Socially Conscious Balanced

Option: Socially Conscious Balanced

Investment approach

The Socially Conscious Balanced option offers a diversified portfolio for members who want to grow their super over the long term and invest in an option which has additional exclusions and an additional approach to sustainable investing.

The sustainable investment approaches of integration and stewardship also apply to this option, as relevant to the asset class and investment style. Thematic investing, where investments are selected to access specific trends, such as investment in climate-related opportunities, may also be used when selecting external investment managers for this option.

Summary

10-year returns as at 30 June 2025

6.97% p.a.

Returns over the last 10 years¹

5+ years

Suggested timeframe

0.66% p.a.

Fees² + admin fees and costs

Who it suits

Suitable if you're an investor who:

wants a diversified portfolio with around 70% growth assets
wants to grow your super over the long term and invest in an option which has additional exclusions and an additional approach to sustainable investing
is prepared to accept the option can have negative returns over the shorter term
is prepared to accept the option may not be suitable if you have a low risk tolerance, are seeking to preserve your super, or are likely to need access to your super in the next few years.

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: 3 to less than 4. The risk is based on the standard risk measure (SRM)^.

Investment objective

Accumulation and TTR Income accounts:

CPI + 3.5% p.a.

Retirement Income accounts:

CPI + 4.0% p.a.

Option size

Super assets:

$806.3 million

Pension assets:

$263.1 million

^For more definitions

Socially Conscious Balanced performance

As at 30 June 2025¹

World share markets enjoyed remarkably strong returns over the June quarter, despite ongoing concerns over global trade, and attacks on Iran and its nuclear infrastructure by Israel and the US.

After share prices fell sharply in early in April in response to President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariff announcements, the president’s decision soon after to pause most of those tariffs for 90 days sparked a massive resurgence in world share markets.

Australian and global fixed income returns were positive over the quarter, with Australian bonds generally outperforming global markets.

Our unlisted asset portfolios generally underperformed public markets in the quarter, particularly given the strong returns from equity markets.

For this investment option, Australian and international stocks that were excluded as a result of screens that apply to these asset classes in the option tended to underperform the broader market. Accordingly, these exclusions contributed positively to returns.

The 10-year return of 6.97% p.a. is above the option’s return objective of CPI plus 3.5% p.a.

	Accumulation accounts	Retirement Income accounts⁴
10 years (p.a.)	6.97%	7.72%
7 years (p.a.)	7.40%	8.21%
5 years (p.a.)	8.91%	9.93%
3 years (p.a.)	9.68%	10.87%
1 year	10.15%	11.44%
3 months	4.64%	5.21%

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.

Socially Conscious Balanced asset allocation

	Strategic asset allocation
Australian shares	25.5%
International shares	27.5%
Unlisted assets and alternatives	28%
Fixed income	17%
Cash	2%
Total	100%

Details of the exclusions for the Socially Conscious Balanced option including the exceptions to these exclusions are outlined in our Super Savings Investment Guide and QSuper Investment Guide.

From 1 July 2025. For more information on these asset classes, strategic asset allocations, and allowable ranges, read the PDS that applies to you.

What we invest in

Portfolio holdings disclosure information for all of Australian Retirement Trust’s products in line with the specific requirements of Australian law can be found here.

View all holdings

Outlook and strategy

As at 30 June 2025

The Socially Conscious Balanced option continues to hold a substantial allocation to the key unlisted asset classes, particularly real estate, infrastructure and private equity. As a large fund, we maintain well-diversified portfolios of these assets that we expect will deliver strong, long-term returns, while reducing our members’ exposures to share market volatility.

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

At the end of June 2025, our active asset allocation slightly favoured bonds over shares and cash. We also sought to take advantage of significant differences in relative value between countries. Within the shares allocation, we preferred Japanese shares over shares in the US and Australia. In fixed income, we were overweight in France, UK, Italy and Australia and maintained underweight positions in Canadian, German and Japanese bonds. Our currency exposure is underweight the US dollar, while favouring Asian and Latin American currencies.