7 Secrets to Succesful Retirement
Preparing for retirement feels like a battle, but the outcome can change vastly, based on a series of bite-sized decisions.
All too often we find people looking for that magic bullet. As anyone in the military will tell you, one bullet won't win a war and a pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood.
When meeting people who have made a success of retirement planning, there are a bunch of traits we come across time and again.
The most important? These individuals have never relied on one part of their life providing the money. Even those with successful businesses or high-earning jobs have multiple tactics at play.
A good outcome is not left to chance and never depends on a single payoff.
1. They don't over-capitalize on their own property. It's not an investment and they know it.
2. They have paid off their own mortgage in a fast and furious fashion
3. They have high savings rates. At some point turbo savings will have taken place. A couple will live off one salary and save the other
4. High-earners will have automated savings to prevent these being spent on lifestyle assets that are non-productive.They maximize their KiwiSaver contributions no matter how high their earnings are.
5. They bank rather than blow inheritances.
6. They have made their kids financially self-sufficient.
7. They consult experts. This means taking financial advice, using insurance brokers, tax experts and getting all contracts checked by specialist lawyers.
As the great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy said "the two most powerful warriors are patience and time". These sentiments apply equally to the retirement planning battle we all face.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.2% Critical thinking
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29.9% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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