Monday media round-up 01/03/10

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories, with links to online versions.
 

• Financial adviser rule changes coming
  Cabinet has given policy approval to amendments to the Financial Advisers Act and Financial Services Providers Act. The amendments cover fees, disclosure and a compulsory register of advisers. (Dominion Post)
   
• Getting older is no cakewalk
  There is no escaping old age but those who plan for it financially could ease the process considerably. Amanda Morrall looks at the daunting costs of getting old and the benefits of being prepared. (The Press)
   
• Working for Families tax loopholes to be tackled in Budget
  Loopholes that allow people on high incomes to claim Working for Families tax credits look set to be tackled in the 2010 Budget. (Radio New Zealand)
   
• Compo for pensioners if GST rises
  The Prime Minister has announced a sweetener for New Zealand's 450,000 pensioners to soften the blow of a rise in GST. (TVNZ)
   
• Martin Hawes: Huljich move disappointing
  Kiwisaver is important to the country because it could provide a large investment pool for New Zealand and many people are depending on it for their retirement. (NZ Herald)
   
• Mary Holm: Keeping tabs on scheme trustees
  Mary answers readers' letters about KiwiSaver scheme trustee changes, the pitfalls of overseas sharebroking accounts and the difference between investing and gambling. 
   
• Michael Lang: Save for a grainy day
  Commodities are likely to be one of the best-performing asset classes over the next 10 years. But they are also likely to be one of the most volatile. (NZ Herald)
   
• Bernard Hickey: GST rise a bad move
  "The government is considering lifting the GST rate to 15 per cent from 12.5 per cent from the end of October. Opinion polls show most of the public are opposed, but Prime Minister John Key seems determined to push ahead. I think the public is right, possibly for the wrong reasons." (NZ Herald)