Stratus Financial Services Ltd

31/03/2026

Worked in Australia? Think you have Aussie Super funds still there?
A client mentioned this recently so here's the link to the ATO (Australian Tax Office) for you to do some homework. Best wishes & do contact Mark, Wayne, Michael or Jude at Stratus if we can assist.

Rules for super providers who accept New Zealand-sourced amounts when reporting USM.

29/03/2026

With our Stratus Family including Hutt-dwellers, as well as clients there, we are aware of the impact of traffic congestion in the Hutt CBD. Patience needed please

Here’s a list of all the major work happening in Lower Hutt from 30 March to 3 April that’s likely to affect your travel.

Follow our page if you aren’t already to get the latest updates on work happening in the city, and on our progress building the new Melling interchange on State Highway 2.

Expect delays on with closures on Queens Drive, Laings Road, and High Street while Wellington Electricity relocates underground cables.

Night works at the Rutherford Street / Connolly Street roundabout continue from 7pm to 5am this week. There'll be no access for traffic north of Melling Link Bridge except for residents.

The northern end of Connolly Street will have a stop/go detour from Monday for trenching works, weather pending.

There are ongoing long-term closures on Queens Drive / High Street intersection, and Queens Drive between High and Rutherford Street.

This work is all part of the wider Te Awa Kairangi - Delivering RiverLink project.

Hutt City Council's work on the walking and cycling path along Marine Drive continues. Please expect some delays of under five minutes. If you missed it, this project will officially complete on Saturday 18 April with a community celebration planned.

Give yourself extra time when you’re travelling. Have a look at alternative routes to get to where you’re going that a mapping app might not recommend. If you're a regular commuter, consider using public transport – your travel may be faster that way.

Travel safely, and have a great week ahead.

26/03/2026

This case is sadly an example of doing, or not doing, your homework. As a KiwiSaver Adviser, I have seen a similar decision in past years, sadly. Be warned 1st home builders....do your homework work.

We can help by answering your questions, following up with your enquiry, investigating your complaint, or guiding you in the right direction.

25/03/2026

Thrilled to get regulatory, product, industry, and market updates at the 2026 FANZ (Financial Advice NZ) conference today & tomorrow.

19/03/2026

Time to be back at a client company, supporting staff & Management with KiwiSaver, Southern Cross & life insurance questions. Contact Jude/KiwiSaver specialist if this helps your company.

15/03/2026

Tax rates...we don't give advice on them but we/KiwiSaver/PIE fund investors do need an awareness of them, ESCT included. Read on & talk to your Stratus adviser, Wayne, Mark, Michael or Jude with your questions.

With KiwiSaver contribution rates set to rise, it’s a timely reminder that employers are due to check and refresh ESCT rates being applied to employer superannuation contributions. Set and forget doesn’t apply to ESCT rates.

08/03/2026

Do contact Wayne, Mark or Jude/Stratus Advisers, if you have any KiwiSaver questions (Michael is on leave).

With ongoing global events in the news, it’s natural to feel unsettled. And while market movements may tempt you to make changes to your investments, we encourage you to pause for a moment.

It can be uncomfortable to see the numbers go down when you look at your KiwiSaver account or investment balance. But remember, market ups and downs are a normal part of investing.

Here are a few tips to consider:

1️⃣ Try not to panic. Markets have been through periods like this before, and history shows they tend to recover over time.

2️⃣ Focus on your long-term goals. Reacting to day-to-day market movements can lead to decisions driven by emotion rather than what you’re ultimately working towards.

3️⃣ Consider speaking with a financial adviser before making any changes. They can help you make sense of what’s happening so you can make the right decisions.
To learn more about what to do during market ups and downs, including guidance for first home buyers and those nearing retirement, read our latest article on the website: www.amp.co.nz/learn/kiwisaver-balance-drop
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This content is for information purposes only. The information is of a general nature only and does not constitute personalised financial advice or other professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always consider seeking personalised financial advice relevant to your personal circumstances from a financial adviser.

22/02/2026

With 2 of our Stratus team impacted at home by last weeks storm, we encourage you to take time & be prepared!

👋Kia ora👋

❤ We want to acknowledge everyone out there still isolated or waiting to get their power back on. It's times like these as the days go on that the support you give to one another helps keep you going.

🪏 For those of you in clean-up mode, we've shared some safety tips in our previous posts about this. Stay safe and healthy.

❓ For those who are back to a sense of normality, this severe weather event may have prompted you to think about how prepared you are for an emergency. Ka pai to those of you already sorted, but if you're thinking about what you need to do to get ready for the next emergency, here are some things you can do to get prepared no matter your budget👇🏽

🫱🏻‍🫲🏾 Have a plan with your whānau, flatmates and friends - in an emergency, communication outages and road damage can prevent us from connecting with our flatmates, friends and whānau. Having a plan in place will help you reconnect with them faster.

💧 Store emergency water – you don’t have to buy water or new containers to store emergency water. You can clean and re-use bottles and plastic ice-cream containers that you already have. Store them in the freezer, behind your couch or under your bed if you are low on space.

🏡 Connect with your neighbours - research shows communities that recover best from disasters are those that have good social networks. We know it can feel awkward but you can use the guise of emergency preparedness to get started! Introduce yourself and talk about ways you could support each other in an emergency. This could be door knocking to check on each other, or sharing supplies and tools you already have at home.

🏫️ Know where your nearest Community Emergency Hub is – A Community Emergency Hub is a place where you and your neighbours can go to help each other in a major emergency, without official support. You can find your nearest Community Emergency Hub at wremo.nz/hubs

For more budget-friendly preparedness tips, head to wremo.nz/preparedness-on-a-budget

19/02/2026

Our age sneaks up on us...so maybe take time NOW to check your financial future, so you can sit back & toast your retirement! What debts will I have, what assets will I have? Talk to Michael, Mark, Wayne or Jude about what your retirement will be toasting...cocktails or coffee?

15/02/2026

We are in our 158 The Terrace office today with some staff working @ home - stay safe Wellington!

With more than 15,000 homes without power across the region due to severe weather, now’s the time to think ahead. What’s your plan for today? Dinner, lighting, and staying warm if the power isn't on?
What to do during a power outage:
🔌 - If you lose power, unplug major appliances. This will reduce the power surge and possible damage when power is restored
🔥 - Don’t use candles - they're a fire risk. Use a torch instead!
🏥 - If you are medically dependent on power, in an emergency call 111 or go to your nearest medical centre
⚡ - Treat all downed lines/electrical equipment as LIVE at all times
If you have been affected by a power outage or want to check on your area, more information and advice is available on your electricity company website:
https://www.welectricity.co.nz/outages
https://outages.powerco.co.nz/
https://electra.co.nz/outages/

08/02/2026

Watching your KiwiSaver returns? We are too. Talk to Michael, Mark, Wayne or Jude to keep your KiwiSaver conversation going.

Warnings of impending share market doom didn't play out in 2025, and the year ended with solid returns.

04/02/2026

While gold isn't an investment Stratus advisers offer, our interest & many resulting conversations highlight the importance of gold in todays markets.

The price of gold crashed by 20% in only a few days before recovering. So where could it go next.