Applying the Barefoot Investor and New Zealand

Scott Pape's excellent book tells people how to take control of their finances. We apply the principles and highlight the most suitable finance products available in New Zealand right now

Updated 13 January 2021

Summary:

In this guide, we list the financial products (insurance, banking and KiwiSaver) we believe to be 'in keeping' with the Barefoot Investor's ("Barefoot") principles.
We believe Barefoot does not focus on giving investment advice, but rather educating people to take control of their financial situation. We've interpreted the guidance line-by-line to make the teachings relevant to New Zealand in 2021 and beyond.
Barefoot pushes the idea that you need ring-fenced savings that you can draw from if and when a significant life event occurs. This way you can recover and avoid going into debt. Barefoot encourages readers to avoid credit cards, and debt where possible (except a mortgage) while spending wisely.

Disclaimer: This page has been researched independently of the Barefoot Investor and products mentioned are for illustration purposes only. The Barefoot Investor (and all related entities) do not endorse this guide.

Our guide covers:

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Applying the Barefoot Investor's Principles in New Zealand

From retirement investing to bank accounts and insurance, we match Barefoot's teachings to the best New Zealand financial products available right now.

Barefoot Investing in New Zealand

Barefoot recommends investing inside and outside of your superannuation fund. Because KiwiSaver is locked up until you turn 65, Barefoot recommends automating regular non-KiwiSaver investments.

Barefoot praises Listed Investment Companies (LICs), but these are not offered in New Zealand. The good news is that LICs are very similar to Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and index funds, both widely available in New Zealand. How much you invest week-to-week is up to you, but Barefoot argues the contributions should be a priority and regularly made.

Barefoot suggests investments that offers a diversified portfolio with low fees that is focused on the long-term.

New Zealand examples of Barefoot-friendly investment options include:

Smartshares, which offer 20+ ETFs focused on New Zealand and global markets and Kernel Wealth's low-fee funds.
Simplicity's (non-KiwiSaver) investment funds, with management fees as low as 0.10% p.a.
The index funds widely available on investment platforms such as InvestNow, Sharesies and Hatch.

Barefoot Banking in New Zealand

Barefoot suggests switching to a 'low fee' bank for general day-to-day transactions, as well as setting up several bank accounts with the same bank to separate different pools of money. New Zealand, fortunately, has a number of great fee-free banking products, helping you save while ring-fencing your money.

You can use Kiwibank (or any bank that offers fee-free accounts) for Barefoot's banking system. The accounts you'll need are:

Daily Account - This is where 60% of your income goes here to cover rent, food, mortgage, etc.
Splurge Account - This is where 10% of your income is allocated for short-term fun treats, like going to the movies or a new handbag.
Smile Account - 10% of your income for long-term rewards, like a holiday.
Fire Extinguisher Account - 20% of your income, used to 'extinguish' burning holes like long-term credit card debt.

Once you've opened up your accounts, the best approach is to set up automatic payments from the Daily Account (where you're paid) to the three other accounts. This means you don't have the hassle of doing it yourself or the temptation to meddle with the model. And, for this reason, we think picking one bank to do everything with is the best way to implement Barefoot's teachings.

We believe one bank makes following Barefoot easier

Our view is that because bank interest rates are so low right now, it's helpful to have your accounts with one bank rather than chase the 'highest' rate of interest.
Our best bank accounts guide shows the options available right now, but for the Barefoot strategy to work efficiently and effectively, you'll need a bank which makes everything easy.
Earning 0% or 0.10% on your balances while you begin your Barefoot journey is perfectly acceptable in our view.
Even if you have an average balance of $5,000 in cash savings over one year, a 1.7% interest rate is going to net you $85 gross (around $60 to $70 after-tax). The inconvenience of dealing with two or three different banks chasing the best (low) interest rate may not be worth it.
For this reason, we suggest considering Kiwibank simply because it offers the popular Free Up account, a well-regarded app and free debit card. You can also rename your accounts in keeping with Barefoot, i.e. "Mike's Splurge Account" or "Jenna's Smile Account". Kiwibank's First Saver also offers over 1% p.a. which is competitive with other banks.
Once you're a Kiwibank customer, you can log in and add a new bank account in seconds. For more details about fees for each account, click here.

Once you're underway with your Barefoot transformation and have cleared personal debts, Barefoot suggests setting up a Mojo Account. This is where you can save three months of living expenses should a life event occur. For this, we suggest the Heartland Bank YouChoose account - you'll earn the top interest rate for a call account and it's fee-free.

Barefoot Credit Cards in New Zealand

Barefoot is anti-credit card, given the debts people can live with for years. With your existing credit card debt, Barefoot suggests lowering the interest rate and paying down debt. Because New Zealand banks rarely (or never) negotiate credit card interest rates with their customers, we've altered the approach slightly. This means you'll swap your existing credit card for a new one, and repay the card balance at a low (or 0%) interest rate.

Did you know credit card balance transfers also cover finance cards like GEM Visa and the Q Card? If you have debt with such providers that is incurring interest charges, then you can apply for a balance transfer card and include these debts as well.

Step 1 - Find a balance transfer credit card offer that you're eligible for. Usually, this just means you can't be an existing customer of the bank offering the deal.

Step 2 - Once you have been approved and the balance has been transferred, cut up and cancel your existing credit card. This means you'll be unable to spend on it. Cutting up the card is emotionally uplifting, even if rather unnecessary.

Step 3 - With your new balance transfer credit card, you're likely to get up to 12 months at a 0% interest rate. Barefoot also suggests cutting up this card so you don't add to the balance. You can't cancel the card until the balance is paid off. As an example, if the debt is $5,000, you can pay $420 a month from your Fire Extinguisher account. Barefoot would most likely suggest paying off as much as possible as quickly as possible.

Barefoot Mortgages in New Zealand

Barefoot believes in the "Great Australian Dream" of owning your own home, despite the Australian property market being as challenged as New Zealand's. Barefoot's golden rule for buying your first home is to have saved a 20 percent deposit. Both the KiwiSaver First-Home Withdrawal and the HomeStart grant help first-home buyers put together their deposit.

Barefoot and New Zealand banks are equally risk-adverse - most lenders usually require a 20% deposit. 10% is possible, but it comes with restrictions.

Barefoot explains how to save a 20 per cent deposit in 20 months here, one step on the way to financial freedom. When organising a mortgage, Barefoot suggests choosing a floating instead of a fixed interest rate and always going for the lowest interest rate, among other tips.

Bringing Barefoot to the bank

We believe the best way to get a mortgage deal that Barefoot would approve of is to talk to a mortgage broker.
We explain what mortgage brokers do and list some top trusted professionals who can guide you through the process.
See our tips for homebuyers in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hastings and Napier, Wellington and Christchurch.

Paying off your mortgage early

Barefoot suggests making regular overpayments on your mortgage to "get the banker off your back faster".
If your finances are in good shape and you can make regular overpayments, your interest costs over the life of the loan will drop considerably, and you'll be mortgage-free faster.
Some banks offer better early repayment terms than others, so discuss the options with your mortgage broker if overpaying without penalties interests you.

Barefoot Retirement Savings in New Zealand

While superannuation schemes are different in New Zealand and Australia, the principles of contributing towards them and the funds favoured by Barefoot are the same. In essence, Barefoot wants you to invest as much as you can in index funds. We look at contributions and funds separately:

1. Contributions to KiwiSaver
Barefoot states that you should boost your superannuation (i.e. KiwiSaver) to 15% (rather than the basic 3%), "you’ll never have to worry about money again". Barefoot claims it’s time-tested and proven to work. Unfortunately, the voluntary limit in New Zealand is 10% but you can make lump sum contributions if you are so inclined.

10% of your income is still a lot, but you can find out how much this is in dollar terms by using our PAYE calculator. Just adjust the KiwiSaver contribution to 10%.

For example, if you earn $50,000/year, your KiwiSaver contribution would be $5,000 at 10% or $1,500 at 3%. With KiwiSaver being a long-term investment, contributing $5,000 per year will soon add up and grow.

Understand how tax and KiwiSaver contributions work

In New Zealand, your KiwiSaver contributions are calculated on your before-tax pay. However, you still pay tax on the full amount that you earn.
For example, if you earned $100 and had 10% ($10) KiwiSaver contributions deducted, you would still pay tax on the full $10.
The tax deducted for KiwiSaver contributions means your take-home pay will be less than the difference between contributing 3% and 10%.

2. Funds
Barefoot is a self-described "skinny cat who likes index funds" (i.e. low-cost funds that mechanically track the stock market, rather than being actively managed). A number of KiwiSaver schemes offer index funds, including:

Simplicity (arguably New Zealand's most renowned fee-dropping KiwiSaver option)
Superlife (similar to Smartshares, and also run by the NZX).

Barefoot Insurance in New Zealand

Barefoot is big on insurances to protect your income and home. In his words, "your income is your most powerful financial asset. That’s why you need income protection to cover you if you can’t work for a while".

Barefoot advocates home insurance, car insurance, health insurance, life insurance and total permanent disability (TPD) insurance. With the exception of TPD, we've reviewed policies and prices for a number of insurers, and explain everything you need to know before purchasing a policy.

Barefoot Property Investing in New Zealand

Barefoot mentions that investing in property creates less wealth than investing in the share market, which uses the power of compounding gains. While the value of property does go up, most people overlook the costs involved. This includes interest, renovations, maintenance, repairs, rates and insurance, among others.

Barefoot states that more property equals more debt, and that's not good.

If you want exposure to property without the debt and hassles, there are a number of property investment funds and ETFs. Examples include:

Useful Resources for New Zealand Barefoot Investors

The guides and tools below continue to be popular with New Zealand Barefoot Investor followers: