The index, which is designed to offer insight into working Kiwis’ attitudes towards KiwiSaver, found that more than half are still not confident their savings will give them the retirement lifestyle they want.

But it shows an increase in support, participation and confidence in knowledge of KiwiSaver.

More than half (66%) of respondents said they would primarily seek assistance from their KiwiSaver provider, up from 49% in 2012– with a shift towards seeking information from those viewed as experts in the field.  

Twenty-four per cent said if they had questions about KiwiSaver, they would approach a financial adviser, up from 19% in 2012 but down from 33% in 2007.

Twelve per cent would seek advice from a family member, down from 17% in 2012 and 18% in 2007 and 2009 and 10% would turn to friends, down from 13% in 2012.

The index showed that 52% wanted to have more knowledge about KiwiSaver.

Martin Lewington, managing director of Mercer New Zealand, said the shift away from relying on family and friends for financial advice was a positive one.

He said after their providers, the second most common source of information was the employer.

The survey highlighted the role that KiwiSaver providers played in educating members about their retirement savings, he said, and suggested that people were becoming more confident about using tools provided by groups such as Sorted.

“It would suggest a move toward disintermediation of KiwiSaver. It’ a global trend of a shift of power to the consumer.”

Whether independent financial advisers would become a more common source of information would depend on clients’ circumstances and advisers’ value propositions, Lewington said.

“A fee for service is the way for advisers to go, then it’s for consumers to weigh that up, if they believe that the value proposition is worthwhile, they will pay.”

Independent advice would be most useful to clients with higher net wealth or complex needs, he said.

The key for providers in delivering advice to a large number of people was to use their networks well, he said. Lewington said they had to bring a wealth of knowledge to New Zealander sin a way that was accessible, whether that was via a digital platform, social media or personalised snail mail.

“The challenge is getting the information and making it available in a way that is cost-efficient.”