KiwiSaver Specialists

Your ideal fund depends on your age and risk tolerance. If you're 10+ years from retirement, growth funds typically deliver better long-term returns. Within 5-10 years, balanced funds offer a good middle ground. Approaching retirement, conservative funds protect your capital. A KiwiSaver specialist can assess your specific situation.

At minimum, contribute enough to get the full government contribution—$1,042.86 per year gets you the maximum $521.43 from the government. Beyond that, higher contributions (6%, 8%, or 10%) significantly boost your retirement savings. Consider increasing contributions after pay rises or when debts are paid off.

Yes, after being in KiwiSaver for 3+ years, you can withdraw your contributions and investment returns (but not government contributions) for your first home. You may also qualify for the First Home Grant—up to $5,000 for existing homes or $10,000 for new builds, depending on how long you've been contributing.

Consider switching if your current fund consistently underperforms peers, charges high fees (over 1%), or no longer suits your risk profile. Switching is free and takes about 10 business days. However, avoid frequent switching based on short-term performance—look at 5-year returns when comparing funds.

Not required, but valuable for optimizing your strategy. An adviser can help with fund selection, contribution optimization, first home withdrawal timing, and retirement planning. It's especially worthwhile if you have over $50,000 in KiwiSaver, are approaching retirement, or considering a first home withdrawal.