The general assumptions used in the PAKS and Forecast My Balance KiwiSaver tools are as follows:

1. Tax – we have assumed all clients pay the highest rate of PIR tax at 28%
2. We assume your wages or salary will increase each year by 3.5%
3. The assumed rate of inflation is 2% p.a.
4. Our tool assumes default ongoing employee and employer contribution rates of 4%, unless you change these.
5. Our tool assumes you are eligible for the full government contribution, that this will continue until age 65, to a maximum of $260.72 p.a. and you do not take savings suspensions. For those earning more than $180k p.a. this assumption means that your results will be overstated by the Government contribution and any returns on it.
6. We have assumed life expectancy age from the latest life expectancy tables produced by Statistics New Zealand.