2024 Commentator value, worthy publications, and useful websites.

ALEC WAUGH Updated December 2024

BOOKS:

• Cracking Open the Nest Egg: How to Make Your Retirement Savings Last the Distance. Martin Hawes, 2022. Great for those Retired.
• Money Made Simple. Managing your money, a guide for all New Zealanders, Sam Stubbs 2022
• Rich enough: A laid back Guide for every Kiwi, Mary Holm, 2018. Excellent.
• A Richer You, How to Make most of your Money, Mary Holm, 2021. All from Mary’s Q/A column from the Weekend Herald. Magic!
• The Great NZ Work, Money, and Retirement Puzzle and how to solve it. A Practical Guide for everyone 19-91 yrs.Alan Clarke, (2014). Unusual style but easy to read.
• The No Regrets Guide to Retirement: Patricia Howard, 2021, John Whiley, Publisher, Aussie with many references to Australian Aged Pension and their compulsory Super savings, but easy to read and sound advice.
• The Essential Retirement Guide, A Contrarian’s PerspectiveFrederick Vettese, John Wiley& sons (2016) * American but suitable and applicable to NZ. Excellent, good examples. On the button!
• Retire Richer; a practical guide for everyone aged 25-85. Alan Clarke. 2010. Large font, easy to read. Very sound.
• The New Retirement: Smart Tips for Boomers. Bill Jamieson Shoal Bay 2007. Chatty.
• NZ Retirement Guide, (2013), Twenty Good SummerMartin Hawes: A prolific writer, (over 20 books) always provides good reading and common-sense recommendations.
• The Barefoot Investor, by Scott Pape, the only Money guide you ever need. (2022) NZ publication, easy guide to investment and money issues
• How to retire with enough money and how to know what enough is. Teresa Ghilarduccci, (2015). Also, American, but suitable for NZ readers. 100 pages. Excellent.
• Your 60’s by Peter Dunn, (2015) Centage Learning. again, an American book, but applicable to NZ scene.
• The New Zealand Tax System, NZ Taxes in comparative perspectiveRob Salmond, 2011. Want to know about the NZ Tax system? Easy to follow.

COMMENTATORS?  Who is worth listening too?

The comments are brief, editor opinion only, and the names mentioned are those that provide or give opinions or articles on either retirement income issues, and or New Zealand Superannuation and Kiwi Saver.

I have used the generic label of conservative, liberal or neutral to describe my perception of their objectivity, readers should always make their own mind up on commentator bias and balance.

• Martin Hawes: Calm, common sense covering superannuation, trusts, retirement savings etc. Published Author. Neutral.
• Mary Holm: Sound and succinct. Good business and personal financial comment, on many of the current retirement issues. Wonderful ability to explain things simply! Excellent plus NZ Herald column each Sunday-compulsory reading! Published author. Neutral
• Rob Stock: Leans towards the senior’s market, writes regularly in an easy-to-follow manner, on topical retirement income. Sound approach. Neutral.
• Hannah McQueen: Always interesting. Enableme.com. Financial services. Neutral
• Susan Edmonds. Money editor Stuff. Regular columnist, sound. Neutral
• Katrina Shanks CEO Financial advice NZ, regular columnist. Sound. Neutral
• Amanda Morrell. Financial author, Newstalk ZB guest on Smart Money. Several years back, her comments on NZ Super, were vague and unhelpful, but for balance her comments on finance issues informative overall. Hope has upskilled on NZ Super. Neutral.
• Cameron Bagrie: Independent Economist. Previous Chief economist ANZ bank, now out on his own. A 2017 piece on Superannuation was poorly done, containing the usual myths and generalizations. Believes NZ Super is fiscally unsustainable, and age of eligibility must be raised. Conservative. Be wary of this voice! A narrow lens.
• Brad Olsen: Youthful economic commentator, precise in his comments, very visible, always interesting Hope he has researched NZ Superannuation history, have not heard a lot from him on this topic? Neutral.
• Diana Clement. Regular NZ Herald columnist, who writes in a simple and clear manner. Solid topics and approach. Neutral.
• Janine Starks, Managing director Stuff, regular columnist. Sound. Neutral
• Shamubeel Eaqub: Independent economist. Always interesting, has a view on everything. Has a blind spot re costs of NZ Super, needs to widen his reading and get to grips with public policy, and what is good, what is bad. Neutral.
• Matthew Hooton: A commentator, strong National party-political links. Well-connected, do not ignore him but take him with a grain of salt. He gets far too much air time. Conservative. Be wary of this voice!
• Brian Fallow. Experienced economic editor e.g., the NZ Herald. Always interesting. Like recently retired Fran Sullivan automatically asserts NZ Superannuation and fiscal costs are unsustainable, both leaning towards crisis rhetoric on Superannuation issues. Needs to allow for adjustment factor long-term trend analysis, but he writes on lots of financial topics. Conservative.
• Brian Easton. Long-time commentator on all elements of retirement income. Conservative
• Ralph Stewart: Experienced business background, common sense approach, currently CEO Life time Income, annuities expert. Surrounds himself with quality retirement income advisors. Neutral.
• Susan St John, THE PENSIONS, AND INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY HUB A leading academic Susan’s substantial knowledge of the Retirement Income sector makes her a “must read.” Liberal
• Dr Dale Clair. The Pensons and Intergenerational Equity Hub Research Fellow, colleague of Susan St John. Well informed and research strong point. Liberal.

• Michael Littlewood. His papers on NZ Superannuation are seminal resource papers, easy to read, clarifies the issues in a simple manner. For anyone wanting to increase their knowledge on NZ Superannuation, his papers throughout the period 2008-2020 must read. NZ Guru on New Zealand Superannuation. Neutral. Anyone proclaiming expertise on NZ Super needs to have read his many papers.
• Liz Koh, Sincere, balanced approach and well researched. Neutral. https://enrichretirement.com, excellent website

• Francis Cook Financial journalist, ex Business Desk. Now a financial advisor . Have not seen enough to comment
• Tina Morrison, Business Desk specialises in primary industries, listed companies, financial markets, and the economy. See above
• Tracy Watkins. Sunday Star Times Editor. Every so often pops up with an opinion piece on NZ Super. She needs to be better researched and careful with her assumptions not all evidence based, with several invalid perceptions. Has a nice chatty style. Neutral.
• Phil O’Reilly. Ex Chief Executive Business NZ and now with Duke Partners, a public policy advisory firm. Early in 2024 made a fool of himself on Newstalk ZB, running down the knowledge base of the Retirement Commissioner, and providing misleading info on what is required for NZ Super into the future. Do your homework Phil, and stop winging it on Retirement income issues. Conservative.
• Tony Alexander. No direct commentary on retirement income, but visible and sound economic analysis on a regular basis. Easy to read, explains things simply and logically. Impressive! Neutral.
• Paul Henry: Full of opinions. Like him or hate him, he provides a view. Pops up now and then, and never dismiss. Conservative.
• Brent Shearer. Sound on investment issues, always gives an opinion. Neutral
• Associate Professor Claire Matthews, Massey University. Pops up frequently with comment on Tax ,banking and retirement income issues. On NZ Superannuation always defaults to fiscal sustainability and has long wanted to raise the age of entitlement. Neutral.
• Bernard Hickey: Diverse background. Well researched. Firm opinion and views. Worth listening too and writes well. Regula Pod cast. Liberal
• David Farrer. Kiwi Blog, co-founder of the Tax Payer Union, strong National party links. Pollster. Political opinions very right wing.Conservative.
• Alec Waugh. Chairman consumer group, Kaspanz (retirement income issues). Public Policy and History qualifications. Police career background, also period CEO Business Information Service. Supports NZ Superannuation model, disputes those contesting fiscal sustainability, holding the view NZ Super is wonderful public policy, mess with it at NZ peril!
• John Gascoigne.  Visible on NZ Superannuation, defender of the model and current fiscal sustainability. Conservative.
• Jane Wrightson, Retirement Commissioner. interesting sound, balanced,  wants to get on with things. Neutral.
• Alison O” Connell: Research associate and financial commentator. Very sound analysist. Listen to her .
• Liam Dann, BusinessEditor, NZ Herald. Visible, and common sense. His knowledge of NZ Super and Kiwi Saver needs more research time. Dig deeper Liam.

TALK BACK

• This medium is the radio social media platform equivalent, dominated by I Heart radio. This is a conservative platform, many hosts have a strong conservative leaning, and supportive of the right-wing approach, elements of Trump, libertarian, and National/Act party cheerleaders.

Elements of retirement income emerge every so often including NZ Superannuation comment, usually from a perceptions viewpoint, rather than any informed knowledge, or evidence based. Be cautious of the many opinions provided, at times they are muppets or div, trying to conceal their right-wing arrogance.

 

• Mike Hosking. Newstalk ZB radio talkback host, since 2008. Rapid speaking, intelligent, zany, opinionated, privileged, right leaning/libertarian. Strong bias in all his comments, needs to improve his knowledge on NZ Superannuation etc.  Mike tries to be NZ version of Aussie Alan Jones. Conservative
• Heather du Plessis-Allan. Newstalk host. Can be over confident, needs to develop further her knowledge on NZ Superannuation etc., similar approach to Hosking. Her husband is Barry Soper ZB Political editor, who often appears on her show. Conservative
• Leighton Smith. Great survivor of Radio Talkback. Conservative, knows his way around the subjects, but his twist on issues while often sounding knowledgeable, merely confirms here is an orthodox conservative. Describes himself as somewhat libertarian. Pod cast communication his current leanings
• Marcus Lush. Now Invercargill City Councillor, more liberal than most of his colleagues. His alternative style makes for good listening, have not heard much on retirement income. Liberal
• Kerre McIvor. Perceptions, rather than facts, often drives her. Has a nice common touch rapport with listeners, needs to improve her knowledge on NZ Superannuation and what is good public policy.
• Nick Mills. entrepreneur, (Saints basketball franchise). Lacks depth, full of one line rhetoric, what little I have heard from him on retirement income, has been unhelpful. Conservative
• Sean Plunkett Old school media. Opinionated. Conservative
• Jamie Mackey, Rural radio Host. National Party supporter, nice common touch about him. Conservative.
• Mike Yardley, fills in as a part time radio host, also print media commentator. Barely conceals his anti-Labour rhetoric.
• Tim Beveridge and Tim Roxborough, the Weekend Collective do a Sunday Money show. Nice and chatty, their own knowledge on NZ Superannuation and Kiwi Saver, is light, but they have good guests, and they target average Kiwis. Good stuff. Neutral
• RETIREMENT INCOME WEBSITES OF VALUE
• http://www.sorted.org.nz
• http://www.kaspanz.com
• http://The Happy Saver.com
• co.nz. (Excellent information tool, wide range of topics.
• https://enrichretirement.com
• Lifetime Retirement Incomehttps://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz
• MAGAZINES/JOURNALS OF VALUE
• The Headliner. Investment advice sheet and comment. headliner.co.http://headliner.co.nz
• The National Business Review. http://www.nbr.co.nz/.New Zealand weekly business review and analysis magazine. On- line only
• The Economist com. Concise world view.

 

• The information in this newsletter is of a general nature only, and is not professional advice. Kaspanz accepts no liability for its accuracy. The newsletter is principally the work of the current chairman of Kaspanz, and articles and views are not to be regarded as Kaspanz policy. The intent of the newsletter is to provide information only, to assist the reader in their own various view points, and is not paid content, it is compiled on a voluntary basis, to be helpful to readers in retirement income matters. No liability is assumed by Kaspanz for losses suffered by any person or organisation relying directly or indirectly on information published on this site. Views expressed in any article are the views of the authors individually, and or the editor and do not necessarily reflect the view of Kaspanz.

 

• Posted by Alec Waugh, December 2024 comment

This article was written by Alec Waugh