Do you have an emergency nest egg? Do you have an emergency nest egg? Contact Us Most financial gurus and advisers these days recommend having a separate account that’s just for emergencies, and they’re not hard to set up. In fact, most banks will let you do it online. Just log in to your banking website and create a brand new internet account.But having the account is only half the job – now it just needs some money. Because many people live from pay day to pay day, putting a couple of hundred dollars aside into your emergency account is much easier said than done. Instead, consider starting an automatic payment, so every week or fortnight even as little as $5 is transferred into your emergency account without you having to do anything. $5 doesn't sound like much, but within 10 weeks you’ll have more than enough to put petrol in your car and buy some lunch if your pay doesn't come through. One of the key pieces of advice given about keeping an emergency accounts is to make it a little harder to access than your regular accounts. If you had a card in your wallet that had access to your emergency account, the temptation to spend the money would be too great. Instead, make it so that the only way to access that money is to have to transfer it from the special account into your regular account. So next time you need some emergency cash in a hurry, all you’ll need to do is whip out your smartphone, transfer some money and you’ll be away laughing. Earlier this year this was a glitch with ANZ’s payment system, and a whole lot of New Zealanders woke up on payday to discover they hadn't been paid. It didn't take long for the issue to be resolved, and everyone was paid by lunchtime, but the ANZ Facebook page was still inundated with complaints and tales of tragedy as people claimed they were now starving, cold and unable to put petrol in their car because of ANZ’s mistake. If you woke up on payday and found yourself in this situation, what would your day be like? Would you be going to work hungry because you couldn't afford to buy food for lunch? Would you have to walk to work because you had no money to pay for petrol or a bus? Or would you just transfer a few dollars from your emergency account and go on your merry way? For many, waking up on pay day to find their account empty should be a wake-up call, and one of the best things you can do if you’re scared of ever being in this situation is to create an emergency account. 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

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

Cleaning up after Christmas Cleaning up after Christmas Contact Us The Futurisk plan to escape Christmas debt: Make escaping debt a priority. This is the most important step: make a conscious decision that you are going to do whatever it takes, and make whatever sacrifices you need to make, to get out of debt as quickly as possible. Work out what you can do without. To become debt free as soon as possible will require some short-term sacrifices. Think about some things that you could do without for the sake of being debt free. Maybe you only buy coffee twice a week at work instead of every day. Maybe you don't buy that weekly magazine for a little while. Maybe you don't go out for dinner until the bill is paid. Whatever sacrifice you make, it will be worth it to escape the stress and financial cost of credit card debt. Just make sure you put the money saved towards paying off that debt. Pay off more than the minimum. This is the biggest mistake made by people with credit card debt. They believe that, by paying the minimum payment required each month, the debt will quickly disappear. While it will eventually disappear, it will be a long and costly process. The quicker you pay off debt, the more you save in interest and the better off you are financially. Having decided what sacrifices you will make with your spending, calculate how much you can put towards paying off your debt each month, and stick to it. Don't add any more to your credit card. The temptation is always there to treat yourself. "It's only a few dollars," we say. But all those few dollars add up. When the credit card interest rate is added to that, we are just prolonging our time in debt. Set a goal. Having made the decision to be debt free; and worked out where you can economise; and calculated what is the most you can repay each month; and having determined not to add anything to your card, set a date at which you can be debt free. Circle that date on your calendar or in your diary; keep that date at the forefront of your mind... it's the day you'll feel a great sense of release--you'll be debt free! Celebrate. Being debt free is something worth celebrating. Plan a celebration for the day you pay off your debt - but don't make it an expensive celebration, and don't put the cost of celebrating onto your credit card! The team at Futurisk would love to talk to you about all aspects of your personal finances and insurances. Beware Christmas debt! As we wander around the shopping malls leading up to Christmas, it's so tempting to pull out our credit card to buy gifts and treats for family and friends. Of course, our intention is to quickly pay off the amount owing as soon as we get back to work in the New Year. Problem is, for many New Zealanders that doesn't happen. Some credit card statistics Leading up to Christmas last year the New Zealand Herald reported: New Zealanders were collectively paying more than $600 million a year in interest on personal credit card debt. New Zealanders collectively owed $5.542 billion on plastic cards at the end of July 2012. Of this $5.264 billion was on personal credit cards. Nearly two-thirds of personal credit card debt is incurring interest. Despite credit card rates of just 12% being available, the average interest rate on outstanding balances is 17.8 per cent. That equates to $638 million in payments going into the pockets of financial institutions over the past year. Credit card debt is dangerous Now, I know most people will say, "But I pay off my card every month before it incurs any interest." The reality is, most people don't! Much of the debt loaded onto credit cards occurs in the period leading up to Christmas. Last December, we collectively loaded over 5 billion dollars onto our credit cards. Did we pay it all off within the month? No. In January this year we still owed over 3.5 billion dollars of that, plus the interest it was accruing. Credit card debt is dangerous because of the high interest rate it incurs. For many people, going into debt on their credit card puts them into debt for a long, long time. It makes sense to limit the use of your credit card leading up to Christmas, but just in case it's too late, here are a plan to help you clean up after Christmas if you find yourself in debt when January 2014 arrives. 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 Tips to Help You Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster Six Tips to Help You Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster Contact Us 3. Make repayments fortnightly, not monthly Most banks will set up your mortgage with monthly repayments; request fortnightly repayments. What that means is that, over a year, you’ll make 26 half-monthly repayments rather than 12 monthly payments – that’s two extra repayments per year. Over the course of a 30 year mortgage that can save you thousands of dollars. 4. Make lump sum repayments If you have a tax refund or some other windfall, put it on your mortgage. It will go straight towards paying off principal owed and save money on interest repayments. 5. Track your finances Many people could radically improve their personal finances if only they kept track of their income and expenditure – that means, keeping to a budget. Remember, even small amounts of money saved and put on your mortgage can save thousands over the period of your mortgage. 6. Set your mortgage up with part revolving credit Of all the tips to save money on your mortgage, this is the most effective. It can be tricky to set up properly and you may need some financial advice to do it. Once set-up, however, it can save you tens of thousands of dollars and many years of mortgage repayments. The team at Futurisk would love to talk to you about all aspects of your personal finances. Click here to contact Futurisk. I remember when I was about Intermediate School age (a long time ago), my mother would give me $20 each fortnight and I’d take it to the local building society. It was the mortgage money. Having taken out a mortgage, my parents faithfully paid back the required sum every fortnight until every dollar of the interest and principal were paid off. No thought was given to ways of saving on those mortgage repayments. These are, however, simple things you can do to speed up your mortgage repayments saving you both money and time. Here are Futurisk’s six tips to help pay off your mortgage faster: 1. Start early Whatever strategy you decide on, start as early on in your mortgage as you can. In fact, think about how you will repay your home loan before you even sign up for it. Perhaps get some advice from a financial solutions company like Futurisk or from your accountant. This is because, with a table mortgage, which most mortgage-holders will have, the early payments are mostly interest with little principal being repaid. Then, as time goes on, the proportion of interest per payment decreases, and the proportion of principal per payment increases. So, the sooner you begin on a plan to speed up the paying off of your mortgage, the more you save. 2. Each fortnight, pay a little more than the bank asks for If you pay any amount over what the bank asks you to pay on your mortgage, that amount will go straight into lowering the principal owed and therefore lower the interest you are paying. Over the life of your mortgage even a small amount of extra money paid per payment can save tens of thousands of dollars. Here’s another little trick: over time, most mortgage repayments will decrease. Many home owners look forward to this and see it as extra money in their wallet. However, by keeping your repayments the same throughout the life of your mortgage, a lot of money can be saved. 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 you have the right insurance cover - Life Insurances How to know you have the right insurance cover - Life Insurances Contact Us Which life-insurance should I go for? Term life insurance or a whole of life policy, which one should you go for? The obvious advantage of a whole of life policy is that it's like a savings account. You pay your premiums, and at a certain age you get something back. The disadvantage is that, for all that time, the premiums are higher. The question to ask when deciding which policy to go for is this, "If I go for the cheaper (term life insurance) policy, what will I do with the money saved?" If the answer is that you would squander it, then an endowment policy with the compulsory savings component is perfect for you. If, however, you're able to be more disciplined and put that money aside in some sort of investment for the future, then you might consider doing that and going for a term life policy. Insurances to protect your income: We almost always insure our most valuable assets-it's crazy not to! So, you've probably taken out insurance on your house, your car, your possessions... but none of these are your most valuable asset. Your most valuable asset is your ability to earn an income, and this needs to be protected because without it, you cannot pay your bills. There are two ways to protect your income: Income protection insurance, sometimes called disability insurance. Most income protection policies will, in the event of you being unable to work as a result of illness or injury, pay you up to 75% of your previous taxable income for a pre-specified term. As part of the policy, you can usually choose a stand-down period of four, eight, or 13 weeks before any income is paid out. The length of stand-down you select will be reflected in the premium you are charged - the longer the stand-down, the lower the premium. So, income protection means you continue to get a weekly payment despite being unable to work. Trauma or crisis insurance, sometimes referred to as critical illness insurance. This policy provides a lump sum on the diagnosis of certain specified critical conditions such as, serious cancer, heart disease and stroke. Some people say, it's like life insurance, but you don't have to die! What this means is, if you're seriously ill and need to take time off work, you'll be paid a lump sum to help with medical expenses, living expenses etc. That lump sum is agreed at the time you purchase the policy and, the greater the lump sum, the higher the policy premiums. So, in short, income protection pays a percentage of your income; trauma insurance pays a lump sum. Do I need to protect my income? The simple answer to this is, "Yes." Everyone needs to protect their income in case of an accident or illness. However, when considering income protection insurance you need to consider the value of it by weighing up your income, occupation and any offsets such as ACC payments and the like. For instance, if you are earning $40,000 per year, it may be that you would be eligible for that amount via a sickness benefit should you become ill. It nullifies the need for income protection insurance. One thing is for sure: Whenever you take out insurance, read all documents carefully so you know what's covered and what's not. To get proper advice on life insurances we recommend that you speak to an accredited insurance agent. Life insurances can be pretty confusing. There are so many products out there, and you never quite know which ones are best for you. And then, having decided on the type of insurance, there's the question of how much should you insure for? And when should you start with life insurance? One thing is for sure, however, living without any form of life-based insurance cover leaves your personal and business finances in a dangerous position. One of the most common ways of falling into debt is through the unexpected need to replace a lost or damaged asset that was not insured, and your greatest asset is your ability to earn. If that was suddenly removed from you, debt could quickly follow. Here's Futurisk's quick guide to life-based insurances. In terms of life-based insurances there are two aspects of cover you should consider to avoid potential debt for yourself or your dependents. The first is life insurance; this protects your dependents in the case of anything happening to you. The second is income protection insurance; this protects you and your dependents in a situation where you are unable to work because of some sort of illness. Let's look at these insurances more closely: Life insurances: The important thing to remember about life insurance is that it's not for you. Sure, it's your life that's insured, but the policy is for the benefit of your dependents. It's to ensure that they are able to live with some quality of lifestyle in the event that you're not there to provide for them. There are two types of life insurance policy: Term life insurance: Term life insurance agrees to pay your dependents or your estate an agreed amount if you die. The policy usually runs for a set term. That means, when you reach a certain age the cover ceases. You know longer pay premiums and you're no longer covered. Most people choose an age of about 65, a time when they no longer have children dependent on them, and have some income because they're receiving the pension. Because the insurance company realises the chance of you dying before this age is relatively slim, premiums are adjusted accordingly. This is why the premiums are usually lower than for the second type of life insurance. Whole of life or endowment insurance: Whole of life insurance (sometimes called endowment insurance) tends to be more expensive than straight life insurance because it combines life insurance with a savings or investment component. Endowment policies still mature when you reach a previously nominated age (usually 65), but you receive a lump sum. At that point the policy and premium payments cease. If you die before reaching that age, your estate receives the agreed insurance pay-out. 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

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

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

Does Your Insurance Still Fit? Does Your Insurance Still Fit? Contact Us Get advice – not just a quote The radio is full of advertisements for quick insurance quotes. One promises that three questions is all you need to answer before purchasing a policy. That sounds very convenient, until claim time when you discover the exclusions and fine print conditions contained in many of these quick-sell insurances. Talking with a Futurisk qualified insurance adviser is invaluable. Rather than selling you a quick product, our advisers will walk you through the insurance process, helping you to understand what you’re paying for and explaining the benefits of your insurance protection. We will also compare policies across multiple providers ensuring that you receive the best advice and best value; not the cheapest option, but the policy that best suits your situation. Finding value for money – not the cheapest policy, but the best During tough economic times, it can be tempting to save money by cutting back on, or even cancelling, insurance. Futurisk’s advice is to first carefully consider the cost of not being insured should something happen. We do our best to help you find ways to adjust cover or restructure premiums to keep them affordable. Remember, a well-structured insurance policy is vital for protecting your family’s financial future should something unexpected happen. A Futurisk insurance review doesn’t mean buying more. It means, taking the time to ensure your cover is serving you the best way possible. The bottom line Insurance is there to protect you, your family, and your finances. However, it only works if it’s fit for purpose. A quick review with your Futurisk insurance adviser could make a big difference to both your budget and your long-term security. As the rising cost of living puts pressure on most Kiwi households, it's a good time to examine your regular expenses, and that includes your insurance. Whether it's life insurance, health insurance, income protection, or general cover, everybody’s insurance needs change over time. That means, we all need to review our policies to ensure they still match our circumstances. It could be you are paying for more than you need and could save money. Or it could mean there are gaps in your insurance cover that would leave you financially exposed if something happened. When it’s time you reviewed your insurance cover, here’s a few things to keep in mind. Life changes – so should your insurance cover Major life events can all affect how much insurance you need and yet, many people set up their policies and never give them another thought. Life events affecting your insurance needs include getting married, having children, buying a house, changing jobs, and paying off debt. If you’re paying for cover you no longer need, you can almost certainly reduce your premiums and save money. On the other hand, if your circumstances have changed and your cover hasn’t kept up, you may not be as protected as you think. That means, your insurance premiums may be lower than they should be but, if something goes wrong, you’ll be underinsured and could be out of pocket for years to come. 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

How to decide before you buy something How to decide before you buy something Contact Us THREE: What will this item really cost me? If ever you decide to buy something on credit, the first question you should ask it this: "What will this actually cost me?" Recently I saw a lap-top that I'd quite like. It cost around $1,000. But there was a deal - the store said I could have it for just $10 a week spread over three years. $10 a week didn't seem much, until I worked it out. Spread over three years, $10 a week is a lot more than $1,000 - it's $1,560! You see what I mean? It wasn't such a great deal after all. I was paying one and a half times what the lap-top would have cost if I paid cash. Avoid purchasing anything on credit, but if you do, calculate the actual cost of the item - it may make you change your mind! FOUR: What can't I have if I buy this? We all have a limited amount of money to spend. That means, when we spend money on one item, we have to go without something else. So, before you buy anything ask yourself, "What is it that I won't be able to afford to buy?" Then ask which of those items you'd rather have. Remember this, if we buy a luxury item with cash, but then have to put our weekly groceries or petrol on our credit card, we have, in effect, gone into debt for that luxury item. FIVE: Will buying this item blow my budget? This question is like a summary question of the previous four. Living without a budget is dangerous for our personal finances. But a budget is only worth anything if we stick to it. So, if you don't have the available money to buy that treat, put off buying it until you do, it could save a lot of heartache in the long term. If you'd like any advice on your personal or business finances, contact the team at Futurisk. "Your money is burning a hole in your pocket." That's a phrase my mother used to use. It's another way of saying, sometimes we just feel like buying something! And, we've all felt like that at some time or another. We're down at the mall and we see something we'd like. We say to ourselves, "I've got to have that, and it only costs..." The reality is this, every time we purchase anything it impinges on our future lifestyle and living standard. That's why we need to pause and ask ourselves a few searching questions before we pull out our eft-pos card. Here's Futurisk's five questions to ask before you buy anything: ONE: Do I really need this? Impulse buying can quickly lead to regret, especially when a credit card is used. While there's nothing wrong with buying the occasional luxury, we need to ensure those purchases are within our budget. The best thing to do is set aside some money for those treat-type items, and stick to your budget no matter what! TWO: If I buy this, will I go into debt? The answer to this question is always, "yes," unless you're buying with cash, eft-pos or debit card, or you can clear your credit card before the next due date. New Zealand is facing a debt crisis and this is the number one way ordinary New Zealanders get themselves into trouble with their personal finances;we overspend on our credit cards. It only takes a small luxury here and another small one there, and before you know it - you're struggling to repay your credit card debt. The simple rule is - avoid going into debt 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