Hi <first name> Welcome to the final edition of Supernews for 2023, where we’ll be hearing from one of our members about their experience with voluntary contributions. We’ll also introduce a financial glossary ‘De-jargoning Money’ and share the latest financial market commentary and Scheme returns information. Remember, you can find the 2023 annual report, the latest fund updates and the 2023 financial statements on the website on the ‘Documents’ page. Please feel free to contact us on nzfire.super@mercer.com with any feedback you might have on any of these documents, or with suggestions for any future communications. Regards, FireSuper Trustee     At a glance » Maximising retirement savings through voluntary contributions   » De-jargoning Money   » Market update   » Scheme returns   » Holiday hours   Maximising retirement savings through voluntary contributions Nic Bird is a Senior Firefighter at the Rotorua Fire Station and has been a member of the FireSuper Scheme since 2016. As I moved up the ranks and received pay rises, I saw an opportunity to keep living on the same income and invest the extra pay into the Scheme through voluntary contributions. I was impressed with how the Scheme had performed, so chose to put my additional income into it, rather than KiwiSaver or other investment options. Compared to KiwiSaver, I found the Scheme more comparable to the Australian super scheme I used to invest in when living and working on the other side of the ditch. While I don’t have a concrete plan for my retirement, I aim to be in a position to stop working at 55 and have enough saved to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle. In terms of future savings goals, I want to improve our living situation by upgrading our family home, and I’d love to be financially secure enough to support my children in purchasing their own homes when they are older. When I’m not on duty, I love being active and spending time with my partner and two young boys in Aotearoa’s great outdoors. I am grateful for the opportunity to save for my future, and the Scheme plays a crucial role in helping me achieve my savings goals.     De-jargoning Money ‘De-jargoning Money’ is a financial glossary from Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission that uses plain language to make financial terms easier to understand for New Zealanders. The goal is to remove the overly complex language that is often used in the financial services industry and make it easier for people to grasp important money concepts. By doing so, the glossary aims to improve financial literacy and help people make more informed decisions about their money. View the glossary here You can also access a glossary on the Scheme’s website at www.firesuper.org.nz/glossary.     Market update The New Zealand share market was weaker in the third quarter, returning -4.8%. Like their global counterparts, the local market was impacted by expectations central bank interest rates will remain higher for longer and a subsequent jump in government bond yields. Stocks were also impacted by concerns over the deteriorating economic outlook in China; the world’s second-biggest economy and our largest trading partner. The optimism that had accompanied China’s emergence from its strict COVID-19-related lockdown earlier in the year has since faded amid a slump in the country’s property market and a string of disappointing economic data. Read more Source: Russell Investments | Date: 20 October 2023 Scheme returns (Cumulative year-to-date interim returns) The chart below shows the earning rates for each investment option over the fiscal year-to-date period (from 1 April 2023 through to 30 September 2023), and returns over the long term; 3, 5, and 10 years. The returns are net of fees and tax. The Life Cycle option uses the Growth, Balanced, and Conservative options as building blocks and progressively reduces members’ risk/return profile over time. You can find the latest earning rates and general information about how financial markets are performing on the Scheme website. Holiday hours The Helpline will continue to operate during the holiday period, apart from the national public holidays (25 & 26 December, 1 & 2 January). Their hours are 9am to 7pm, Monday to Friday and you can contact them on 0800 MY SUPER (0800 69 78737), or +61 3 83060 954 if calling from overseas. Helpline is your first contact for any questions about FireSuper, covering a range of different topics, including: » Website account access and password reset » Account balance » Investment option change » Questions about fees » Updating contact details and communications preferences » Questions on key documents such as annual reports,Product Disclosure Statements, and annual confirmations   Mercer, the Scheme’s administration manager, will be closed from Friday 22 December, reopening after the holiday break on Monday 8 January.     Helpline 0800 69 78737 Retirement planning Financial advisers at FMA   Scheme website     This email was sent from a mailbox that is not monitored so please do not reply to this email address. This email including any attachments may be confidential and are intended for use by the intended recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must not read, disclose, distribute, copy, store, print or use the information or attachment(s) contained in this email. If you are not the intended recipient, please call us on 0800 MY SUPER (0800 69 78737) and delete or destroy all copies of the message and any attachment(s). Furthermore, the information contained in this publication is intended for general guidance only and is not personalised to you. It does not take into account your particular financial situation or goals, and it is not financial advice or a recommendation. We recommend that you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and take financial advice before making any investment decisions. In addition, past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance and returns. This document has been prepared by Mercer (N.Z.) Limited (Mercer) on behalf of the Trustee.