KiwiSaver health check

It’s important to know who your provider is, because they are looking after your money for you.

If you don't know, you can find out on IRD's website using My KiwiSaver. You’ll need your IRD number to register.

Most KiwiSaver providers have a choice of different types of investment funds where you can put your money

Each fund has a different mix of things it invests in – such as bank deposits, bonds, shares and property

Your KiwiSaver fund should match your investor type - your investor type depends on things like how long you are investing for, and how you feel about risk

Your investor type may change over time or as your personal circumstances change, so remember to revisit that from time to time

Examples of fund type include defensive, conservative, balanced, growth, or aggressive

Use Sorted's KiwiSaver fundfinder to find the right fund for you.

The money your KiwiSaver investments earn is taxed.

The tax rate you pay is called a PIR (short for ‘prescribed investor rate’) and can be either 10.5%, 17.5%, or 28%.

If you don’t make sure you’re on the right tax rate for you, you could end up paying more tax than you have to – and you won’t be able to get that money back.

Check with your provider to find out what tax rate you’re on and make sure it’s the right one for you.

You can also find out more at KiwiSaver.govt.nz

It’s important to keep track of your KiwiSaver balance, as it’s the money that will help you enjoy your retirement

Try using Sorted's KiwiSaver savings calculator to see how your current balance could grow between now and when you retire, and what kind of weekly retirement income it might give you.

Your provider must provide you with an annual statement that includes details of your personal KiwiSaver balance and the contributions received.

All KiwiSaver providers charge a fee. Each year you’ll receive an annual statement clearly showing what you’ve paid, in dollars. Your fee will vary based on:

• how big your KiwiSaver balance is – the bigger the balance, the greater the fee
• the type of investment fund you’re in – generally lower-risk funds are cheaper than higher-risk funds, but the return on lower-risk funds is less over the long term
• your KiwiSaver provider – some providers charge higher fees than others.

You can use our KiwiSaver tracker tool to see how your fees compare to similar funds with other providers. You can also use Sorted’s KiwiSaver Fund Finder.

See costs involved in investing to learn more. 

No it’s not – every investment comes with some level of risk, including KiwiSaver. The important thing is to understand your own risk profile and use that to find the right KiwiSaver fund for you.

Your provider must provide you with an annual statement that includes details of your personal KiwiSaver balance and the contributions received.

We closely monitor providers to make sure they follow the rules and act in your best interests.