Interest rates for 2024 - 1-year fixed rate this time next year??

Shona: 6.4%

Elizabeth - 6.5%

Manisha - I think it will be 7.95%

Suzanna – Unfortunately still high, 6.79%

Brendon – 6.5%

Bella - 5.79%

Willie - 7.15%

Graham - .75% down

Lance - 6.90%

Dean: 4.99%

Tania - Fixed rate 6.70% p.a.

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What's one piece of advice you'd love clients to really take on board for 2024?

Shona: Start investing outside of KiwiSaver.

Suzanna - Our advice is free, so use us!

Brendon - My advice on structuring their Home Loans (I do have some really good options!)  and how much insurance they actually need (I know it is easy for me to say as I am not paying the bill, however I do see what happens when there isn't enough cover in place)

Willie- The time to act is now. No matter the task at hand; begin immediately. Waiting for the perfect moment is procrastination that leads to paralysis and regret.

Graham - Habits make goals happen.

Lance: Stop guessing, find out your financial truth, and what you are actually able to achieve. You may be surprised.

Dean: Block out the noise. We have a new Government. whether we like the outcome or not. Focus to what you can control and be kind to yourself.

Tania - It's really important to have personal risk and Health insurance. When you need it, you NEED it!

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What good thing did you do with your money this year that you are proud of? (Invest, save, financial plan, estate planning, better insurance etc)  

Shona: So much work in this area for me. I've looked at estate planning, retirement, investments, emergency savings. I'm really proud of what I've done, and I am grateful for all of the advice my wise colleagues have shared with me.

Suzanna - Reallllllly homed in on our budget! Saving for our wedding. Nathan and I had weeks of being on "Team No-Spend," so bought lunch in, didn't buy coffees etc. It got to the point where it became a bit of a competition to see who could spend less!

Brendon - I set aside a more specific amount of funds for retirement savings and purchased a rental property that I want to hold for 10-15 years.

Willie - Made an effort to spend more in my local community.

Graham - Updated my will ... watch out kids..

Lance: I stopped going to my hair stylist and stared going to 'walk in' barbers...still not sure if the savings are worth it!

Dean: Like most people, I have felt the cost-of-living increases, so I did a full audit of my expenditure. Once you know the facts, you can make adjustments.

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What's your current food or beverage crush, and where/how can you obtain said items (s)?

Shona: Birds Eye Plant-Based Tender “Chicken Style” Strips – Countdown and Pak N Save. $8-10. YUM.

Elizabeth - Most predictable for food & drink would be my record I think - you can set your watch by my 9:30 trip to Cafe L'affare for my morning Mocha.

Suzanna - just my own cooking hahahaha

Brendon - Clearly it is the Negroni, however if that doesn't count, I am still eating the pears off the tree in my backyard for breakfast that were harvested last summer.  Yum yum. I should be through them ready for the next batch next year.

Bella - Hainanese Chicken, specifically from R&S Satay Noodle House on Cuba Street - I could talk at length about how good this is!

Graham - Ikarian Stew - Google it.

Lance: Chicken, in a can.

Dean: Making Lamb Saag from scratch (4 green chillies if you like it hot)

Tania - Still loving a home-made Aperol Spritz.

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A thoughtful quote to end 2023 on.

Suzanna – Good things come to those who wait.

Elizabeth - "Your habits shape your identity, and your identity shapes your habits" - James Clear; Atomic Habits (Essentially if you want to be a certain person, e.g. good with money, start describing yourself as that and your mindset and therefore habits will start to shift as well).

Bella - "People do not decide their futures. They decide their habits, and their habits decide their futures".

Willie – Stay Gold, PonyBoy.

Shona – It has long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things. Leonardo Da Vinci.

Graham - "I meet the saddest and happiest version of myself this year".

Lance: - "Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but doing it like you love it" Mike Tyson

Dean "The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love — whether we call it friendship or family or romance — is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light. Gentle work. Steadfast work. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view, but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments, we are that person for another." -James Baldwin

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