Anglican Church Backs Christian KiwiSaver Scheme

Anglican Church Backs Christian KiwiSaver Scheme

by | 17 Jun, 2024 | General, KiwiSaver

At the Anglican Church’s General Synod/te Hīnota Whānui in May 2024, the Christian KiwiSaver Scheme received strong backing from the Church with a resolution that encourages all Anglican institutions to select the Scheme as their employer chosen KiwiSaver scheme.

The details of the KiwiSaver scheme founded on Christian values and Christian ethical frameworks was explained to the Synod and subsequently reported on the Anglican Taonga website.

The full article is here

Your KiwiSaver Check Up

Your KiwiSaver Check Up

by | 17 Jun, 2024 | General, KiwiSaver

Just like you get a Warrant of Fitness for your car, it’s important to regularly check your KiwiSaver Scheme to make sure it’s still set up the way you want. Here are some easy tips to make sure your KiwiSaver is in top shape. We recommend doing this once a year, either at the start of the year or when you get your annual member statement.

1.   Check if Your Investment Profile is Right for You.

This is about where your money is invested. Does your choice of investment fund, match the level of risk you are comfortable taking?
The Sorted website has a handy tool called Investor Profiler. You answer a few questions, and it helps you find out what type of investor you are and what kind of investment mix is best for you.

2.   Are You Contributing Enough?

Think about whether you can afford to put in more money or make extra contributions. If you stopped making contributions, is it time to start again?

The Sorted website also has a KiwiSaver Calculator. Answer a few questions to see how big your balance could be at age 65 and how much you could get each week in retirement. Try different contribution rates to see how they affect your savings.

3.   Is your Personal Investor Rate (PIR) correct?

Your PIR is the tax rate we use to calculate the tax on your investment earnings. Make sure you’re using the right PIR. You don’t want too much tax taken from your earnings, or too little and end up with a tax bill. Your PIR for the current tax year is based on your total taxable income in either of the last 2 tax years. If that changes, your PIR might change too. Inland Revenue can also tell us to change your PIR if they think it’s wrong. Our website has a guide to help you calculate your PIR

That’s it! Checking these three things every so often will help make sure your KiwiSaver account is working for you. Our team is happy to help with any questions you have.

Partnering with AMLHUB

Partnering with AMLHUB

by | 17 Jun, 2024 | General, KiwiSaver

Complying with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules is essential for many businesses, including banks, law firms, real estate agents, and KiwiSaver providers. Besides verifying a new client’s identity and address, ongoing checks are required for existing clients too.

To help us meet our AML obligations, we’ve partnered with AMLHUB Services Ltd. They provide us with software and outsourcing services, giving both the Scheme and its members an efficient and affordable AML compliance tool.

When we need information for AML purposes, you will receive an email from us. It will show you exactly what you will get from AMLHUB so you can be sure the email and text you will receive are legitimate and not a scam.

By working with AMLHUB, we ensure that we stay compliant and protect our investments against money laundering and terriorism financing. If you have any questions, our team is here to help.

A Transparent Approach by Christian KiwiSaver Scheme

A Transparent Approach by Christian KiwiSaver Scheme

by | 21 Feb, 2024 | General

In today’s world, ethical considerations have become increasingly important for investors, and Christian KiwiSaver Scheme stands out as a beacon of transparency and integrity. Our organisation prioritises ethical investment practices and is committed to aligning its investments with its principles. Recently, Mindful Money identified Christian KiwiSaver Scheme‘s portfolio, as having concerns regarding investments in fossil fuels, weapons, and human rights violations. Christian KiwiSaver Scheme does not shy away from the discussion but instead seizes the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to ethical investment and transparency. 

We appreciate the Mindful Money website as a resourceful platform. However, our investment choices are not solely based on their standard for ethical investment. We rely on our in-house expertise and advice from an international corporate governance specialist to make well-informed decisions. As a Christian organization, we prioritise investing in companies that are committed to transitioning to better practices. We firmly believe in a long-term, sustainable approach to transitioning to more ethical and sustainable future.

Christian KiwiSaver Scheme‘s approach is based on dedication to ethical principles. Our organisation regularly monitors its holdings and welcomes feedback from third-party organizations such as Mindful Money to ensure that its investments reflect its values. When ethical concerns are raised, each flagged company is subject to a thorough review, taking into account factors such as environmental impact, social responsibility, and corporate governance. 

Transparency is paramount for Christian KiwiSaver Scheme, and it openly discusses and justifies its investment choices. Whether it decides to divest from problematic stocks or retains them with a plan for improvement, we ensure that our members are fully informed. You can read our full list of investment holdings here, and our Ethical Investment Policy here. By providing clarity on the rationale behind investment decisions, Christian KiwiSaver Scheme empowers members to make ethical choices that align with their values. 

While ethical investment can be complicated, Christian KiwiSaver Scheme serves as a reliable guide and partner for its members. We navigate the complexities of the investment landscape with integrity and transparency, communicating openly, conducting thorough research, and remaining steadfast in its dedication to ethical principles. As a result, Christian KiwiSaver Scheme fosters trust and confidence among its members and contributes to a more ethical and sustainable future.

Care and compassion in action: Christian KiwiSaver Scheme partners with Debtfix

Care and compassion in action: Christian KiwiSaver Scheme partners with Debtfix

by | 2 Aug, 2023 | General, KiwiSaver, Membership

In a significant step towards supporting the financial well-being of our members, Christian KiwiSaver Scheme is proud to announce its partnership with Debtfix – an organisation dedicated to reducing debt here in New Zealand.

 

Debtfix offers managed processes that fix debt and help people control their finances. Our partnership with Debtfix aims to provide our members with valuable resources and, more importantly, allows us to enact our value of care and compassion to those in need.

 

Debt and budgeting issues have become increasingly prevalent in today’s fast-paced and uncertain economic landscape. Many New Zealanders struggle with mounting debts, loans, and general difficulty in budgeting.

 

Such financial challenges can have a profound impact on the ability to save for retirement and achieve other long-term financial goals. Recognising these challenges, we have sought to partner with Debtfix to help some of our members who may be experiencing these challenges.


Key Benefits of the Partnership


1. Debt Management Expertise: Debtfix brings experience and expertise in managing debt which includes working with creditors, banks, finance companies, courts and anyone else on your behalf. You won’t have to worry about dealing with several organisations. Through this collaboration with Debtfix, Christian KiwiSaver Scheme members can access personalised debt support and strategies to reduce their financial burdens.


2. Budgeting: An essential aspect of achieving financial stability is budgeting. Even if you are not in debt, having a simple budget can help you understand where your money is going – which can help you create and achieve your financial goals. Debtfix offers a budgeting service tailored to each individual’s unique financial situation, helping them better manage their income, expenses, and savings.


3. KiwiSaver Significant Financial Hardship Facilitator: In this partnership, Debtfix allows us to achieve better outcomes for members who have to make a KiwiSaver withdrawal due to Significant Financial Hardship. Not only will Debtfix help facilitate the withdrawal process, but they will also be able to provide more comprehensive support with their debt and finance expertise for those members experiencing significant financial hardship.


4. Proven experience with real people: Talking about finances with another person can be a really sensitive and difficult conversation – let alone talking about debt. Debtfix has experience working with people experiencing debt, and they also have some great stories of helping people through their financial challenges and burdens. To have a look at what some of their clients have said about them, take a look at their website: https://www.debtfix.co.nz/what-our-clients-say

 

This collaboration between Christian KiwiSaver Scheme and Debtfix is an exciting opportunity for us to help our members and put our values into action. We hope this partnership enables our members to take control of their finances, overcome debt challenges, and maximise the potential of their KiwiSaver investments.

 

Debtfix’s services are absolutely free for Christian KiwiSaver Scheme members. If you are interested in using their service or if you would like to make an inquiry, please email us at info@christiankiwisaver.nz

 

If you would like more information about Debtfix, please visit their website https://www.debtfix.co.nz/

Get your free retirement planning guide

Get your free retirement planning guide

by | 2 Aug, 2023 | General, Life after 65, Membership

Have you started thinking about your retirement plan? If you are reading this, congratulations! You might be taking your first small steps to consider what retirement might look like. No matter how far away retirement may feel, getting started is always a good idea, no matter how small the step.

 

The Financial Services Council (FSC) has recently published its Retirement Planning Guide, a comprehensive resource to help you navigate the path towards a secure retirement. Whether you are just starting your career or nearing retirement age, this guide offers valuable insights and tools to plan your retirement effectively.

 

The FSC is a non-profit member organisation with a vision to grow the financial confidence and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

 

While retirement is a significant milestone, it may feel like there is time to put off planning for it until later. Retirement requires careful planning; the earlier you plan for it, the more time you allow yourself to reach your goals. Good retirement planning may mean helping you achieve the lifestyle you want to live without exhausting your savings.

 

This guide helps you think about retirement planning by outlining two critical considerations: how much to save for retirement and how much you can reasonably spend during your retirement years. It then explains key concepts and provides valuable tools for this planning process.

 

To view and download the FSC’s Retirement Planning Guide click here.

 

Please note:

This Retirement Planning Guide is general information only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the FSC. It is not intended to constitute legal or financial advice and does not take your individual circumstances and financial situation into account. We encourage you to seek assistance from a trusted financial adviser, legal or other professional advice.

 

The names of any third parties are additional resources that you access at your own risk and the FSC takes no responsibility for any third party content.

 

The FSC and its employees make no express or implied representations or give any warranties regarding this guide, and we accept no responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense (whether direct or indirect) incurred by you as a result of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this guide.