Australiansuper Balanced Super Fund Performance and Comparison

The Australiansuper Balanced Super Fund is designed to provide a stable and reliable investment option for Australians. It has a long-term track record of delivering consistent returns.

The fund's balanced approach means it invests in a mix of assets, including shares, property, and fixed income securities. This diversification helps to reduce risk and increase potential returns.

In terms of performance, the Australiansuper Balanced Super Fund has consistently ranked among the top performers in its class.

Australiansuper Balanced is a medium- to long-term growth investment option.

It invests in a diverse range of assets, including shares, private equity, infrastructure, property, fixed interest, credit, and cash.

The balanced option has a composition similar to the Socially Aware option, with top weights in Australian shares, international shares, unlisted infrastructure, and fixed interest.

Australian shares make up 21.2% of the portfolio, while international shares account for 26.3%.

Unlisted infrastructure and fixed interest each hold a 15.2% and 16.9% stake in the portfolio, respectively.

The objective of Australiansuper Balanced is to outperform the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by more than 4% per annum over the medium to longer term.

It also aims to surpass the performance of the median balanced fund over the same time frame.

The balanced option acknowledges that short-term fluctuations can occur, so it's designed to provide stability and moderate risk while pursuing medium- to long-term growth.

AustralianSuper offers a range of investment options to suit different risk tolerances and investment goals. You can choose from Pre-mixed options, which are diversified portfolios that invest in a mix of different asset classes, or DIY Mix and Member Direct options, which allow for more hands-on involvement.

The Pre-mixed options include High Growth, Balanced (MySuper option), Socially Aware, Indexed Diversified, Conservative Balanced, and Stable. Each option has a different risk level and asset allocation, with the Balanced option being the default investment option for members who don't choose a different option.

The Balanced option has a risk level similar to the Socially Aware option and invests in a mix of growth and defensive assets, with around 70% allocation to growth assets. It's designed to provide medium- to long-term growth while acknowledging the potential for short-term fluctuations.

Here are the top Pre-mixed investment options and their characteristics:

AustralianSuper's investment options are designed to provide a range of returns, with the Balanced option aiming to outperform the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by more than 4% per annum over the medium to longer term.

AustralianSuper offers a range of investment options to suit different risk levels and investment goals.

You can choose from Pre-mixed options, which are diversified portfolios that invest in a mix of different asset classes, or DIY Mix and Member Direct options, which allow for more hands-on involvement.

Pre-mixed options include High Growth, Balanced (MySuper option), Socially Aware, Indexed Diversified, Conservative Balanced, and Stable, each with its own level of risk and asset allocation.

The Balanced option is the default investment option, designed for growth over the medium to long term, with around 70% allocation to growth assets.

AustralianSuper's Balanced option has a composition similar to the Socially Aware option, with top weights in Australian shares, international shares, unlisted infrastructure, and fixed interest.

The Balanced option aims to outperform the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by more than 4% per annum over the medium to longer term.

AustralianSuper charges a low 0.56% on its High Growth option, making it a cost-effective choice.

The Balanced option has a fee of 0.11% for its indexed option, which is the lowest of the comparable options.

AustralianSuper benchmarks its Balanced option against the SR50 Balanced (60-70) Index, which provides the median return from the largest 50 super funds under review.

You can view the full range of AustralianSuper's Pre-mixed options in the table below:

The Socially Aware option is a great choice for those who want to invest with a conscience. It has a 66.5% growth rate, which is impressive.

This option applies exclusions based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) screens to certain investments, such as Australian shares, international shares, and corporate securities. It's a thoughtful approach to investing.

The top portfolio allocations of the Socially Aware product consist of Australian shares at 21.5%, international shares at 25.9%, unlisted infrastructure at 15.1%, and fixed interest at 16.8%. These allocations are carefully considered to achieve the best possible returns.

The primary objective of the Socially Aware product is to outperform the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by more than 4% per annum over the medium to longer term. This is a challenging goal, but one that is achievable with the right strategy.

The Socially Aware product aims to surpass the performance of the median balanced fund over the same time frame. This is a benchmark that many investment products strive for, but few achieve.

It's worth noting that the Socially Aware product acknowledges the possibility of short-term fluctuations. This means that investors should be prepared for some ups and downs in the market.

You might like: Common Shares on Balance Sheet

AustralianSuper offers a range of investment options, including a default Balanced option that's a top-performing MySuper fund.

If you don't choose an option, your super will be invested in the Balanced investment option, which is a MySuper-authorised fund.

You can choose from three types of investment options: Pre-mixed, DIY Mix, and Member Direct, but the Balanced option is the default choice if you don't select one.

The Defensive 49.7% / 50.3% option is a low-risk investment choice that's designed for stability over growth. It's perfect for those with a shorter investment timeframe or a low risk tolerance.

This option has a 61% allocation to defensive assets, including cash and bonds, which helps protect your investment balance. The remaining 39% is allocated to growth assets, but the emphasis is on stability rather than growth.

The Conservative Balanced option, which has a similar risk profile, has a top portfolio allocation of 28.3% to fixed interest and 10.9% to cash. This helps provide stability to the portfolio.

Take a look at this: Balanced Retirement Portfolio

Here's a breakdown of the Conservative Balanced option's top portfolio allocations:

The Conservative Balanced option aims to outperform the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by more than 2.5% per annum over the medium term. It also seeks to surpass the performance of the median conservative balanced fund over the same time frame.

This option is designed for those who want to balance capital stability with medium-term growth. It's not for those looking for high growth, but rather for those who prioritize stability and security.

The Defensive option aims to provide stability and protection for your investment, with a growth rate of 23.1% compared to the High Growth option's 76.9%.

This option is designed to be more cautious and less volatile than the High Growth option, with a focus on preserving capital and generating steady returns.

The Defensive option has a relatively low allocation to shares, with only 23.1% of the fund invested in this asset class.

For your interest: High Balance Loan Amount

Australian Super's high growth option charges a total fee of 0.65%, which is 0.61% cheaper than Australian Retirement Trust and 0.23% less than Hostplus' equivalent option.

Australian Super's balanced option is a standout, with a total fee of 0.66% that's considerably better than Australian Retirement Trust's 1.13%, a difference of 0.47%.

Hostplus charges 0.88% for their balanced option, which is 0.22% more than Australian Super's balanced option.

Australian Super's diversified alternatives option is the most expensive, with a total fee of 2.97%, while Hostplus' Shares Plus option charges 0.88%, a significant difference of 2.09%.

Explore further: Balanced Commercial Property Trust

AustralianSuper is an industry super fund that doesn't distribute dividends or profits to shareholders. Instead, the money generated is reinvested back into the fund for the benefit of its members.

The fund's primary focus is on delivering robust and sustainable long-term performance to enhance the welfare of its members.

AustralianSuper allocates funds to Australian and international shares, encompassing exchanges such as the ASX, within its listed assets investment strategy.

The fund has interests in unlisted assets, including infrastructure, property, private equity, and private credit.

AustralianSuper has made notable property investments, including the King's Cross Estate in the UK and the Ala Moana Shopping Centre in Honolulu, USA.

The fund's infrastructure investments span various sectors such as transport, telecommunications, energy, and utilities.

AustralianSuper has invested in projects such as tolls WestConnex and Transurban Queensland Toll Roads, as well as a stake in Sydney Airport.

AustralianSuper has received high ratings for customer satisfaction, trust, and customer service. The fund scored 4.14/5 overall for customer satisfaction, 4.26/5 for trust, and 4.11/5 for customer service in Finder's 2024 Customer Satisfaction Awards.

Here's a breakdown of AustralianSuper's ratings:

These ratings indicate that AustralianSuper is highly regarded by its customers and members.

AustralianSuper's balanced option has been compared to other funds, and the results are impressive. Over a 3-year period, AustralianSuper's balanced growth option returned 8.23%, which is lower than Hostplus' 10.00% and Australian Retirement Trust's 9.57%.

AustralianSuper's fees are also a significant advantage. On a $500,000 super balance, AustralianSuper charges an annual fee of $3,300, which is $3,000 less than Australian Retirement Trust's $6,400. This is a substantial saving over the lifetime of a person's superannuation.

In comparison to other funds, AustralianSuper's balanced option has a total fee percentage of 0.66%, which is lower than Hostplus' 0.88% and Australian Retirement Trust's 1.13%. This makes AustralianSuper a more cost-effective option for investors.

Australians have shared their thoughts on super funds, and it's worth taking a look. AustralianSuper super fund received a high overall satisfaction rating of 4.14/5 in Finder's 2024 Customer Satisfaction Awards.

Their customers seem to be very happy with the service they receive, with a rating of 4.11/5 for customer service, which is higher than the average of 4.07. This suggests that AustralianSuper is doing something right in this area.

Interestingly, AustralianSuper's trust rating is a bit lower than the average, at 4.26/5 compared to 4.45. This might be worth exploring further, as trust is a crucial aspect of any financial institution.

Here's a comparison of AustralianSuper's ratings with the average:

Australian Super is a clear winner when it comes to fees, charging just $3,300 on a $500,000 super balance, which is over $3,000 less than Australian Retirement Trust.

Australian Super's balanced option is also the cheapest, costing $3,400 annually, compared to Hostplus' $5,100 and Australian Retirement Trust's $5,700.

In contrast, Hostplus charges $4,500 on a $500,000 balance, while Australian Retirement Trust charges $6,400.

Australian Super's investment-related fees are also lower, with a fee of 0.56% on their high growth option, compared to Hostplus' 0.86% and Australian Retirement Trust's 1.16%.

Australian Super's administration-related fee is also low, at 0.10%, the same as Australian Retirement Trust, but lower than Hostplus' 0.0165%.

The total fees charged by Australian Super are also the lowest, with a total fee percentage of 0.66% on their balanced option, compared to Hostplus' 0.88% and Australian Retirement Trust's 1.13%.

Australian Super's fees are significantly lower than the other two funds, making it a more cost-effective option for investors.