Balanced super funds up 13.4% over 2021
Superannuation members stand to receive a $400 billion windfall following the industry’s recovery over the second half of 2021, according to SuperRatings data.
The research house’s annual review of super fund performance showed the median balanced option returned 13.4% over the 2021 calendar year with positive returns in 11 out of 12 months.
This year’s estimated returns would be the sixth highest over the past 22 years with annualised returns since 2000 sitting at 6.6% per annum.
SuperRatings executive director, Kirby Rappell, said: “Overall, it has been a big year for super. If we look at the long-term, funds continue to perform well against objectives, but it is likely to be a rockier year ahead.
“For consumers, it remains important to set your strategy, stick to it for the long-term and future you will likely thank you.”
According to SuperRatings, this year’s return had been driven by international and Australian shares and property.
The top 20 performing balanced options all returned 13.9% or more to their members over the year.
Hostplus – Balanced was the top performing fund over the 2021 calendar year, returning 19.1%. This was followed by QANTAS Super Gateway – Growth at 18.5% and Sunsuper for Life – Balanced at 16.5%.
Hostplus – Balanced was the top performer over the long-term, as well as on a one-year basis, with an average annual return of 10.7% over the last decade. This was followed by AustralianSuper – Balanced and UniSuper Accum – Balanced which both returned 10.6%.
Top 20 funds ranked according to their volatility-adjusted return
Top 10 sustainable balanced options over five years to 2021
Rappell said: “In the past we typically found that the performance of sustainable options tended to sit materially below standard balanced options. However, in recent years we have seen a shift, with sustainable balanced options performing competitively relative to standard balanced options”.
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