Focus Article | The End of High Cash Rates is Nigh

After several years of relatively high interest rates, we seem to have reached a turning point. Recently, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) signalled that the Official Cash Rate (OCR) is likely to move lower sooner rather than later. Over the past few years, favourable interest rates have been available for term deposits and savings accounts, leading many people to park their money in the bank. However, as interest rates are set to decline, keeping funds in the bank will soon become less appealing. This might be the right time to consider whether cash investments still hold value, given their historically lower long-term inflation-adjusted returns compared to other assets.

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Tax Guide for New Zealand Investors

Tax can be complex and confusing, but it can also impact your investment returns. Considering the tax imposed across different investment options should be an important factor in your investment selection process. There is no one-size-fits-all tax structure or vehicle that is optimal for all New Zealand investors – it varies depending on whether you’re a lower or higher marginal tax payer, or, for example, an individual, company, trust, or a charity.

In this paper we explore the common investment channels New Zealand investors use, identify where they are susceptible to tax leakage, and, hopefully, better equip you to make informed decisions that will help enhance your after-tax returns. 

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Guide for Not-for-Profit Investment Governance - Helping Shape the Future

New Zealand has around 28,000 registered charities — one for every 190 people, the highest per capita in the world — and a total of more than 115,000 NFP organisations.

Many of these entities manage significant financial resources which are aimed toward fulfilling their mission today and in the future.

This paper provides a governance guide for charities and other not-for-profit (NFP) organisations. We are happy to discuss in further detail with any interested parties.

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Starting the ESG Conversation

Investors beginning their ESG journey may find they have more questions and ambitions than answers and solutions. That’s okay. Determining and implementing an ESG policy in an investment portfolio is typically an evolution over time, rather than a set and forget exercise.

The initial steps for any individual or organisation wanting to incorporate ESG within their investment portfolio are:

1. Education: understand the terminology.
2. Ensure values are defined.
3. Identify what you want to achieve (risk, return, impact, alignment of values).
4. Take the first steps to incorporate authentic ESG solutions.
5. Establish longer–term ambitions.

This will not result in a perfect outcome on day one but should be viewed as the first steps in a long–term process.

If you would like to explore how to reflect your values into your clients' investment portfolios please talk to your adviser. The team at Forsyth Barr is always happy to help.

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