payments. You need to do what is best for you. One thing is for sure though; there are savings to be made if you can pay annually. By the way, if you pay yearly it is good to spread the renewal dates for insurances throughout the year. If they all come due in one month it can be quite a stretch financially. 6. Review your insurances regularly. I can say with a degree of certainty that most people, if they haven't reviewed their insurances in the last three years or so, can save money by getting new quotes and reinsuring. It's worth taking an hour or so occasionally to contact a few insurance companies and ask for quotes on your insurance needs, in particular, vehicle, house, and contents insurance. 7. Go with one company. Many insurance companies will give generous discounts if you place all your vehicle, house, and contents insurances with them. When you buy an insurance policy, make sure you ask the question, "What discount will you give me if I put all my policies with your company?" 8. Use an expert! There is nothing like an expert to define what you require and discover where the best price can be found. Find a broker you can trust and get him/her to regularly review your insurances. If we were buying a new appliance or vehicle, we'd shop around. If we wanted some new computer gear or were renovating our kitchen, we'd look for the best deal. So why don't we do that with insurance? It seems many New Zealanders think of insurance as coming in a fixed package at a fixed price, but there are some practical things you can do to save money on your insurances. Here are six hot tips. 1. Work out what you need. Insurance premiums are calculated on the value of what you insure, so the higher the value, the higher the insurance premiums. To insure something for more than what it's worth means you are throwing away money every month. Whether it's for your life, car, home, contents or something else, work out what you want insured and how much it is worth. Don't be one of those people who waste money by over-insuring and so paying premiums that are higher than they need be. Also be careful not to risk a financial crisis by under-insuring and receiving money that doesn't cover the loss of an item. 2. Get quotes. If you are arranging your own insurance, get quotes from a few different companies. Especially for vehicle and house and contents insurance - the cost can vary greatly from company to company. One good way to know if you are getting a good deal is to work through a broker. They have usually sourced the best deals and may even be able to offer discounts because of the number of deals they put through. Remember though, the cheapest price may not equate to the best deal. That's where tip number three comes in. Read on.... 3. Make sure you know what you're buying. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Six Things Your Bank Will Never Tell You Six Things Your Bank Will Never Tell You Contact Us 4. Bouncing cheques are good for your bank’s business as long as you don’t write too many. Providing there’s no fraud involved, your bank earns big bucks every time a cheque bounces. Not only do they sock you with a fee for the bounced cheque, you'll pay a higher rate of interest if you go over your agreed overdraft. 5. You can pay your entire credit card bill by setting up a direct debit like you do with your power or phone. Banks don’t actively encourage customers to do this. Why should they? They can’t earn interest on your credit card if you pay it off each month. For the bank, the best credit card is one that has money owing on it. 6. Bank advice may be self-interested. Sometimes, when you use your credit card to book overseas travel-related items,you will be charged interest immediately; e.g. if you use your card to book a hotel room for a trip you are to take three months' time, you may be charged interest from the time of booking rather than the time of staying in the hotel. In a similar way, if you rent a car overseas the trader ma reserve an amount of credit to secure their payment or to cover any possible damage to the car etc. That means, you may find when you use the card it has less credit on it than you expected despite you having actually bought anything. Most people know nothing about the lodging security until it's too late. If you are travelling overseas with your credit card, or using it overseas with your credit card, or using it overseas from within New Zealand, it pays to find out first, what the various conditions of use are. So, these are Futurisk's six credit card traps. One thing we cannot stress enough- avoid credit card debt. What if I'm already in debt? If you find yourself struggling with debt right now, contact the team at Futurisk. We may be able to restructure your debt in a way that savs you hundreds, even thousands of dollars. This information is adapted from Consumer Magazine (January/February 2006, Issue 455, Page 23). There’s something every person who uses a bank needs to understand—a bank is a business. It exists to make a profit and it does that by maximising the use of your hard-earned cash. Knowing how they do that could save you money. Here are six things your bank will never tell you: 1. Your bank wants you to overspend and stay in debt. That may sound a little harsh, but that is the simple reality. You see, banks make money from people who are in debt. In fact, if you are $250,000 in debt you are a better customer for a bank than a person with $30,000 cash in their savings account. The more you spend the more interest the bank earns from you. And, if you’re prone to cheques bouncing, or if you don't pay your credit card bill off in full every month, then you are the bank’s best-friend. 2. A bank’s review of your account is really a sales pitch. The bank is thinking of its bottom line, not yours. If you’re offered a review of your finances or get a call from your “personal banker,” then chances are they want to sell you a new product—usually insurance. It could be that the product on offer is good value, but ask yourself two questions: Do I need the product at all? And, is the bank’s product better than the one I already have or can get elsewhere? 3. Banks prefer to keep their savings-rate changes under wraps. When banks advertise new accounts with flash savings rates, they do so to attract new customers. The banks can’t afford to put their existing customers on these new high-flying rates and they often don't tell you about them. That’s why it pays to ask. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

How to know if a reverse mortgage is for you How to know if a reverse mortgage is for you Contact Us So, is it a good idea for me to take out a Reverse Mortgage? This is a decision only you can make. There are, however, a few things you need to consider; Is there some other way to raise the cash you require? Reverse Mortgages are expensive. If the amount of cash required is small such a loan is not worth the cost of the setup fees etc. Even for a larger amount of money, it makes better financial sense, if you can afford the repayments, to take out a standard mortgage or personal loan, or free up cash by downsizing your home. Find out how portable the loan will be; i.e. if you move home do you have to immediately repay the loan, or can you attach it to your next home? Before entering into a Reverse Mortgage (Home Equity Release Mortgage) make sure you seriously consider the effect it may have on your future, especially as regards any move you may wish to make and the capital you'll need to make that move. Also consider how important it is for you to be able to leave something to your children in respect of an inheritance of some sort. Some companies offer what is known as a no-negative-equity guarantee which is exactly what is says; a guarantee that ensures that when you sell your home, if you receive less for the home than the value of the outstanding loan, neither you nor your estate will have to make up the shortfall. Get professional advice in this regard if you need it. Shop around for a good deal. Make sure you read the contract well and understand exactly what the deal you're offered really means before you sign anything. If you're on the pension (and Reverse Mortgage recipients usually are) make sure that receiving funds such as these do not jeopardise the receipt of your benefit. The Bottom-line: Reverse Mortgages are not a bad idea, but neither are they necessarily a great idea. If you have an urgent need for cash, e.g. for a surgical operation or the like, then a loan like this can be perfect for your needs. However, make sure you understand the drawbacks. They are expensive, and much of the expense is invisible. That is, it is in the form of interest repayments which are constantly growing without you realising it. Also, if you have no family and no one you want to leave your home to you may as well spend your money before you go! In that case, a Reverse Mortgage may be perfect for you. However, if you have family or others you are hoping to leave a nest-egg to, beware. If you have a need for some extra cash, perhaps a better scheme would be for those who you're wanting to leave money to, to take out a loan on your behalf. That way it's like they're making an investment in a property that should increase in value over time. For more information on home loans, refinancing your loan, or interest rates, contact the team at Futurisk, enquiries@futurisk.co.nz . You've probably heard of a Reverse Mortgage, sometimes called a Home Equity Mortgage. With our aging population, they are becoming more common. Reverse Mortgages can be a good way to free-up money to spend on things you want - provided you're aware of the many pitfalls. What is a Reverse Mortgage? A Reverse Mortgage enables you to borrow money against the equity you have in your home, up to a proportion of the value of that property.Repayments on the loan are made when you leave the property; that is often when a person sells, moves into a retirement home, or dies. How much can I borrow? The lender will calculate the maximum amount you can borrow according to your age and the value of your home. If you're aged between 60 and about 65, you will usually be able to borrow about 20% of the home's value. This proportion increases as you get older, so that by the time you're over 85 it can be as much as 45% of the house value. How is the loan paid out? A Reverse Mortgage loan may be paid out in one of three ways; a lump sum, which is great if you are borrowing for a particular one-off purchase; small regular payments, which is perfect if your retirement income is not enough to cover your regular expenses. This option is not offered by all companies, however. a line of credit or a revolving credit loan. Would I be eligible? To be eligible for a Reverse Mortgage, you must own your own home and, usually, be 60 years or older. Are there other things I should know? Setting up a Reverse Mortgage can be expensive. You will be required to have your home valued, that will cost around $400. Some companies insist you do this every five years or so which can become quite a sizable on-going expense. Then there will be set-up fees for the loan. These can vary from around $1000 to $2000 plus legal costs. What's more, most companies will insist that you keep up with payments for insurance on the home, and that property maintenance is kept to their standard What about the interest rate? Be careful! This is where things can get expensive. You do not make regular repayments on a Reverse Mortgage loan. The loan is repaid in full when the home is sold or you no longer have control over it. Your interest rate will be higher than a normal mortgage rate and, as it compounds, you can quickly lose the equity in your home. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Six Credit Card Traps to avoid Six Credit Card Traps to avoid Contact Us 4. Missing payments Be careful, with some credit cards, if the bank does not get full payment the day it is due or before you will be charged interest in the full balance. The best way to ensue this does not happen is to arrange to have your credit card bill paid monthly by direct debit or internet banking, that way you never miss a payment. 5. Purchasing goods overseas When you use your credit card overseas you will usually incur two fees: the first is the bank's fee. The fee is often associated wit currency conversion and may be called something like a "currency conversion fee." The second fee is charged by the credit card company. When combined, thee fees can add up to 3% (perhaps a little more) onto your purchase price. It doesn't seem much, but 3% added onto your overseas trip can become quite a large sum of money. 6. Lodging security Sometimes, when you use your credit card to book overseas travel-related items,you will be charged interest immediately; e.g. if you use your card to book a hotel room for a trip you are to take three months' time, you may be charged interest from the time of booking rather than the time of staying in the hotel. In a similar way, if you rent a car overseas the trader ma reserve an amount of credit to secure their payment or to cover any possible damage to the car etc. That means, you may find when you use the card it has less credit on it than you expected despite you having actually bought anything. Most people know nothing about the lodging security until it's too late. If you are travelling overseas with your credit card, or using it overseas with your credit card, or using it overseas from within New Zealand, it pays to find out first, what the various conditions of use are. So, these are Futurisk's six credit card traps. One thing we cannot stress enough- avoid credit card debt. What if I'm already in debt? If you find yourself struggling with debt right now, contact the team at Futurisk. We may be able to restructure your debt in a way that savs you hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Credit card can be dangerous! Many people in New Zealand today find themselves buried by inescapable debt that can be traced back to being overzealous in the use of their credit card. Sure, credit cards are handy. They provide an easy way to purchase things online or if you don't want to carry cash around with you, but it's so easy to forget when you buy something with your card, you are incurring a debt. And, once you get into credit card debt, it can be very difficult to get out of. That's why the team at Futurisk want to remind you of the six credit card traps you need to watch out for: 1. Extra Credit Every credit card will have a credit limit - that's a maximum amount you can have owing on your credit card at any one time. When you first received your card the issuing bank will told you what credit limit is. As time goes by, the bank will offer to increase this limit for you - particularly if you have been paying your card off each month before the interest payment clicks in. BEWARE: this increased limit will immediately increase the chances of you overspending. That's what the banks are hoping for....to get you into debt so that they can make money off the interest you owe. There was a time when banks didn't even give you a choice about the increased credit, they just put it on your card and called it a, "privilege." The law has changed, however. These days banks should ask if you want the extra credit. If the bank approaches you to ask if you want to increase your credit limit, decline their offer 2. Cash advances Here's something a lot of people don' realise. When you buy goods with your credit card there is usually a one month credit free period, BUT, when you get cash out on your credit card you begin to pay interest immediately. A void using your credit card to et cash out of the bank. 3. Card payment surcharges Have you ever gone to use your credit card and had a vendor tell you it will cost you extra to put purchases on a card? That used to be illegal. These days it's considered acceptable provided the vendor tells you about the surcharge before you use your card. I still think it's a bit on the nose, however, and I refuse to pay such surcharges. Wether you do or not is up to you, but be aware, the surcharge is usually a percentage of the purchase price of our goods. That means, on a large item the surcharge can be quite high and can easily wipe out any saving you thought you were making. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Frequently asked questions when buying a home Frequently asked questions when buying a home Contact Us Should I get an appraisal? Yes. An appraisal is an opinion of the value of the property you are planning to purchase. It's one of the requirements needed to apply for a home loan. Should I pay for a home inspection to check the house? Yes. It is a must to have a professional house inspector check the house first before you decide to buy to get your money's worth. We all want some peace of mind when buying something important like buying a house. Should I use an Agent to buy a house? Yes and No. Yes, because an agent can help you with finding a home that will suit you by giving you a list of available homes within your price range and can also give you some information about the housing market. However, be careful to choose by comparing background, experience and agencies. Or you can ask someone you can trust. No, if you want to do it personally and are ready to take on some house shopping yourself. Should I go directly to the bank or other mortgage lenders to borrow? You can go directly to your bank and ask about their mortgage lending criteria. Or you can let us help you by getting the best offer without the hassles of going through the all the rudiments of getting a home loan. How much can I afford? The answer to this depends on your income and your liabilities (debt). Ideally, most home buyers purchase a house that costs between 1 ½ to 2 ½ times their annual income. However sometimes, there are no houses available in your ideal price range. If this is the case, you may need to spend a bit more. Just keep in mind that your monthly mortgage repayment can't exceed 29% of your gross monthly income and your total debt payments (mortgage payments, car payments, credit cards and hire purchases) can't exceed 40% of your gross monthly income. How much can I borrow? It depends on a number of factors and these may include: The value of the home Your income and your ability to repay the mortgage How much you have saved towards your deposit If you are eligible for a First Home Loan Type of home you are planning to purchase How much should I offer for a house? Each property is unique on its own and the ideal offer will depend on how the buyer perceives the value of the property. If a particular house is overpriced an offer below the listing price would be appropriate. If it's just within the ideal price range, an offer at the asking price or just below the listing price will be fine and if it's priced below the actual value, then you are in for a good bargain (get it while you can soonest!). View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

How important is third party car insurance How important is third party car insurance Contact Us Should third party car insurance be compulsory? The Government seems to be weakening on this issue. Some politicians are saying they want to see compulsory third party insurance on cars, and most New Zealanders agree with them. What many people don't realise is how inexpensive third-party insurance can be to buy and how expensive having no insurance can be in the event of an accident. I think our family's story should be a warning to every car owner; you may think you'll never have an accident of any sort, but they happen, and when they do, they can be very expensive. Insure your car and avoid debt! If you have a vehicle, insurance is vital. Remember, when you insure something such as a car, it is not the car you are insuring. You are insuring yourself so that, if you cause damage with that car you will not be placed under the pressure of a debt you may never be able to escape from. Vehicle insurance is not about insuring your car - it's about insuring yourself against a lifetime of debt! If you are uninsured because you find it too expensive, phone an insurer and ask for a third-party insurance quote - it's worth it for your own peace of mind. For years people have been writing letters to the editors of newspapers and phoning talkback saying that third party car insurance should be compulsory. We're not going to go into answering that question here, but one thing we do know for sure; if you're driving your car without at least third party insurance, you are crazy!! A lesson learned Let me tell you a story about our youngest daughter's most horrifying moment. We had an old blue Corolla. Three children had learned to drive in it and they were pretty good drivers. It was an old car, but it was a good car. Mechanically, it went well and there was very little evidence of rust. One day our daughter came home, parked the car in the drive and went inside. Minutes later, she heard a crash. She'd forgotten to put the handbrake on! The car had rolled backwards and into our neighbour's house. Amazingly, there was very little damage to the car. However, the house didn't fare so well. The car was now sitting in the front bedroom. The cost to repair the house was $27,000! As I talked with our daughter about this I pointed out, "If you didn't have insurance, you would be paying that off at $100 a week for the next five years." What is third party car insurance? Third party car insurance is insurance you take out to repair or replace any damage you do with your vehicle, it doesn't cover damage to your own vehicle. There are two types of third-party insurance; Basic third party insurance insures the damage you may cause to another person's vehicle or property with the insured car. Third-party fire and theft is slightly more expensive and insures damage to other vehicles, and to yours if your car if it is damaged by fire or stolen. So, while your car isn't covered, any damage your car causes is. That makes third party car insurance ideal for cheaper cars. The Corolla I told you about was only worth $1,000. To insure it was going to be about $500 a year because of the age of our children. Third party insurance, however, was only $150 a year - and it was worth every cent for our family. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Car Insurance hiccups Car Insurance hiccups Contact Us 3. Taking your vehicle off-road Most would assume this rule doesn't apply to them – when was the last time you took your hatchback 4-wheel driving? However, off-road doesn't just mean doing jumps and doughnuts in the mud. If you try to do a U-turn in a paddock and a stampede of cows damages your car, that’s counted as driving off-road. If you park on the beach and your car gets damaged, that’s also counted as off-road, and is all the insurer needs to decline your claim. 4. Driving in unroadworthy conditions If you have an accident and upon assessment your tyres are declared to have had insufficient thread, your claim can be denied. It doesn't matter if you have a Warrant of Fitness, or if bald tyres had nothing to do with your accident. 5. Driving recklessly Burnouts and hand-brakies are a favourite past-time of many young folk these days, but attempting to do a manoeuvre in a car that goes wrong is means to have your claim declined almost immediately. There are a number of key things to remember when driving a car: always put on your seat belt, give way to traffic on the right, and make sure you've read the fine print of your insurance policy documents. These days you’d have to be pretty foolish to drive around without insurance. Damaging your car, or even worse, someone else’s, without insurance is a fast-track to debt. But something so many drivers forget is that even having insurance is not always a get-out-of-jail-free card. Your insurance policy will have so many special clauses and exclusions to give your insurer all they need to deny your claims, and put you out of pocket. Here are a few key exclusions to remember. 1. Breaching license conditions If you’re on a restricted license, and you have an accident while illegally carrying a passenger, your insurance claim can be declined. Even though your passenger had nothing to do with the accident, it still gives your insurer all they need to decline your claim. 2. Not securing your vehicle If your vehicle gets stolen, but you’d left the door unlocked or the window down, that’s another reason to have your claim declined. This one can get a bit tricky because there’s often nothing for the insurer to go on other than your word, so you could say it was locked – but that wouldn't be honest. View next post At Futurisk, we work for you, not the insurer. So when it’s time to make a claim, we’ve got your back. We’ve got your back Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19