Are you planning your move to New Zealand?
Speaking with an Adviser about getting the financial side of life sorted over here can put your mind at ease.
I know from first-hand experience how much there is to think about when you’re moving country – I went through the process myself when I came to New Zealand in 2018!
The good news is MFS is here to assist you with everything from Income & Budget, Insurances, Medical cover, last will and testament, Investments, KiwiSaver, mortgages and Retirement planning and more.
MFS can provide financial advice that moves with you throughout your immigration journey as you settle into your new life here in NZ and our services won’t cost you a cent.
PRE RESIDENCY SERVICES
Income and Budget:
The very first question everyone has, is what is the cost of living In New Zealand? Is what I earn going to be enough for me and my family to survive in NZ?
Our very first appointment tackles this big question, usually while you still offshore and often prior to you even receiving a job offer.
It’s good to get a clear understanding of the costs here first.
We go through expenses in detail, from rent, food, utilities, insurances, school fees etc, it’s a great general, interactive discussion to give you some peace of mind.
Personal Insurances:
We go through some of the benefits in NZ like NHI and ACC and the importance of registering with a GP to get you and your family listed to be eligible for public funded health
We also explain what ACC is. ACC is New Zealand’s government-run accident insurance scheme, which provides financial support and healthcare services for those who are injured, whether at work, home, or during recreational activities. I also outline how the insurance process works in New Zealand for life cover, income protection, and other forms of coverage.
On average the cost of insurance like life cover, trauma, income protection, disability etc is around 4 – 5 times cheaper than in South Africa for obvious reasons: risk.
But often the level of cover is not fit for purpose for NZ cost of living, but we will go through this in more detail with you
With any life cover taken out in NZ, a copy of that policy gets attached to your last will and testament (which is the next point).
Wills:
It is imperative to have a will in both countries, especially if you still own property in SA, and or your children’s guardians are still in SA
If you don’t have an updated will in SA, we strongly suggest you have it updated before you leave, preferably with an attorney.
We will help you arrange your LW&T for NZ when you are onshore.
Investments:
Are you bringing over any surplus cash? This could comprise of funds like a pension or provident fund, or profit of the sale of your home.
We go through that surplus cash with you and set those important short, medium and long term goals with you, tailored to your financial goals
We also work with a preferred partner in South Africa who can assist with not only transferring the funds to New Zealand, but they will also assist with any tax clearances and financial immigration when you are ready to take this step!
POST RESIDENCY SERVICES
KiwiSaver:
Congratulations!!!! you are now a resident and eligible for KiwiSaver
It’s very important to choose the right KiwiSaver, it’s a manged fund, they each have their own growth and admin fees, MFS will help you choose the right KiwiSaver for your financial plan.
You can withdraw KiwiSaver out early for only 2 reasons:
- In times of hardship.
- After contributing for 3 years, you can use it to buy your first home.
This is a great incentive knowing that money is being tucked away to reach that goal of being first time home owners in NZ. If you brought over enough surplus cash for your home deposit, then we will focus on your kiwisaver for retirement (or both home and retirement if needed)
We also encourage starting Kiwisaver for your kids when you get residency, then they have a small nest egg to buy their first home after they finished studies
Home loans:
As a NZ resident you are eligible to buy a home!
You can buy a house with a 10% deposit, although 20% is preferred for better interest rates
The main goal is having NO DEBT, debt like a car loans affects your mortgage affordability, we don’t want you starting your journey here in NZ in debt
MFS will work very closely with you to get your deposit ready for your home, even if it takes us 5 years, that’s ok, we’re not going anywhere!
Retirement:
The state pension fund here is called superannuation, (super for short) and currently starts at $22,869 per annum per person for a couple, or from $27,686 for a single person.
A investment adviser helps you align your goals with your future needs, ensuring you stay on track for retirement and achieving and maintaining your ideal retirement lifestyle gaol
It would be great to meet with you on a video call so I can introduce myself and let you know a bit more about how MFS can help you and yes, we do encourage these calls while you still abroad and trying to get a better understanding of the cost of living in NZ amongst any other questions you may have.