Your KiwiSaver account and current market conditions

With all the recent market movements, you may have noticed your BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme balance has gone down, and you may be wondering what to do. At times like these, it’s worth taking a step back and looking at the big picture.

KiwiSaver is a long-term investment

Day-to-day movements in financial markets should not influence the decisions you make around your KiwiSaver account. Here are some reassuring points to consider:

Time is on your side: for most people, KiwiSaver is for the long-term goal of saving for retirement. This means you have time on your side to ride out any bumps in the market. Of course, if you’re close to retirement or want to use KiwiSaver to help purchase a first home soon, then you might have reduced your exposure to market ups and downs by choosing a lower risk fund.

Our investments are well diversified: the BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme funds have a carefully planned mix of investments. For our diversified funds, the mix of assets helps to balance the level of risk and smooth out the returns. At times like this, it can be easy to worry about market turbulence, and not on the long-term performance of the investments we hold.

You could benefit from an upturn: most members make regular contributions to their accounts via their salary or wages. Market ups and downs can mean opportunities to buy assets at cheaper prices and set yourself up for potential future gains.

We’re with you on your KiwiSaver journey

Seeing a lower balance in your KiwiSaver account can be concerning – and we don’t like it either. But we know fluctuations are part of investing and are hard to predict. Thankfully, history has shown us that markets tend to recover. You can find more information about the BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme on our website, as well as lots of helpful articles about investing on our ‘Investing for the future’ hub.

Any views expressed in this article are the personal views the author and do not necessarily represent the views of BNZ, or its related entities. This article is solely for information purposes and is not intended to be financial advice. If you need help, please contact BNZ or your financial adviser.

Neither Bank of New Zealand nor any person involved in this article accepts any liability for any loss or damage whatsoever which may directly or indirectly result from any, information, representation, or omission, whether negligent or otherwise, contained in this article.

BNZ Investment Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of BNZ, is the Issuer and Manager of the BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme. Download a copy of the BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme Product Disclosure Statement PDF 675KB, or pick up a copy from a BNZ branch.

Investments in the BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme are not bank deposits or other liabilities of Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) or any other member of the National Australia Bank Limited group. They are subject to investment risk, possible delays in repayment, possible loss of income and possible loss of principal invested. No person (including the New Zealand Government) guarantees (either fully or in part) the performance or returns of the BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme or the repayment of capital.