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Safeguard your home and belongings with comprehensive home and contents insurance from Futurisk Insurance, serving clients across New Zealand. Home & Contents Insurance Our Solutions > Personal Insurance > Home & Contents Insurance > For Owner Occupied, Rental Dwellings and Holiday Homes. Covers you against losses to your most prizes possessions and important assets. Home Insurance Enquire Now Benefits with Futurisk We can help at claim time Let someone else pay to replace or repair your valuable possessions You choose the excess What can it cover? After the Canterbury earthquakes, all insurers changed to sum-insured policies. These policies make the owner responsible for calculating the costs to rebuild and insuring it for this amount. As your home is one of your most valuable possessions, insuring it for the right amount is not something you want to get wrong. Sum Sure Calculator This tool can assist in helping you to calculate your home Sum Insured - Sum Sure Calculator . You also want to know that when you need to make a claim, that you have people that will help you get that claim processed as soon as possible. Futurisk can match you up with the provider that will give you the benefits you need when you need them and get you competitively priced premiums and support you through the claims process. Chat to one of your local advisers today to organise a personalised Home & Contents plan. Talk to an adviser Enquire Now Benefits with Futurisk We can help at claim time Let someone else pay to replace or repair your valuable possessions You choose the excess What can it cover? If you own a rental property, you are vulnerable to the same risks of any homeowner. You’re also vulnerable to damage that tenants can do to your home and contents. Loss of Rent cover can support during a claimable event when you can’t rent out your property while it’s being repaired or if your tenants break the lease without required notice. It pays to have landlord insurance, which is designed to protect owners of investment properties. Benefits with Futurisk We can help at claim time Let someone else pay to replace or repair your valuable possessions You choose the excess What can it cover? Contents insurance provides protection against damage, theft or loss of your personal possessions. This may include anything from a pair of designer sunglasses to a flatscreen TV, to your furniture. The team at Futurisk will let you know what can be covered, and you can select the excess to reduce your premium. Contents Sum Insured Calculator No more guessing, no more time-consuming calculations, and no more under insurance! Click on the below link to calculate the level of cover you need for your Home Contents - Contents Sum Insured Calculator Freephone 0800 17 18 19 Insurance Benefits Protects your business on construction sites Protects the building under construction from natural disasters or damages caused by theft or vandalism the turnover that is lost so you can recover and rebuild Contract Works is an Important cover for commercial, industrial and domestic builders, sub-contractors, and property owners against damage, natural disasters, theft and product or public liability. What can it cover? Depending on your policy, contract works insurance can cover you against: Natural disasters Damage to property Broken glass Defects Liability Landlord’s insurance is designed to protect owners of investment properties. Landlord's Cover Enquire Now Contents Insurance provides cover for accidental loss or damage to your personal belongings. From basic cover to comprehensive cover, landlord contents and holiday home contents. Contents Insurance Enquire Now Important cover for commercial, industrial and domestic builders, sub-contractors, and owner-builders against damage, natural disasters, theft and product or public liability. Contract Works Enquire Now

Futurisk Insurance offers expert insurance and mortgage solutions for Kāpiti residents. Get personalised financial advice today. Futurisk Kāpiti Our Solutions > Kāpiti > We are your local Kāpiti advisers who live and work in your community. We work for you, not the insurer or the bank. We’ll guide you through insurance and mortgage solutions with honesty you can trust and advice you can count on. Contact 0800 367 467 +64 6 364 6123 enquirieskapiti@futurisk.co.nz 153 Main Highway Ōtaki PO Box 134, Ōtaki 5542 Enquire Now A partner of choice We strive to be partner of choice - for our customers, insurance companies and employees looking for long-term relationships built on a foundation of trust. Our Values, Ethics, Morals, and Integrity - at Futurisk these are the most important factors of our business. Our dedicated team support one another - we learn together, and share each other’s success! We have high standards of achievements and have commitment to the company. We keep our Advisers well informed - they receive continuous education for new products that come up onto the marketplace, we hold regular team meetings, extensive trainings and outings. Our Kāpiti Team Based in Ōtaki, Futurisk Insurance is an insurance brokerage company dedicated to providing "personalised service for a personalised solution". To us, you're not just a policy number, you're our valued client. We are an independent insurance brokerage company which means we do not work for the insurance companies and can find you the best possible insurance solution. Our Principal Adviser, Rex Duckett began his journey in the financial services industry in 1989. Rex started out with two phonebooks, an Insurance Rate book, and an idea. With these 3 books and a lot of hard work and late nights, he built a successful business and friendships that would last a lifetime. After so many years in the industry and two office locations, Ōtaki and Levin, Rex decided to amalgamate with Joe Singh from Futurisk Insurance Ltd and they have created a new and improved company, Futurisk Insurance (Kāpiti) Ltd. Rex is happy to align his business with Futurisk and be a part of an expanded and growing team of professional and friendly advisers who are dedicated to putting in place and improving our new and existing clients’ insurances. Supported by a friendly administration team. Futurisks ambition is to provide the best possible service to all clients, helping them understand their insurances and protecting what matters the most - their health and financial wellbeing. By aligning these businesses, it has allowed us to utilise the strong alliances we have formed over time with various insurance providers and giving us access to new providers already working with Joe, this helps give us security and the right tools to put the best covers into place for our clients in a timely manner. We also have been assigned Key Accounts Mangers (KAM) with these companies who are dedicated in assisting us as efficiently as possible. Our Kāpiti Office Meet our Kāpiti specialists Our advisers are all accredited and have a number of years industry experience behind them. They will work with you to create an ideal insurance plan for you and your family that supports your lifestyle, or the cashflow that your business would need to keep going should something happen. Rex Duckett Principal Adviser 027 444 2733 Bio Rex has been in the insurance industry since 1989, 34 years! He has always been an adviser and has seen many changes over the years, most recently the introduction of new qualifications for licensing. He has recently gained a New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services qualification in General Insurance, Life, Health and Disability Insurances. Rex enjoys V8s and has been drag racing for the last 22 years, his personal best is a 6 second ¼ mile at 205mph. He enjoys spending time with the growing family when he is not racing or hot rodding. FSP103124 - (Financial Services Provider Number) Email Becky Spiller Financial Adviser and Executive Manager 0800 367 467 ext 2 Bio Becky has worked in the insurance industry for over 12 years in an administration and management role, she primarily works with the personal risk clients, assisting with underwriting, quoting existing business and claims. She has recently gained a New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services qualification in General Insurance, Life, Health and Disability Insurances and Investments. Becky and her husband have one daughter, currently completing her Masters at Victoria University. Becky enjoys camping, fishing and spending time with her friends and family. Email Monique Duckett Financial Adviser and Finance Manager 0800 367 467 ext 1 Bio I have been in the industry for 25 years and have a good understanding of all the facets of this industry. I have Level 5 in Financial Services. I am currently working in the Otaki office alongside my husband Rex in the finance side of the general department. Email Marjie Pacan General Administrator 0800 367 467 ext 5 Bio Marjie emigrated to New Zealand from Poland in 2010 after living in England for 10 years, working a range of jobs including nursing and hospitality. Since emigrating to New Zealand she has worked in administration, early childhood centre and continues working as senior barista. Marjie has been in the insurance industry for 2 years as a receptionist and general administrator Outside of work I enjoy, hiking, cycling, throwing glamorous parties, flower arrangements and spending time with my two gorgeous children and greyhound. Email Deb Greaves Claims Administrator 0800 367 467 ext 4 Bio Deborah has mainly worked in hospitality from hotel management, conference administration, hospitality supplies, front of house and a wide range of other admin jobs. She loves spending time with her adult daughters. Deborah and her husband Kelvin enjoy travelling in their caravan with their fur baby Bonnie. When not travelling she enjoys gardening, reading and going out for brunch and trying out different restaurants. Email Mallery Henderson General Administrator 0800 367 467 Bio I have worked in various roles including customer service, marketing, and office management as well as volunteering for charities that support families when my family and hobbies leave me enough time. I’m a mum of 3, my hobbies include Roller Derby Officiating (national and international), Cross stitch and sewing. Email Get in touch with our Kāpiti team today, for local support on your insurance or mortgage needs. Get in touch 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

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

Find tailored business insurance solutions to safeguard your company. Get coverage for liability, assets, and business continuity with Futurisk Insurance. Business Insurance Our Solutions > Business Insurance > Protecting your business’s ability to keep on making money. Business Interruption Enquire Now Insurance Benefits Cover your business to keep running after an unexpected event Covers the turnover that is lost so you can recover and rebuild Covers ongoing operating expenses Covers relocation costs What can it cover? Business interruption insurance can help your business to keep running after a claimable event. Business Interruption insurance can get you through a temporary crisis by protecting your cashflow, wages and unexpected claims related costs – so you can pay these expenses and help ensure the future of your business. It may also include: Ongoing operating expenses, such as electricity and rent Relocation costs for moving to, and operating from, a temporary location. Wages and Payroll Claims preparations costs; and more Cover insures a business owner against loss or damage to physical assets including buildings, contents, plant and equipment, and stock. Material Damage Enquire Now Insurance Benefits Protects business owners against loss or damage to their physical assets including building, plant, stock and fitout What is material damage? Cover insures a business owner against loss or damage to physical assets including buildings, contents, plant and equipment, and stock. Whether caused by accident, fire, theft, vandalism or natural disaster. Covers most vehicles used in business throughout New Zealand. Commercial Motor Vehicle Enquire Now Insurance Benefits Cover your business to keep running after an unexpected event Covers the turnover that is lost so you can recover and rebuild Covers ongoing operating expenses Covers relocation costs Don't let your vehicle become a liability Commercial vehicles are an important business asset. Their protection along with associated vehicle liability cover, is essential to the success of any business. You and your team may be good drivers and take all precautions to protect your vehicle, however your own driving habits are only one part of the equation. Accidents can occur due to other people’s driving, weather events or other natural disasters. We can offer cover for your business and commercial vehicles. Full comprehensive cover Third party fire and theft cover Third party only Important cover for commercial, industrial and domestic builders, sub-contractors, and property owners against damage, natural disasters, theft and product or public liability. Contract Works Enquire Now Cyber Insurance helps to protect your electronic data Cyber Insurance Enquire Now Insurance Benefits Protects your electronic data Covers you against external hacking or breaches of website or confidential data Protecting your business information and privacy from cyber attacks is vital, as everyone is a potential target. Cyber Insurance Includes: Protects against human or system error Reputational damages (business interruption) Post-event consulting costs Third party claims for data leaks Access to a team to support when an attack is happening. Freephone 0800 17 18 19 Other isurance options If you have specific insurance needs and have not seen what you are after on our website then please contact us. We have a range of options and may be able to meet your needs. Our advisers are here to help. Enquire Now Liability Insurance Options Public Liability: Covering your legal liability and the costs of defence for to third party property or personal injury where you may be found to be liable. Statutory Liability: Covering unintentional breaches to most statutory acts including legal defence costs, reparation costs and in some cases fines. Employers Liability: Cover for accidents and illnesses to employees during the course of their employment which are not covered by ACC and the costs of legal defence. Professional Indemnity: Cover designed to protect against economic loss sustained by third parties as a result of the performance of your professional services and advice. Management Liability: Provides cover for Directors & Officers Liability, Entity, Employment Practices Liability, Trustees Liability and Crime. Talk to an adviser Chat to one of your local advisers today to organise a tailored business insurance plan. Enquire Now Insurance Benefits Protects your business on construction sites Protects the building under construction from natural disasters or damages caused by theft or vandalism the turnover that is lost so you can recover and rebuild What can it cover? Depending on your policy, contract works insurance can cover you against: Natural disasters Damage to property Broken glass Defects Liability Liability Insurance Enquire Now

Ensure your loved ones are financially protected with our customisable life insurance policies. Explore options with Futurisk Insurance in New Zealand. Life Insurance Our Solutions > Personal Insurance > Life Insurance > A plan that takes care of your loved ones when life doesn't go to plan. Life Insurance Enquire Now Types of Life Insurance Lump Sum – can be used to settle debts, pay for final expenses, create an investment fund to generate ongoing income, enable business ownership to be restructured, or provide an inheritance or donation, amongst other things. Monthly Payment – Designed to minimise impact on the lifestyle of your family after your death through a monthly payment. Benefits of Life Insurance Lump Sum Payment Worldwide Cover No Expiry Age What can it cover? Life Insurance pays a lump sum (or a fixed monthly amount) if you die as a result of either accident or illness, or upon diagnosis of terminal illness likely to result in death within 12 months. Having Life Cover in place will ensure that your debt and funeral costs are covered so that your family or your business are able to carry-on after your death. Life Insurance helps you minimise the financial impact of death or terminal illness for you and your family, and gives you peace of mind that you can provide security for a wide range of financial commitments. Fixing Life Insurance Premiums You can fix your life insurance premiums. There are several options available, with different premium structures including: Yearly Stepped – Your premium are based on your current age and sum insured. They start out relatively low, but will increase each year with age. Level Term – Premiums are fixed for the life of the policy. At the start they will be more expensive compared to yearly stepped. But in the end you may be better off as yearly stepped premiums keep increasing. Chat to one of your local advisers today to organise a personalised Life Insurance plan. Talk to an adviser Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Ensure your farm or rural business stays protected with specialised rural continuity insurance from Futurisk Insurance, tailored for New Zealand’s agricultural sector. Rural Continuity Insurance Our Solutions > Personal Insurance > Rural Continuity > Rural Continuity (Key Persons Cover) can protect yourself and your farm from financial impact during sickness or injury. Rural Continuity with Futurisk Enquire Now Additional Options Partial Disablement Benefit Provides additional income if owing to a continuation of the disability, you are working less than 20 hours per week and have been totally disabled for a period of at least two weeks. Peak Season Benefit If you are on claim during the pre-nominated three-month peak season period, you receive an additional 25% of the monthly benefit. Business Income Support Should you suffer a serious accident or critical illness and are unable to work long term, you will need cover additional to the Rural Continuity Benefit. This cover can provide additional cover benefits and financial support to age 65. Benefits of Rural Continuity Worldwide Cover Agreed Value Benefit Guaranteed Benefit Recurrent Disablement Benefit What can it cover? Farmers have a unique work environment and generally work and live in the same place with their family experiencing long working hours and often unpredictable conditions. Rural Continuity Insurance can provide a monthly payment to safeguard the future of your farm or sharemilking business should you become disabled as a result of an accident or ill health. This applies if you are unable to continue farming for more than 10 hours a week, providing you are not working in any other business. Offsets No offsets applied. Rural continuity cover does not have ACC offset. Waiting periods The length of time between you becoming disabled and the time when you are eligible to receive a claim payment can vary to suit your personal requirements. Longer waiting periods can decrease your monthly premiums. We can offer waiting periods from 4 – 13 weeks. Benefit Payment Periods You can select the amount of time you receive payments. Selecting a shorter benefit payments period can decrease your premiums. We can offer from 6 – 24 month payment periods to suit your circumstances. Chat to one of your local advisers today to organise a personalised insurance plan. Talk to an adviser Enquire Now Freephone 0800 17 18 19

Ensure your pets receive the best care with our comprehensive pet insurance policies. Explore coverage options with Futurisk Insurance in New Zealand. Pet Insurance Our Solutions > Personal Insurance > Pet Insurance > Our Pet Insurance provides cover for your cat or dog to remove stress when expensive bills arise. Pet Insurance Enquire Now Benefits with Futurisk Covers veterinary bills such as veterinary consultations, specialist care, surgery and more , which could be very expensive for families to afford. We can help at claim time You choose the excess What can it cover? Whether you own a cat, dog or a horse, we know how important they are to you. Pet insurance provides cover for one’s pets for every step of the way, from when they’re just babies to their later years. It covers veterinary bills such as veterinary consultations, specialist care, surgery and more. These bills can cost thousands of dollars and can be simply too expensive for some families to afford. Chat to one of your local advisers today to organise a personalised Pet Insurance plan. Talk to an adviser 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

Stay informed with the latest news, updates, and insights from Futurisk Insurance, covering insurance trends and company announcements in New Zealand. Recent News News > Helpful news and advice on your insurance, finance or mortgage needs. Advice All news Financial Insurance Mortgages Refinancing, Refixing, or Restructuring Your Home Loan? Good Advice Matters Good news! Interest rates are finally starting to ease. That means, many Kiwi mortgage-holders are asking whether now is the right time to restructure, re-fix, or refinance their home loans. While lower rates can offer the opportunity to reduce your monthly repayments or pay off your mortgage faster, navigating the options isn’t always straightforward. Read More Does Your Insurance Still Fit? An Insurance Review Could Save You Money 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. Read More How to Navigate New Zealand’s Changing Investment Markets. Caution, not panic is the key. New Zealand's investment markets have experienced notable shifts in the opening months of 2025. Many of these shifts have been as a result of overseas events which are out of our control, such as changes of governments, inter-nation conflicts and changes to international trading conditions. Read More How to know if a reverse mortgage is for you 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. Read More Top tips for keeping your house warm this winter Keeping your house warm over winter can be hard. It can cost a small fortune to generate enough heat to get your house warm, and then there are so many ways for cold air to take its place. Luckily there are some affordable and simple ways to keep your house warm this winter that don't require a big budget or a degree in rocket science. Read More Six Things Your Bank Will Never Tell You This information is adapted from Consumer Magazine (January/February 2006, Issue 455, Page 23). There’s something every person who uses a bank needs to understand—a bank is a business. It exists to make a profit and it does that by maximising the use of your hard-earned cash. Knowing how they do that could save you money. Here are six things your bank will never tell you: Read More Show more news 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