Expat Brit Makes Extra $280,000 on Pension by Transferring to New Zealand
- : Lyfords Pension Transfer
- : 10/10/2019
The on-going Brexit negotiations and subsequent demise of the UK exchange rate have left many British expatriots who have moved to New Zealand wondering what to do about their UK pensions.
Should they wait for a more favourable exchange rate, or bite the bullet and transfer their pensions now – knowing that it could get far worse before it improves?
Alison Renfrew, pension transfer specialist at Lyford Investment Management, has been advising British expatriots for 17 years on their options for transferring their pensions. She recommends that with some exceptions, transferring now is probably the better option.
Why?
“Firstly, if you’re worried about the exchange rate, you can keep your funds invested in GBP and convert them into NZD years in the future,” says Renfrew.
“More importantly though; pension transfer values seem to be really high at the moment.
“I advised a client earlier this month that her transfer value had increased by 25% in just six months. She now has another £145,168 ($281,776NZD) to transfer. This is phenomenal”.
Renfrew has not seen such a dramatic positive change in transfer values before.
On the very same day, Renfrew had a conversation with another client about her pension transfer value. She was offered a Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) of £59,731, or a pension of £900 p.a.
You would have to receive £900 p.a. for 66 years before you broke even – before you saw any investment returns from your retirement savings.
“It is 100% illogical to accept such a lousy deal,” Renfrew says.
When Renfrew compared current CETVs with promised pensions, she found little incentive to choose to have a taxable pension paid from the UK compared to receiving a far higher non-taxable income in New Zealand based on realistic investment projections.
“What Brits really don’t like is knowing that if they die prematurely their spouse will only get half of the income. In some cases, the spouse gets nothing”.
A major benefit of taking control and investing your transfer value to provide you with a retirement income is that you can access your money if you need to. Conversely, there’s no access to your retirement pot if you’ve elected to take a pension.
“Where is your financial security if you can’t access your money in an emergency?” Renfrew asks.
There are a couple of exceptions, of course.
Renfrew cautions Brits and returning Kiwis not to transfer their pension funds if they are uncertain where they’ll live for the five years after they have transferred their pension funds to NZ, due to tax obligations.
Renfrew further cautions that before deciding to transfer you need professional advice to ensure that all your options have been considered.
“Maybe you are one of the few who have a very attractive pension, and converting to cash would be madness.
“You really need to seek independent advice from a New Zealand investment adviser specialising in pension transfers before making the decision to transfer, because individuals simply don’t have access to the same resources advisers do. It’s important to make informed choices.”
Alison and Richard Renfrew of Lyfords have been specialising in UK to New Zealand pension transfers for over 17 years. Visit their website to find out more.
- photo of the london eye
- : Alison Renfrew
- : Certified Financial Adviser
- : alison@lyfords.co.nz
- : 0800459367
- : https://uk-pension-transfer.co.nz/
- https://www.facebook.com/Lyfordsukpensiontransfers/ |
‘Secret On-Set Celebrity Hair Formula’ Iles is Now Available Online in NZ
- : Sable Boutique
- : 09/10/2019
Sable Boutique, a Wellington-based online hair product store, is today releasing the Iles Formula Collection: a sought-after, salon-quality, three-step hair repair treatment that offers visible results from the very first use.
Sable Boutique owner Anthea Digby-Smith says that she wanted to stock Iles Formula because the results are so impressive across the board – but at the moment it is only available in a handful of salons in New Zealand.
“We think the Iles Formula is one of the most innovative and high-performing hair care products available, so we’re delighted to make it available to all New Zealanders online,” says Digby-Smith.
Iles representative Julie Fausett says that Iles Formula was once a secret ‘on-set formula’ used by celebrity hairdresser, Wendy Iles.
“These formulas will deliver the most sumptuous, lustrous hair you have ever had, from the very first use,” says Fausett.
A sophisticated blend of key raw ingredients, paraben free, cruelty free & sulfate free combined with high technology deliver instant results. The serum is a ‘one product does all’ giving volume for your root area, as well as smoothing the rough cuticles on mid-lengths and ends. No other foundation products are needed prior to blow waving.
Anna Kas (@kas_aesthetics) told her 18.2k followers on Instagram that Iles is:
“The best hair products ever. With amazing white floral boutique scent. My hair looks shiny, beautiful and sooo healthy with ILES FORMULA. Must try and then have it.”
“The formula is truly ground-breaking – it’s unlike anything else on the market,” says Digby-Smith.
The Iles Formula 3-step system is available to purchase now from Sable Boutique here, with options for LayBuy or Afterpay.
About Sable Boutique
Sable Boutique is an online store which is home to a beautiful curation of the highest quality international and local haircare products alike.
For anyone who isn’t sure about what products or accessories will be best for them, founders Anthea Digby-Smith and her team offer advice and assistance with finding the goods to get the results you’re after. They’re boutique and specialised – and right here in New Zealand.
- 3-Step-System-1
- : Anthea
- : Owner
- : anthea@sable.co.nz
- : 044737422
- : https://sable.co.nz/
- https://www.facebook.com/sablefinehair/ | https://www.instagram.com/sableboutique/ |
South Waikato District Council’s LED Lighting Upgrade Ready to Improve Public Safety and Air Quality
- : NZ IoT Alliance
- : 02/10/2019
A smart LED lighting project for South Waikato District Council (SWDC) will be featured by Auckland business NB SmartCities at the IoT half-day conference on Thursday 3 October in Auckland.
The second annual IoT Conference event, hosted by the New Zealand IoT Alliance, will showcase how Internet of Things (IoT) applications are creating smart cities in New Zealand and improving industrial productivity.
IoT Alliance Executive Council member John McDermott says the project for South Waikato District Council demonstrates how IoT technology provides multiple benefits for councils and the public.
“The South Waikato District installation is a standout example of how IoT solutions can provide long-lasting advantages and create new opportunities,” McDermott says.
“The new system is using less than half the power of the legacy street lamps and is providing better lighting for many more local roads. Also important for the council is that maintenance calls have more than halved, underlining the reliability and lower maintenance costs of the new technology.”
The system, which uses open network standard technology, can also support future applications such as air pollution monitoring, traffic analysis, smart parking, and remote water metering.
“South Waikato District Council has received very positive feedback from our community on this improved street lighting,” says Ted Anderson, SWDC’s Group Manager Assets.
“Tangible benefits include people being able to exercise and participate in other outdoor activities, like walking the dog, much later in the evenings especially during winter; and the safety improvements have been highlighted by many of our residents.”
In addition to the SWDC case study, McDermott says the IoT Half-Day conference event will showcase a variety of IoT solutions focused on Smart City and Industrial use cases. “The conference is featuring applications that help deliver better public services, improve health and safety, and enhance manufacturing performance”.
Spark is the gold sponsor for the IoT Conference and Spark Future of Connectivity Lead Renee Mateparae says the company is thrilled to be sponsoring an event that will bring the tangible benefits of IoT to the forefront so businesses can realise what it could do for them.
“The benefits that new Internet of Things technologies deliver are compelling when implemented correctly. They deliver better services, greater value and improve efficiency. Spark is pleased to support the New Zealand IoT Alliance in connecting the people and businesses that are implementing and deploying IoT applications with the decision makers and leaders that need to understand the impact and value that can be achieved”.
Also speaking at the event is Melissa Lee, National MP for Mount Albert, and National spokesperson for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media & Ethnic Communities
The event is supported by gold sponsor Spark and silver sponsor LEAP Australia.
The IoT Half Day Conference is taking place at 12 Madden St, Viaduct, Auckland from 8.30am on Thursday 3 October. For more information and tickets, visit the NZ IoT Alliance website.
- earth-view-from-space-2
- : John McDermott
- : Executive Council Member
- : john+pr@johnmcdermott.nz
- : 0274100079
- : https://iotalliance.org.nz/nz-2019-iot-half-day-conference/
- @NZIoTAlliance | https://www.linkedin.com/company/nz-iot-alliance/
Varidesk Looks To Transform The Kiwi Office Working Environment
- : VARIDESK New Zealand
- : 02/10/2019
Varidesk, a popular international brand that has been making inroads into the New Zealand market, is looking to change the traditional Kiwi office working environment with its innovative standing desks.
These desks allow for an easy transition between sitting and standing when working and feature desk converters that can even transform a normal desk into a sit-stand desk.
Varidesk NZ Director Dave Roberts says having a working environment that involves intermittent periods of sitting and standing can dramatically improve employees’ productivity, happiness and overall well-being.
“We are delighted to bring to market an exciting desk alternative, which will improve the work life of employees and home workers alike,” says Roberts.
“Companies are finding it harder than ever to recruit and retain talented employees. Creating an active workspace that thrives off employee energy and happiness is now integral to attracting the talent you need to grow your business.”
Varidesk standing desks are being used by organisations such as Sanitarium, PowerCo, and Victoria University – and for good reason, says Roberts.“Recent studies have shown using a height-adjustable desk improves mood and boosts energy levels along with health improvements such as reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease,” he says.
Roberts notes that when people first start using a Varidesk they usually notice within a few days that their back and neck pains are either significantly reduced or dissipate completely. Notable improvements also include energy and focus.
“Since using the VariDesk, I’ve had fewer issues with back pain and am finding my posture improving each day incrementally. I’ve also noticed my attention drifting far less and I’m managing to stay focused for longer stretches during the day,” says Dan Grayson, Editor in Chief of Gameplanet.
All Varidesk products are high quality and easy to set up – there’s no flat-pack assembly, and you can be ready to work within minutes.
“It’s now easier than ever to transform your office into a happy, healthy and productive workspace without compromising on quality,” says Roberts.
- varidesk fitout
- : https://vimeo.com/245661801
- : David Roberts
- : Director
- : contact@varidesk.co.nz
- : 072828994
- : https://varidesk.co.nz
- https://www.facebook.com/VarideskNZ/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/varidesk-nz/?originalSubdomain=nz |
Newsletter: Media release etiquette
NewzEngine Newsletter: It would not be appropriate in an office to shout at the person next to you, and it would be ineffective to whisper when you’re on stage taking part in a panel discussion. When sending an email, ‘all caps’ are only to be used in extreme circumstances and using a smiley-faced emoji at the end of a sentence in which you’ve criticised the recipient is passive aggressive
The etiquette of office life is generally well understood, but what about when communicating with journalists via a media release, what’s the etiquette for that? Here are a couple of quick thoughts.
While there are no hard and fast rules, in generally it’s best to avoid jargon. Journalists are usually people who got into the profession because they love words, so try to avoid phrases that are overused and bit cringeworthy. The first time someone talked about “going forward” was probably OK, but it’s safe to presume this term has now been overused. Ditto “best in breed”, “window of opportunity”… anyway, you get the point.
The second is to think about the journalist’s audience. It’s kind of insulting if you don’t. You want them to take an interest in what’s happening in your world, so you should probably think a little bit about theirs.
At NewzEngine we have split our media distribution lists into sections for this very reason. There as 11 regional locations as well as ‘National news’ and 12 sectors to choose from, as well as Māori media. Users can tick more than one box. For example, if your media release is about a tech event in Palmerston North taking place on a marae, it would be entirely appropriate to tick ‘Manawatu’, ‘Technology’ and ‘Māori media’. If it was focussed on health applications and featured entrepreneurs in the speaking line-up then ‘business’ and ‘health’ would also be good boxes to tick.
NewzEngine also enables ‘All NZ locations’ and ‘All Sectors’. These buttons should be ticked only in rare circumstances. They are like the equivalent of a megaphone at the office. Reserved for very big news. Before ticking those boxes, you need to ask yourself, is my news of interest to everyone from the reporter covering the environment round to the food editor? If not, then best leave those buttons alone.
Cin7 Agrees to Strategic Investment from Rubicon Technology Partners to Accelerate Global Growth
- : Cin7
- : 26/09/2019
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – September 26, 2019 – Cin7, a pioneer in cloud-based inventory management software (IMS) and point-of-sale (POS) solutions, has agreed to a majority investment from Rubicon Technology Partners (“Rubicon”), a US-based private equity firm that invests exclusively in enterprise software companies. The funding will be used to accelerate Cin7’s global growth strategy through product innovation, sales expansion and continued investment in customer success.
“This investment validates all of the hard work our team has put in to building a market-leading product and delivering best-in-class support to our growing, global customer base,” said Danny Ing, Founder and Chief Architect of Cin7. “We are now doubling-down to reach the global growth we know is possible with a great partner that has the resources, operational expertise and cultural fit to accelerate our growth.”Cin7 helps growing businesses optimize inventory, lower costs and maximize cash flow by providing a single platform to automate the sale, purchase and delivery of products across multiple distribution channels. Cin7’s highly scalable, feature-rich, and cloud-based IMS platform provides powerful core functionality, including warehouse management and POS, along with the industry’s most extensive list of over 450 marketplace integrations. Thousands of end-users around the world use Cin7 to safely manage stock and streamline their order processes as they add sales channels and expand to new markets.
“With the most comprehensive, easy to use and swift-to-implement inventory management software product on the market, Cin7 is ready to become the clear leader in the global IMS market,” said Jason Winsten, Partner, Rubicon. “The company has built a highly differentiated IMS solution that solves a critical and complex problem for growing merchants selling their products through multiple online and offline channels. Cin7’s proven ability to capture global market share provides a strong foundation for continued growth, which we plan to aggressively accelerate with our investment in and partnership with the Cin7 team.”
The investment is subject to approval from New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Office.
Media Contact:
David Leach
p: +64 21 586 715About Cin7
Cin7 inventory management software and POS system keep your stock in line with orders across every sales channel and stock location. With extensive integration and workflow automation, Cin7 helps contain costs, and maximize margins and cash flow for B2B, B2C, online and brick-and-mortar business. Cin7’s integrations include 3PL warehouses, retailers (with built-in EDI), online marketplaces, eCommerce platforms, accounting solutions and more. For more information, please visit www.cin7.comAbout Rubicon Technology Partners
Rubicon Technology Partners invests in enterprise software companies with proven products and talented management teams to help grow and scale their businesses. Rubicon enables companies to adapt to the changing requirements of their businesses as they grow and scale using a proven set of proprietary processes, best practices and a portfolio-wide engagement model called RTP Change Management™. With offices in Boulder, CO, Palo Alto, CA and Stamford, CT, Rubicon has over $850 million in cumulative capital commitments. For more information, please visit www.rubicontp.com- : Shreya Patil
- : Head of Marketing
- : Shreya.Patil@Cin7.com
- : 6421709368
World cup for rural connectivity
- : Wireless Internet Service Providers Association of NZ
- :
Saturday’s Rugby World Cup experience shows that New Zealand deserves a Broadband World Cup for getting broadband to its rural communities.
That’s the view of WISPA.NZ, the industry group supporting 28 Wireless Internet Service Providers who collectively provide broadband to an estimated 70,000 mostly rural customers.
“The great news is that WISPs dealt with the surge in traffic almost faultlessly,” WISPA Chairman Mike Smith said. “The problems were with the international link, and with some customer devices. But the part in between worked to perfection.
“WISPs can claim a lot of credit for bringing rural Kiwis in from the broadband boondocks. Tens of thousands of rural homes and businesses now have broadband at city speeds and city prices, with the number increasing daily.
“That’s something we wouldn’t have dreamed of a decade ago. Rural communities in New Zealand have far better broadband than most other Rugby World Cup countries, notably Australia.
“WISPs are committed to finishing the job, with government support, so every rural home and business can enjoy the benefits for social inclusion, entertainment and business. Connectivity to 100% of the community is within our sights.”
ENDS
—————————————————————————————————————————————
BACKGROUND NOTES
· – Most WISPs, or regional telecommunications companies, are locally owned businesses founded in the early 2000s.
· – Initially they used their own capital, but in recent times 17 of them have received government funding through the Rural Broadband Initiative to expand their networks into remote areas that would otherwise be uneconomic.
· – About half WISP connections use “WISP Wireless” – a series of hilltop towers with radios that bounce the Internet signal from one to another, then down to the homes below. The other half are re-sold services from other telcos.
· – WISP wireless requires line of sight visibility. Hence it requires many more towers than cellular services, but these are much lower cost.
- : Mike Smith
- : Chairman
- : mike@ubb.nz
- : 0274503504
- : https://wispa.nz
Cities Getting Smarter With The Internet Of Things
- : NZ IoT Alliance
- : 23/09/2019
The New Zealand IoT Alliance is showcasing how Internet of Things (IoT) applications can enable smart cities and improve industrial productivity at its second annual showcase event in Auckland next week.
IoT Alliance Executive Council member John McDermott says the event will feature a range of applications that help deliver better public services, improve health and safety, and enhance manufacturing performance.
“New Zealand is in the great position of having world class technology available, and plenty of situations that can benefit. Whether it is factory productivity to generate higher paying jobs, improved safety for the public or innovative products and services, we have organisations here that are leading the way,” he says.
LMAC’s work in the manufacturing sector is an example of how IoT can be used to improve productivity on the factory floor, McDermott says.
“Factory managers are in a continuous race to keep operating costs down and improve efficiency. The fuel for improvement is data – you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Managers know their operations in detail but it can be overwhelming when searching for additional efficiencies. What if that cost advantage is hiding in plain sight?” he says.
“LMAC achieved over 37% improvement for a production line by taking as much data as was available from existing operations and applying new metrics generated by smart technology. It used an artificial intelligence system to mash data and come up with predicted improvements. The new system also allowed experiments to be tested to find extra productivity with new combinations of workflow management and batch production, resulting in quicker job turn-around and better asset utilisation.”
Another innovative use of IoT is KotahiNet’s work with Transpower, who are responsible for moving power from where it is generated to where it is consumed. The challenge is that as more power is consumed the power cables sag lower towards the ground because of temperature rises. KotahiNet is providing a remote sensing solution that monitors the distance of the lowest transmission cable from the ground, to ensure it doesn’t dip below the safe limit.
“By knowing the ambient temperature in real time, Transpower is able to correlate it with transmitted power so as to maximise power flows without impacting safety or asset performance. The KotahiNet solution uses low cost, long range wireless sensors deployed on the cables with real-time data for immediate notification if safe limits are approached,” McDermott says.
Meanwhile, ASG Technologies has been working with industrial partners and government agencies, especially those with significant infrastructure assets to manage. By deploying IoT solutions, ASG has improved asset performance, reduced operational costs, and enhanced staff and public safety.
“In the early stages, these projects have a high degree of uncertainty and can be perceived as too risky, but in a tech-disruptive environment, failing to adapt becomes the biggest threat to an organisation. ASG believe that taking measured risks with trusted partners is a necessary element to technology development and should be the preferred method of managing the disruption landscape,” McDermott says.
These are three examples out of the eight projects that will be featured at the IoT Alliance half-day event on Thursday 3 October, 2019 in Auckland.
You can learn more here [link: https://iotalliance.org.nz/nz-2019-iot-half-day-conference/ ]
- transpower2
- : John McDermott
- : IoT Alliance Executive Council member
- : john@johnmcdermott.nz
- : 0274100079
- : https://iotalliance.org.nz/
- @NZIoTAlliance | https://www.linkedin.com/company/nz-iot-alliance/
Cin7 Hires David Leach as COO
- : Cin7
- : 19/09/2019
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – September 19, 2019 – Cin7, a global leader in inventory management software, has appointed David Leach as Chief Operating Officer. He joins the Cin7 executive team to lead sales, marketing, product development, support and implementation.
“We are very pleased to have David on board. We continue to grow and expand globally, and David has significant and very relevant experience in fast-growing global software companies,” said Founder and Chief Architect Danny Ing. “David will be critical as we execute our next phase of growth.”
Formerly Chief Operating Officer at ezyVet, a veterinary practice management software company, Leach has a long history of software leadership at fast-growing SaaS companies, including Orion Health and Qrious.
“Cin7 is an exciting business with a rapidly expanding customer base, a comprehensive product and a great team behind it,” said Leach. “In a fast-changing and increasingly complex world of retail and consumer buying behaviours, I believe Cin7 has what it takes to continue to innovate with speed and win big.”
For more information, visit www.cin7.com
###
About Cin7
Cin7 is an all-in-one, cloud-based solution that provides real-time visibility, customizability and reporting for efficient inventory management across the supply chain. Cin7 includes built-in production, warehouse, POS and B2B eCommerce functionality along with a growing list of third-party integrations. Optimized for growing multichannel companies seeking robust inventory management at a fraction of the cost of a full ERP, Cin7’s “Connected Inventory” bridges the gap between suppliers and sales channels to deliver end-to-end supply chain control. Cin7 is a global business, headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, and offices in the United States and the United Kingdom. To learn more, visit www.cin7.com.
- : Shreya Patil
- : Head of Marketing
- : PR@Cin7.com
- : 6421709368
TPC Labour campaign targets light rail and water
- : TPC Labour Christchurch
- : 01/09/2019
Two massive issues the People’s Choice-Labour campaign intends to focus on for the 2019 local body elections are water quality and transport, People’s Choice chair Keir Leslie said today.
The People’s Choice-Labour campaign launch on August 31 heard plans for light rail and People’s Choice Candidates also made water a priority issue.
“The People’s Choice campaign is totally committed to pushing light rail,” said Mr Leslie.
“To future proof Christchurch for climate change it is necessary to go back and look at the options of a light rail network.
”We need light rail from Hornby to Riccarton running into the central city. Light rail also needs to extend to Papanui and the trains need to be integrated with bus services.
”Long term this network needs to extend down Colombo St to Cashmere and also take in important hubs such as the University and Linwood.
”A light rail system may not happen immediately but Christchurch needs to start planning and preparing now,” said Mr Leslie.
The People’s Choice campaign launch also served as an opportunity for People’s Choice Environment Canterbury candidate Jenny Hughes to highlight that water quality is a top priority for all the People’s Choice Environment Canterbury candidates.
”The People’s Choice candidates are offering a group of strong candidates dedicated to saving our water and upholding democracy – a task which no independent candidates can promise,” Jenny Hughes said.
For copies of the speeches, or photographs from the People’s Choice campaign launch please feel free to contact:
The People’s Choice chair, Keir Leslie – (027) 309 3322
Media Advisor, Kevin List – (021) 426 902
Authorised by Jake McLellan 6 Braddon St, Addington.
- : Kevin List
- : Media Advisor
- : Kevinlist145@gmail.com
- : 021426902
- : http://www.peopleschoice.org.nz