Economists aren’t expecting an increase in the official cash rate this month but it’s not considered an impossibility, a new survey has shown.

Loan-to-value restrictions have the potential to affect the lifestyle property market but there is no sign of them doing so yet, the Real Estate Institute’s rural spokesman says.

New Zealand’s market is not an easy one to work in as a sole-trader adviser, the head of one franchise says.

There has been a clear move towards owner-occupied apartments in Auckland, says Martin Dunn, of City Sales.

An American survey has shown that minority communities want to deal with minority financial advisers – and one New Zealand insurer says getting that right in New Zealand will be critical to success here, too.

Banks are willing to turn a blind eye to borrowers who use personal loans from other lenders to pull together their deposits, says Harcourts chief executive Hayden Duncan.

Stronger than expected inflation figures have removed any doubt among economists that the Reserve Bank is planning to move soon.

Insurer OnePath says tax changes, medical inflation and growing numbers of claims have prompted it to increase its premiums this year.

[UPDATED] Independent financial advisers may on average be older than participants other industries but it isn’t necessarily a problem, one industry commentator says.

We've started 2014 by asking representatives of several sectors of the industry what advisers might expect from the coming year. The responses have been uniformly positive.

It is critical that advisers review every client every year, says the president of the Professional Advisers Association.

A group of European financial advisers has made a satirical video warning consumers about the quality of bank advice – but we shouldn’t expect to see anything similar in New Zealand, one industry commentator says.

It’s been the hot topic for months but economists say it will not be the hot Auckland housing market that forces the Reserve Bank’s hand when it implements its first rate increase this year.

Things are looking up for borrowers with small deposits, as mainstream banks indicate they are getting back into the market.

Bitcoins are becoming popular with investors who see the currency as a complement to precious metal investments.

Things are looking up for borrowers with small deposits, as mainstream banks indicate they are getting back into the market.