The financial media is currently full of gloomy-sounding references to ‘inverted yield curves’ as a harbinger of a global recession. In lay terms, what does all this mean and how should a long-term investor respond?

None of us can control the news and the daily ups and downs of markets. But you can build an investment plan that fits your needs and risk tolerance.

Financial Adviser Michael Beech reasons why there is a lot to be said for stepping back and looking at the big picture when it comes to investing.

Alliott NZ recently attended the Asia Pacific Regional Conference of Alliott Group in Osaka Japan. Find out what we were up to in the region.

Structuring an appropriate portfolio involves making decisions. You need an allocation that can withstand a range of investment climates while being mindful of fees and taxes.

In recent weeks there has been renewed volatility in equity markets and the media have awoken from their summertime slumber. News directors drag out old footage of frantic traders and summon talking head experts to explain to ‘mums and dads” what it all means. Well, what does it mean? More importantly, does it matter?

When managing investments it is advisable to do away with unnecessary clutter. Often a simple strategy is the best strategy.

When an investor is considering the cost of an investment they need to dig a lot deeper than just the management fees.

If an investment is inefficiently managed it will probably have a much bigger impact on net return than management fees.

The Government’s plan for growth is sensible conservative fiscal policy, strong orthodox monetary policy, and an ongoing programme of microeconomic reform that enhances the competitiveness and confidence of Kiwi businesses.

It is crucial that we pull on all three of these levers.

Not for the first time this year, a significant news event has confounded the expectations of many pundits. How should investors respond to the outcome of the US election?

When news breaks and markets move, content-starved media often invite talking heads to muse on the repercussions.

Knowing the difference between this speculative opinion and actual facts can help investors keep their nerve.

Do you ever listen to the news and find yourself thinking that the world has gone to the dogs? The roll call of depressing headlines seems endless.

But look beyond what the media calls 'news' and there also are a lot of things going right.

Have you ever seen a child standing tentatively at the edge of a swimming pool? She's torn between her desire to join the gang in the water and her fear of diving in.

In committing to the market, investors can be like that.

People with many hats require many different investment solutions. In our opinion, that's a good thing.

The world's markets and media financial pages have been consumed recently by the stand-off between debt-laden Greece and its international lenders over the conditions of any further bailout.

New Alliotts Financial Advisor and Investment Specialist Michael Beech flags some key points to keep in mind.

​Offering expert wealth management advice to individuals, families and charitable trusts, Michael Beech works with Alliotts clients to provide a one-stop-shop.

Michael believes that good advice starts with an in-depth knowledge of an individual’s circumstances so he is proficient at identifying specific needs and tailoring a wealth strategy to suit. 

NZ's recent Budget shows it’s still a good time to invest in New Zealand with a surplus forecast in 2016, low inflation and good economic growth. 

Alliott NZ in Auckland is a well-established firm with a solid track record in helping Australian businesses successfully set up in New Zealand - over 50 of them so far.

Our NZ Budget 2015 summary has been specially created so you can discuss the opportunities with any clients who might be looking to grow or expand overseas. 

Finally the NZ Reserve Bank is lowering interest rates, just as it seems the US is about to start raising rates.  How does this affect a Kiwi investor?

April 1980 and April 2011 have something in common.  In both months oil peaked at US$116[1]   and then fell.  At the time of writing it is US$75[2] (US$145 in June 08).  Large movements in oil prices can have huge impacts on markets and our lives, and not just at the gas station.
 
For investors, key drivers of almost all investment-relevant prices are in inflation and interest rates.  With oil plummeting, inflation expectations are also falling (as though they were not already low).  And a low inflation outlook means interest rates will be lower than otherwise, which directly affects how markets price your investments in properties, bonds and shares.

Visualise a $2 coin sitting on a table. This represents the size of the share market in New Zealand.

Now compare that to an enormous pile of $2 coins on the same table. It reaches all the way to the ceiling and through the hole it’s made in it. This represents the rest of the world’s share markets.

The big pile is impossible to ignore.