KiwiSaver and you

Introduction

Welcome to this independent information site about Kiwisaver and other investment options. We are not repeating the information available on other sites but rather providing the tools for visitors to be able to analyze the options being offered.

The overall conclusion of our analysis is that KiwiSaver is a must for at least part of your savings program in order to gain the benefit of the Government incentives. For any non-earning family members, it is well worthwhile making voluntary contributions of at least enough to secure the incentives ($1042.86 per year), even if it means taking savings from somewhere else to funds it.

The calculators we have are:

	KiwiSaver Calculator - this allows you to see what your savings may be worth at your age 65. The default assumptions are those used by the Retirement Commission and found in all the official information. These are all user-definable to registered users of the calculator. This takes account of the introduction over 4 years of the Employer's compulsory contribution.
	*Time-out Calculator (coming soon)* -** this allows you to look at the situation of maybe working for a few years then having some time off and resuming work again. It allows you to see the impact of making voluntary contributions while not working. It can also be used to see what just voluntary contribution will produce for someone not intending to be in the paid work-force. Any Employer's contributions are user definable and ignore their 4 year staggered introduction. Again, all assumptions are user-definable to registered users of the calculator.
	Saving and Loan Calculator - this is the most flexible and probably the most comprehensive calculator you will ever see - and its simple to use. The Savings and Loans sections each have five different analyses that can be undertaken. There is also a property investment section and finally a Conversions section.

The Official KiwiSaver Information

The main source of information about KiwiSaver is from the website www.kiwisaver.govt.nz. This has a link to a calculator from the Retirement Commission. However there is no ability to vary the assumptions that are locked to (i) annual wage rises of 3.5%, (ii) annual inflation of 2.0% and (iii) a gross return of 6.72%.

The Default Providers

The scheme has five fund managers termed Default Providers. In the absence of an employee nominating another Provider, that person's savings will go to one of these funds.

	AMP Services (NZ) Limited
	ASB Group Investments Limited
	ING (NZ) Limited
	Mercer Human Resource Consulting Limited
	National Mutual Corporate Superannuation Services Limited (trading as AXA New Zealand)
	TOWER Employee Benefits Limited.

There numerous other providers as well and they are listed on the sorted site.