Simply withdrawing savings in regular amounts carries the risk that the money might run out before you do.

KiwiSaver is described on the www.kiwisaver.govt.nz website as a "voluntary, work-based savings initiative".

'I have just found out that my employer has not been paying my KiwiSaver contributions or employer contributions.' Now what? Helen Twose tells you.

Wouldn't you love to manage your own retirement funds? Instead of handing them over to a KiwiSaver provide, you research and buy the assets, which could include individual equities and even rental properties.

Six years on, the majority of KiwiSaver members remain in the default conservative funds where they were automatically placed on first joining the scheme, writes Blair Turnbull.

I read the other day about women hitting retirement with less in the kitty than men.

Lawyer first port of call for grandparent bequests but KiwiSaver offers options for supporting grandchildren, writes Helen Twose.

KiwiSaver funds with higher exposure to shares were the best performers over the September quarter, according to Morningstar.

"Where," asks David Chaplin, "are the current batch of default providers going to send members for 'impartial financial advice' - off to rival banks, perhaps?"

All KiwiSaver investors should be able to find out how their fund is performing, what fees are being charged and where the money is being invested from today.

Winston Peters says changes to KiwiSaver which would stop it being "a pot of gold’’ for fund managers would be a bottom line in any post election coalition talks.

KiwiSaver has turned out to have been a hugely successful financial product but there are some nasty changes lurking over the horizon, writes Brent Sheather.

Helen Twose looks at the Welcome Home Loan administered by Housing NZ which helps people with modest incomes get a home loan with a small deposit.