|
 |
Hi <first name>
Welcome to the February 2025 edition of the TRSS newsletter. |
| We are pleased to present the first edition of the TRSS newsletter for 2025,
designed to equip you with essential information and insights for the year ahead. |
| In this issue, we focus on setting financial goals for 2025 and familiarise you with
some of the Sorted tools that can assist you in achieving your financial objectives.
Having clear goals is vital for your financial well-being and these tools can provide
valuable support. |
| We also have an important update regarding the upcoming enhancement to the
Verification of Identity process. Furthermore, it is important to be aware that a
new login process has recently been introduced, along with essential information
regarding how to access your account. |
| Our regular investment commentary and investment returns sections will offer you
a comprehensive overview of the current market landscape, helping you make
informed decisions as you plan for the future. |
| If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback about the Scheme or
any of the benefits, please don’t hesitate to contact the Helpline at 0508 4 TEACH
(0508 4 83224) or email us at nztrsserp@mercer.com. |
| Regards, |
| Mercer, |
| On behalf of Public Trust as Trustee |
|
|
|
|
| Setting goals and helpful Sorted tools |
| Setting financial goals is a crucial step in achieving long-term financial stability and
success. Whether you are planning for retirement, saving for a home, or preparing
for unexpected expenses, having clear and achievable financial goals can guide your
decision-making and help you stay focused on your objectives. |
| The first step is to assess your current financial situation. This includes
understanding your income, expenses, debts and savings. Once you have a clear
picture, you can set specific, measurable and time-bound goals. For instance,
instead of setting vague goals like “I want to save money,” a better approach would
be to say, “I want to save $10,000 for a home deposit within the next two years.” This
clarity will help you create a structured plan to reach your goals. |
| Now that you have set your goals, we have listed some useful tools below that are
designed to not only help you save money but also to promote healthier financial
habits, support effective budgeting and facilitate long-term financial planning. |
|
|
| |
 |
| |
| Budgets act as essential guides for
managing your finances, allowing you
to monitor your spending and savings
effectively. This tool provides a clear
visual overview of your income and
expenditures, enabling you to optimise
your financial resources. |
|
|
 |
| |
| Evaluate your current financial
situation to see if you are on track
to achieve the retirement lifestyle
you desire. This calculator helps
you assess whether you are
financially prepared for the future. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
 |
| |
| This tool allows you to see how your
savings can grow over time, particularly
through the power of compounding
interest. It provides a clear picture of
your financial progress. |
|
|
 |
|
| What are your aspirations? Many of
life’s goals require financial planning.
This goal-setting tool assists you
in taking the initial steps towards
achieving your dreams. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
 |
| |
| Wondering how soon you can
be free from debt? This tool
can consolidate your loans
and helps outline the quickest
path to financial freedom. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Market news |
| There was significant market variation across regions and sectors in the quarter
ending December 2024. Overall, global equities ended the year positively, boosted
by the conclusive victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election in
November. This was arguably more about calming fears that escalated leading into
the election, than it was optimism about the prospects looking forward. |
| It wasn’t all positive though, as the outlook for emerging markets and more
sustainable, pro-environmental companies and strategies took a hit in the wake of
the election result. The potential inflationary effects of widespread and substantial
tariffs (if imposed by the US) also tempered expectations of further interest rate cuts
in 2025. This took some of the heat out of the post-election equity rally in December
and weighed on returns from fixed interest markets (which tend to be higher when
interest rates are expected to decrease). As a result, global fixed interest returns
were negative for the final quarter of 2024. |
| In contrast, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (‘RBNZ’) implemented two
consecutive 0.5% cuts to the Official Cash Rate (‘OCR’) during the quarter, as the
CPI (‘Consumer Price Index’) and core inflation returned to within the RBNZ’s 1-3%
target range. The OCR ended the year at 4.25%, down from a high of 5.5% in mid-
2024. These relatively aggressive cuts helped New Zealand equities and bonds to
deliver positive returns for the December quarter. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Update on the new
login process |
| From 26 February, the way you login to your online
account has changed. The change simplifies
the login process to just your email address and
password. After you activate your online account for
the first time following these changes, you will no
longer need a member number or have to contact
the Helpline for PIN resets. |
|
|
|
| If you haven’t set up your new log in details yet, your first sign-in will require a
one-time activation where you’ll need to provide your membership number, date
of birth and email address. After that, you’ll establish security methods such as
email, password and mobile number for multi-factor authentication. If you face
any issues, you can contact the Helpline at 0508 4 TEACH (0508 4 83224). For
any further queries regarding the new sign in process, we have prepared a set of
FAQs to address some of the questions you may have. You can access them under
Announcements on the following page: |
|
|
|
|
|
| More options to verify
your identity |
| From time to time the Scheme needs to verify
your identity, for example when you are making a
withdrawal from your account. You now have the
option to complete the verification process online,
using your mobile device. |
|
|
|
| Members can easily take a photo of their identification
documents, along with a selfie to confirm their identity. This
streamlined process enhances user experience by providing a quick and accessible
way to verify identity. It is also important to mention that members would still have
the option to send physical copies of their documents for verification, if they prefer
the traditional method. |
| You can read more about how to verify your identity, when the time comes in the
Confirmation of Identity and Address Guide linked below. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scheme returns |
| The table below shows the returns of each investment fund for the first six months
of the Scheme year, along with the returns from the two years prior. |
 |
| You can find the latest information on monthly returns here. |
|
|
|
|
| This document has been prepared by Mercer (N.Z.) Limited on behalf of the Public Trust, the Trustee, and manager of the Teachers Retirement Savings Scheme. The information in this document is intended for general guidance only and is not personalised to you. It does not take into account your particular financial situation or goals. It is not financial advice or a recommendation. We recommend that you read the Member Booklet and take financial advice from a financial adviser (visit www.fma.govt.nz) before making any investment decisions. In addition, past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. |
| Click here to unsubscribe if you do not wish to receive further email communication about the Scheme. |
| © 2025 Mercer (N.Z.) Limited. |
| |
|
 |
|
