How to combine KiwiSaver and Managed Funds to Build Your Home Deposit
The benefits of a combination of both
Managed Funds are a great tool to use in conjunction with your KiwiSaver, especially if you’re saving for a home. Using managed funds alongside KiwiSaver can help in several ways. First, they allow you to invest additional savings beyond KiwiSaver contribution limits or what your employer matches. Second, they provide flexibility because you can access your savings for other priorities, including a home deposit. Finally, they can help keep your savings working for you rather than sitting in a bank account.
Why bother with KiwiSaver then? Why not just have a managed funds investment? Those are questions you may be asking right now. The answer is, because your KiwiSaver contribution is matched by your employer. That is a huge bonus and one all employed New Zealanders should be a part of (unless your company participates in a similar savings programme).
Making this work
KiwiSaver remains an excellent savings tool for first‑home buyers, but it doesn’t have to work alone. Combining KiwiSaver with managed funds can provide flexibility, choice, and a clearer pathway toward home ownership — even when your timeline isn’t certain.
We can help
Your Futurisk Financial Adviser is only a phone call away and can give advice on how to maximise your savings to secure your future and, if it’s one of your goals, enable you to save for that home deposit that can seem so elusive.
How to combine KiwiSaver and Managed Funds to Build Your Home Deposit
For many New Zealanders, KiwiSaver plays a key role in saving for their first home because it contains the option to withdraw most of the balance for a first‑home purchase after three years. However, for some people, KiwiSaver alone may not be enough, particularly if house prices continue to rise or personal timelines change. This is where managed funds can be a valuable complement to KiwiSaver savings.
What are managed funds?
Managed funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to buy a diversified portfolio of assets such as shares, bonds, and property. Managed by professional fund managers, they allow investors to buy units in a fund, spreading risk across various investments. They are used for long-term growth, wealth building, or saving for goals.
KiwiSaver versus managed funds
KiwiSaver is designed primarily as a long‑term retirement savings vehicle. While it can be accessed for a first home, it remains largely locked in until specific criteria are met. Usually this means funds are locked in until you reach retirement age (currently 65 years) or request an early withdrawal (usually only granted in the case of financial hardship).
Managed funds, by contrast, offer greater flexibility. They allow you to invest outside of KiwiSaver and generally access your money when you need it. This makes managed funds well-suited for medium‑term goals like building a home deposit.