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Lifecycle Investment Strategy

Growing your super at every stage of life

Our lifecycle option

The Lifecycle Investment Strategy is what we invest your super in if you open an Accumulation account with us and don't choose another investment option (our default). We've designed it so you don't have to do anything – your investment strategy automatically changes based on your age, helping you get the most out of super, at every stage of life.

Designed for your life stage

When you’re younger and trying to grow your balance, we’ll aim for growth. When you’re nearing retirement, we gradually switch you to a more stable strategy that helps protect your hard-earned savings.

Leave the hard work to us

We take care of your super so you can rest easy. Until you turn 50, we invest your super in the High Growth Pool to grow over the long term. Once you turn 50, we'll start gradually transferring your super to our lower-risk pools – the Balanced Pool and Cash Pool.

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How we invest your super

There are 3 pools that make up the Lifecycle Investment Strategy. Each pool has a different risk level. This graph shows you an example of how your super may be split across these pools, based on your age.

For more information, including how this transition happens in detail, download the Super Savings Investment Guide.

Download the guide
0%
0%
100%
<50
1%
9%
90%
51
2%
18%
80%
52
3%
27%
70%
53
4%
36%
60%
54
5%
45%
50%
55
6%
54%
40%
56
7%
63%
30%
57
8%
72%
20%
58
9%
81%
10%
59
10%
90%
0%
60
12%
88%
0%
61
14%
86%
0%
62
16%
84%
0%
63
18%
82%
0%
64
20%
80%
0%
65+
Age
High Growth Pool
Balanced Pool
Cash Pool

Investment pools

10-year returns as at 30 June 2024 (updated quarterly)

High Growth Pool#

High

Risk level

10-year returns: 9.28% p.a.

Investment objective: CPI + 4.0% p.a.

Fees (p.a.): 0.74% + admin fees & costs

Balanced Pool

High

Risk level

10-year returns: 8.06% p.a.

Investment objective: CPI + 3.5% p.a.

Fees (p.a.): 0.65% + admin fees & costs

Cash Pool

Very low

Risk level

10-year returns: 1.74% p.a.

Investment objective: View details

Fees (p.a.): 0.07% + admin fees & costs

Pool performance and asset allocation

High Growth Pool performance overview and asset allocation

Performance as at 30 June 20241


Performance

Accumulation accounts
10 years (p.a.) 9.28%
7 years (p.a.) 9.34%
5 years (p.a.) 8.80%
3 years (p.a.) 7.60%
1 year 11.35%
3 months  0.31%

Asset allocation

Strategic asset allocation2
Australian shares
32.5%
International shares
32.5%
Unlisted assets and alternatives
31.5%
Fixed income
1.5%
Cash
2.0%
Total
100%

1. Past performance isn't a reliable indicator of future performance. Investment returns are the compound annualised return, and are net of investment fees and costs, transaction costs, and investment taxes. The High Growth Pool commenced on 1 July 2024, and has identical investments to the High Growth option. To show our performance for the High Growth Pool, we've used the returns of the High Growth option up to 30 June 2024, and the returns of the High Growth Pool from 1 July 2024. Check monthly performance figures.

2. For more information on these asset classes, strategic asset allocations, and allowable ranges, read the PDS that applies to you.

Balanced Pool performance overview and asset allocation

Performance as at 30 June 20241


Performance

Accumulation accounts
10 years (p.a.) 8.06%
7 years (p.a.) 7.89%
5 years (p.a.) 7.22%
3 years (p.a.) 6.11%
1 year 9.74%
3 months  0.29%

Asset allocation

Strategic asset allocation2
Australian shares
25.75%
International shares
26.5%
Unlisted assets and alternatives
29.5%
Fixed income
16.25%
Cash
2.0%
Total
100%

1. Past performance isn't a reliable indicator of future performance. Investment returns are the compound annualised return, and are net of investment fees and costs, transaction costs, and investment taxes. The investment Pool commenced on 28 February 2022 and adopted the investment strategy of the pre-merger Sunsuper investment Pool. To show the investment performance for these investment options, we have used the returns for the Sunsuper investment Pool up to 28 February 2022, then the Super Savings Pool returns after that date. Check monthly performance figures.

2. For more information on these asset classes, strategic asset allocations, and allowable ranges, read the PDS that applies to you.

Cash Pool performance overview and asset allocation

Performance as at 30 June 20241


Performance

Accumulation accounts
10 years (p.a.) 1.74%
7 years (p.a.) 1.70%
5 years (p.a.) 1.70%
3 years (p.a.) 2.47%
1 year 4.27%
3 months  1.17%

Asset allocation

Account Strategic asset allocation2
Cash3
100%
Total
100%

1. Past performance isn't a reliable indicator of future performance. Investment returns are the compound annualised return, and are net of investment fees and costs, transaction costs, and investment taxes. The investment Pool commenced on 28 February 2022 and adopted the investment strategy of the pre-merger Sunsuper investment Pool. To show the investment performance for these investment options, we have used the returns for the Sunsuper investment Pool up to 28 February 2022, then the Super Savings Pool returns after that date. Check monthly performance figures.

2. For more information on these asset classes, strategic asset allocations, and allowable ranges, read the PDS that applies to you.

3. This pool invests 45% in interest bearing accounts with authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) including National Australia Bank Limited (ABN 12 004 044 937) 20%, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ABN 48 123 123 124) 20%, and ME Bank Limited (ABN 56 070 887 679) 5%. The remaining 55% is invested in other cash assets which include money at call, bank bills and term deposits. Maintaining a specific allocation requires regular rebalancing and the actual allocation will vary between rebalancing dates.

illustration

Lifecycle Investment Strategy FAQs

The Lifecycle Investment Strategy is our MySuper investment option and is where we automatically put your super if you open an Accumulation account and don't choose another investment option. It personalises your investment strategy based on your age.

Some of our members just want the peace of mind of knowing their super is in the hands of someone they trust. That's why if you don't make an investment choice, we'll automatically invest your super in our Lifecycle Investment Strategy.

Your age can play a big part in how you might invest your super, which is one of the benefits of our Lifecycle Investment Strategy. When you’re younger and trying to grow your balance, we’ll automatically aim for growth. When you’re nearing retirement, we gradually switch you to a more stable strategy that helps protect your hard-earned savings.

You can easily check what your super is invested in through Member Online. If you need help, contact us.

Once you turn 50, we begin moving your super between the lifecycle investment pools. Between the ages of 50 and 65 we generally move a portion of your account balance monthly. When you’re aged 50-60, we move your money out of the High Growth Pool and move it to the Balanced and Cash pools so that by age 60 you’re invested around 90% in the Balanced Pool and around 10% in the Cash Pool.

When you're aged 60-65, we move some of your money out of the Balanced Pool and move it to the Cash Pool so that by age 65 you're invested around 80% in the Balanced Pool and around 20% in the Cash Pool. After age 65, the actual proportion you have in the Balanced and Cash pools will vary depending on investment earnings and contributions.

No, you don't have to have your super invested in the Lifecycle Investment Strategy. We offer a wide range of investment options to suit your individual needs and the level of risk you're comfortable with.

If you'd like to update your investment strategy, you can check and change your options anytime in Member Online. If you need help, contact us.

Growth assets can potentially earn higher returns over the long term, but they're considered high-risk in the short term. Shares are an example of a growth asset.

Defensive or low-risk assets provide more protection and stability in the short term, but they typically don't offer much growth – sometimes not even enough to keep up with inflation! Cash is an example of a defensive asset.

The Balanced Pool is one of the 3 pools that make up the Lifecycle Investment Strategy. The Balanced investment option is one of our Diversified options and is a separate investment option you can choose if you'd like more control over where your super is invested. The Balanced Pool and the Balanced option have the same underlying investment strategy.

Learn more about the Balanced option

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We’re available to speak by phone or live chat between 8:00am–7:30pm AEST/AEDT Monday to Friday.

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* Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates (collectively, “Bloomberg”) do not approve or endorse this material and disclaim all liability for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of the use of all or any part of this material.
# The High Growth Pool commenced on 1 July 2024, and has identical investments to the High Growth option. To show our performance for the High Growth Pool, we've used the returns of the High Growth option up to 30 June 2024, and the returns of the High Growth Pool from 1 July 2024.