How a quick call or email could save you thousands of dollars

Sue Tierney

Given the choice, most of us would opt for a loan agreement that trims thousands of dollars from repayments.


Seems obvious, doesn’t it?


All you have to do is get some free advice before you sign on the dotted line. 


Why? Because it's easy to miss the big picture.


Whenever you’re about to sign up for a loan, you want to be sure it’s the best one for your needs. Maybe there are more cost-effective alternatives from other lenders. Or perhaps your current financial situation means you’d be better served by taking another approach.


To find out, simply fire off a quick email to us. We can help you review the numbers and maybe arrange things so you’ll be much better off.


Here are some real-life examples: 


Example 1: An EV Loan.


We recently talked to a client who was on the verge of taking out finance to buy an electric vehicle. The car salesman had put together a loan offer that looked okay.


But when we sat down, we were able to point to an alternative EV loan offered by the client’s bank. The interest rate was better and the cost savings were attractive.


The thing is, it can be hard to know if these options exist if you’re not a professional financial adviser. Not all banks offer EV loans and the market is changing all the time.


Please note that we are not here to recommend you buy an electric vehicle or not. That’s your business. What we can do is help you figure out whether the numbers work, and we can manage your loan application.


As always, it costs you nothing to get our advice. 


Example 2: Refixing a home loan.


It can be tempting to click on a friendly email from your bank when they remind you it’s time to refix (and they tell you they have a special rate, but there’s a deadline).


It’s easy – but it may not be the right choice.


For instance, we know someone who clicked on a link to take advantage of a special interest rate. The problem was that she had already gone unconditional on a new property and the current mortgage was about to be repaid.


Result: a costly and unnecessary break fee.


It’s a problem that could have easily been avoided with a quick phone call. We would have asked questions about any changes in the client’s circumstances, and then made a recommendation based their needs, not the bank’s marketing campaign.


Others have been caught out by refixing before a change in the OCR that led to rate drops. We keep a beady eye on Reserve Bank announcements, and would have been able to advise them whether to act immediately or hold off for a cheaper rate. 


Your emails and phone calls are always welcome.


At Sue Tierney Mortgages, we’re here to give advice whenever you’re thinking about taking out finance or changing your insurance. If we think you’ll be better off by signing the loan or by holding off, we will look at the bigger picture and always work in your best interests.


Try us. Click on the link below to set up a call. There’s no charge.

We're here to help you with home loans, personal finance & insurance.

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by Sue Tierney 7 May 2025
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by Sue Tierney 7 May 2025
The reason is simple. Something you may not think is important could actually matter a lot. It could save (or cost) you thousands of dollars. That’s why we’re always keen to catch up. Talking face-to-face on a video call is an opportunity to find out the things that don’t appear in an email or bank statement. Here’s an example: When a 'cash contribution' from the bank is a bad idea. Banks often use cashback offers or other sweeteners to encourage you to sign on the dotted line. This can be a good deal…or it can be a terrible one. It all depends on your personal circumstances. When we talk to you, we’ll ask questions like these: “Could you reduce your loan in the next few years with a lump sum from KiwiSaver?” “Are you expecting a windfall, such as an inheritance or company shares?” “Are you thinking of selling your house and buying in a cheaper location within the next three years?” Your answers to these questions (and the other questions we ask) will determine the type of loan that’s right for you. The sugar hit of a cash contribution from the bank might turn out to be a false economy, because it could end up locking you into a loan term that doesn’t match your objectives. Here's another example. Refinancing your loan might not be a done deal. Refixing with your bank is usually pretty straightforward. But moving to a new bank – i.e. refinancing your mortgage – may not be. First of all, you will have to go through a complete re-application process. Every lender will need a lot of detail, and their questions could be intrusive. That’s fair enough – they are checking if they want you as a customer. It’s a bigger deal than simply rolling over an existing loan. And you may not even be approved. Then you’re back to square one. Of course, there are times when refinancing is the right option – and we’ll be very happy to do it for you. But first we need to dig into your particular circumstances. So we ask a lot of questions. We're here to help you find the right loan. Your emails and phone calls are always welcome. At Sue Tierney Mortgages, we’re here to give advice whenever you’re thinking about rolling over a loan, taking out finance or changing your insurance. Try us. Click on the link below to set up a call. There’s no charge.
by Sue Tierney 25 March 2025
As Registered Financial Advisers , we’re all about doing the right thing for our clients. A big part of that is making sure you don’t pay a dollar more than absolutely necessary.

Wealth creation is not what you own. It’s what you control.

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