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Janine Starks's picture

Janine Starks is a Christchurch based financial commentator. She is also co-managing director of Liontamer Investments.

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Articles by Janine Starks


Mistletoe madness best avoided

  Janine Starks with some sobering mistletoe statistics on the Christmas consumer craziness and a plea for more prudence and less silliness around money.  

Anatomy of a $500K phishing scam

Janine Starks with a tale of hi-tech hijinx and a reminder to be hyper vigilant when it comes to internet banking transactions. Do you have a story to share?

Too fat for life insurance?

Janine Starks gets to the bottom of an insurance rejection claim and encourages Kiwis to take the reigns and keep a close watch on the waistline

Debt and depression

Janine Starks offers a six-step programme to help dig out of debt and break a vicious cycle of financial mismanagement and depression.

Putting a price on your life

How much life insurance is enough? Janine Starks explores the upsides and downsides of risk management and insuring for the what if scenarios.

How much is enough?

What's a would be retiring couple to do with lashings of assets and a dollop of income with a finite shelf-life? Janine Starks asks the hard questions and offers some solutions.

When time isn't on your side

Janine Starks on intergenerational wealth, insurance claims, earthquake stress and elderly parents.

A finer education at what cost?

Should you move house if you're happy living where you are but you're not in the zone for the school you want to send your kids to?

Love, money, men and houses

What's a single girl with a mountain of money, no man, a head full of worry and no house to do? Janine Starks considers her case.

Dealing with EQC over liquefaction

Janine Starks on sink holes, cracks, lateral spread, elevation changes and liquefaction

Hyperbolic discounting and expontential saving

Janine Starks on "hyperbolic discounting", family finances and how not to end up in the spare bedroom over money differences.

Jam on toast please

Janine Starks looks the escalating costs of 21st century socialising and says it's okay to say "I can't afford it", to give phony Facebook friends the pass, and save for the events you really want to be a part of.

EQC's wall of land claim confusion

Janine Starks on the colour-coded land claim nightmare that is Christchurch. Your experience?

Trees, tooth fairies and Mummy’s purse

Janine Starks ponders the parental dilemma of pocketmoney and argues that "we are a bunch of irresponsible miserable gits."

What would Wellington do?

Janine Starks looks at liquefaction risk and rebuild prospects and insurance what ifs in the event of a quake in the capital. Your view?

All in the family; bypassing banks to save

Janine Starks explores some options for an asset rich, cash poor octogenarian couple in great nick but in need for a new car. 

Single in the city - with $400K banked

Janine Starks considers the case of a single female with $400k in the bank looking to buy a house without taking out a mortgage in an overpriced property market

A colour-coded nightmare in Christchurch

Janine Starks looks at the various shades of grey in a green-blue zoning conundrum and sees nothing but red-tape and trouble.

Leaving town with your equity intact

Opinion: Janine Starks takes a frank look at the cost risk of rebuilding in Christchurch and wonders whether skipping town might be the best way to preserve equity

Insurance cap sends a shudder

Janine Starks looks at the implications of a new insurance policy tweak that will put the pinch on homeowners forced to rebuild in the event of a new event. Your view?