Main region

Conservative

Holds around 30% growth assets and 70% defensive assets.

Summary

10-yr returns as at 30 June 2024

4.74% p.a.

Returns over the last 10 years1

3+ years

Suggested timeframe

0.62% p.a.

Fees 2 + admin fees and costs

Who it suits

Suitable if you're an investor who:

  • wants a diversified portfolio with around 30% growth assets
  • wants to protect your savings but still invest in some assets that can provide higher returns
  • you may want to start using your money soon
  • is prepared to accept that this option might sacrifice higher long-term returns for short-term stability
  • is prepared to accept low to medium levels of volatility in returns from year to year.

Risk3

 
  • Very low
  • Low
  • Low to medium
  • Medium
  • Medium to high
  • High
  • Very high

Expected number of years of negative annual returns in any 20 years: 1 to less than 2. The risk is based on the standard risk measure (SRM).

Investment objective3

Accumulation and TTR Income accounts: CPI + 1.5% p.a.
Retirement Income accounts: CPI + 2.0% p.a.

Option size

Super assets: $3.2 billion
Pension assets: $1.8 billion

Conservative performance

As at 30 June 20241


Our Conservative option produced a 0.4% return for the June quarter and a 5.7% return over the year to June 2024. Longer term returns are above the option’s CPI plus 1.5% return objective, with the Conservative option posting returns of 4.7% p.a. over the ten years to the end of June 2024.

Global and Australian bonds reported small losses over the quarter as yields rose (and bond prices fell) in most of the world’s major bond markets.

Global share markets in aggregate produced positive returns over the June quarter and very strong returns over the year to June 2024. All the major share markets produced strong gains for the year.

While our infrastructure portfolio outperformed public markets over the June quarter and the year to June, our real estate and private equity portfolios underperformed. Longer-term returns for all our private asset portfolios are ahead of public markets

In the SuperRatings survey for June 2024, the performance of Australian Retirement Trust’s Conservative option was in line with the median fund over one year, while remaining ahead of the median fund over 3, 5, 7, and 10 years to the end of June 2024.

Accumulation accounts Retirement Income accounts4
10 years (p.a.) 4.74% 5.35%
7 years (p.a.) 4.39% 4.96%
5 years (p.a.) 3.72% 4.16%
3 years (p.a.) 3.23% 3.63%
1 year 5.71% 6.53%
3 months 0.37% 0.41%

Past performance isn't a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns shown are after investment fees and costs, transaction costs and investment taxes (where relevant) but before all other fees and costs.

Returns shown here for our Accumulation account are also the returns that apply for Transition to Retirement Income accounts. Tax generally doesn't apply to investment earnings in Retirement Income accounts.

Conservative asset allocation


 

Strategic asset allocation5
Australian shares
9.0%
International shares
8.5%
Unlisted assets and alternatives
23.5%
Fixed income
40.0%
Cash
19.0%
Total 100%

Learn more about what we invest in

Outlook and strategy

As at 30 June 2024


We don't design portfolios based on our own or anyone else’s short-term economic, market or geopolitical forecasts. However, our investment team and our external investment managers do seek to capitalise on opportunities that inevitably emerge during times of heightened market volatility.

We continue to hold a substantial allocation to the key unlisted asset classes – real estate, infrastructure, private equity and private debt. As a large superannuation fund, we have well-diversified portfolios of these assets that we expect will deliver strong, long-term returns, while reducing our members’ exposure to share market volatility.

At the end of June 2024, our Dynamic Asset Allocation (DAA) strategy slightly favoured shares and bonds over cash. Within DAA’s shares allocation, we preferred Japanese, UK, and European shares over shares in the US and Australia. In fixed income, we favour Australian, UK and US sovereign bonds.

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  1. Past performance isn't a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns shown are after investment fees and costs, transaction costs and investment taxes (where relevant) but before all other fees and costs. Returns shown in the Summary table above are for Accumulation accounts. To show the performance of the Accumulation and Retirement Income accounts, we have used Sunsuper for life Conservative option returns up to 28 February 2022, then Super Savings Conservative option returns after that date.
  2. Fees refers to investment fees and costs and transaction costs.
  3. When reading the objectives and/or risks please also read the information in the PDS that applies to you.
  4. Tax generally doesn't apply to investment earnings in Retirement Income accounts.
  5. From 1 July 2024. For more information on these asset classes, strategic asset allocations, and allowable ranges, read the PDS that applies to you.