Ten years since the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers, Australia’s superannuation funds have accumulated over $1 trillion in retirement savings, providing a windfall for members prepared to take a long-term view.

According to data from leading superannuation research house SuperRatings, members with a balance of $100,000 at the end of August 2008, just days before the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) hit, would today have a nest egg worth $193,887 if they remained in a balanced option. In contrast, members who panicked and shifted their savings to a capital stable option would have a far smaller balance of $164,277 (see chart below).

Growth of $100,000 invested over 10 years to 31 August 2018*

Select index

SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index
SR50 Growth (77-90) Index
SR25 Conservative Balanced (41-59) Index
SR50 Capital Stable (20-40) Index
SR25 Secure (0-19) Index

Source: SuperRatings

Interim results only

Source: SuperRatings

*Interim results

Investors who had stuck it out with their growth option would have fared even better, with $100,000 growing to $201,209 over the decade. The results show the importance of taking a long-term view, even in the face of severe crises such as the GFC.

“The failure of Lehman Brothers ushered in a period of intense crisis for the global financial markets, including in Australia,” said SuperRatings Executive Director Kirby Rappell. “We hoped then that the market crash would prove cyclical and that we would see a relatively quick recovery, but of course that did not happen.”

“But even in the face of the Great Recession, Australia’s superannuation funds have shown us that taking a long-term view and sticking with your investment strategy pays off. Super funds held their nerve and refrained from making rash decisions, and members continue to reap the benefits. After 10 years the GFC looks more like a speed hump.”

Interim results only. Median Balanced Option refers to ‘Balanced’ options with exposure to growth style assets of between 60% and 76%. Approximately 60% to 70% of Australians in our major funds are invested in their fund’s default investment option, which in most cases is the balanced investment option. Returns are net of investment fees, tax and implicit asset-based administration fees

According to SuperRatings’ data, the median balanced option grew at an estimated 1.0% in August, while the median growth option delivered 1.3%. Over ten years, results remain diminished by the GFC, with the median balanced option returning only 6.6% p.a. However, over the past seven years the median balanced option has returned a very healthy 9.3% p.a., with super funds riding the global share market rally which began in 2009.

“The lesson of the GFC is useful to bear in mind when confronting the risks and uncertainties in today’s market,” said Mr Rappell. “There are some significant risks, including the threat of tariffs on global trade and investment, central bank tightening, and the currency and bond crisis that has engulfed emerging markets. Funds need to maintain discipline and stick to their long-term return objectives in the interest of their members.”

Best and worst performing options over 10 years to 31 August 2018*

Source: SuperRatings

*Interim results

Australia’s top super funds take a long-term view

While the GFC continues to cast a shadow over long-term returns, Australia’s top performing funds have nevertheless delivered some impressive results. A comparison of balanced option returns shows that CareSuper remains ahead of the pack with an annual return of 7.6% over the past decade, followed closely by Equip MyFuture and HOSTPLUS.

Source: SuperRatings

*Interim results.

Source: SuperRatings

# IOOF Employer Super Core – IOOF MultiMix Balanced Growth Trust

*Interim results

Release ends

Warnings: Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Any express or implied rating or advice presented in this document is limited to “General Advice” (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001(Cth)) and based solely on consideration of the merits of the superannuation or pension financial product(s) alone, without taking into account the objectives, financial situation or particular needs (‘financial circumstances’) of any particular person. Before making an investment decision based on the rating(s) or advice, the reader must consider whether it is personally appropriate in light of his or her financial circumstances, or should seek independent financial advice on its appropriateness. If SuperRatings advice relates to the acquisition or possible acquisition of particular financial product(s), the reader should obtain and consider the Product Disclosure Statement for each superannuation or pension financial product before making any decision about whether to acquire a financial product. SuperRatings research process relies upon the participation of the superannuation fund or product issuer(s). Should the superannuation fund or product issuer(s) no longer be an active participant in SuperRatings research process, SuperRatings reserves the right to withdraw the rating and document at any time and discontinue future coverage of the superannuation and pension financial product(s). Copyright © 2018 SuperRatings Pty Ltd (ABN 95 100 192 283 AFSL No. 311880 (SuperRatings)). This media release is subject to the copyright of SuperRatings. Except for the temporary copy held in a computer’s cache and a single permanent copy for your personal reference or other than as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth.), no part of this media release may, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, micro-copying, photocopying, recording or otherwise), be reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written permission of SuperRatings. This media release may also contain third party supplied material that is subject to copyright. Any such material is the intellectual property of that third party or its content providers. The same restrictions applying above to SuperRatings copyrighted material, applies to such third party content.

// GLOBAL PARAMETERS

var chartHeight = 376;
var chartWidth = 700;
var startAmt = 100000;
var numAxes = 8;

// DATA

// SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index

var balancedPrices = [
100000,
93352.9,
90449.62481,
90338.1908722341,
88669.7348250148,
85423.9791817451,
87337.4763154162,
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187423.884626677,
189935.364680675,
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193887.368807122
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// SR50 Growth (77-90) Index

var growthPrices = [
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87758.876655,
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81293.8577967872,
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105492.957431785,
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109014.184319231,
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188528.465114334,
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193315.881546062,
196058.260641674,
198626.62385608,
201208.769966209
];

// SR25 Conservative Balanced (41-59) Index

var australianPrices = [
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94930,
92794.075,
92929.36876135,
91913.6507607884,
89271.1333014158,
90756.8727729512,
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112859.67080888,
113198.249821307,
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115725.477496981,
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120158.662996843,
122370.904141278,
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126341.915474269,
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148657.552992657,
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154439.139546305,
156925.609693001,
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158273.989855776,
159983.348946218,
161747.325351699,
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170117.944772059,
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168924.705593301,
171061.603119057,
171708.044917244,
173330.685941711,
174735.011159211,
176290.152758528
];

// SR50 Capital Stable (20-40) Index

var internationalPrices = [
100000,
96633.6,
95482.3072896,
95701.9165963661,
95292.1209895004,
93600.6858419368,
94570.5761486309,
95931.1630276813,
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99037.1635831672,
100894.110400352,
102435.671513159,
102189.825901527,
103197.724154394,
104229.701395938,
103781.513679935,
104396.522930002,
105868.513903315,
106196.494559388,
105324.408946066,
105250.681859804,
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110235.344056632,
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112041.746277334,
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116105.757232294,
116745.383848887,
116292.645250321,
116649.082208013,
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118690.651754238,
119818.212945903,
120561.085866168,
121012.828254908,
122209.161075037,
123633.753265688,
124898.65019535,
125044.282021477,
126707.370972363,
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126297.00080703,
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129229.956590595,
130422.749089927,
130918.355536468,
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131960.391628442,
133345.975740541,
133345.975740541,
134119.382399836,
135125.277767835,
135564.164670025,
136445.33174038,
137251.041424307,
136959.931965446,
137968.367944508,
138803.076570572,
139843.128023315,
141529.216617892,
143435.473636519,
144067.737204308,
143788.245794132,
144333.490822183,
143063.356102948,
144839.916859035,
143246.677773585,
142705.92156499,
144668.841516116,
144379.503833084,
144534.567420201,
143652.906558938,
143574.184766143,
144860.753035833,
145909.400027059,
147628.358668778,
147730.074607901,
149680.850243098,
149980.211943584,
149990.860538632,
149420.895268585,
149719.737059123,
151276.822324538,
151428.099146862,
152351.810551658,
153433.508406575,
154586.254355233,
155281.583327323,
155272.421713907,
155398.813465182,
155934.473175196,
156473.850517909,
158255.305306056,
159374.012059264,
159654.350946477,
160276.364297764,
160200.713853816,
160016.803434311,
161074.194471405,
161513.604873923,
162562.958764789,
163395.118550706,
164277.45219088
];

// SR25 Secure (0-19) Index

var cashPrices = [
100000,
99940,
100319.772,
100712.423587608,
100903.777192424,
100918.509143895,
101126.401272731,
101328.654075276,
101514.592155505,
101778.530095109,
102171.496999806,
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102949.466537987,
103162.160135854,
103496.096048214,
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104024.592652918,
104368.081857858,
104691.622911617,
105010.618286629,
105285.011032212,
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107737.172115605,
108178.894521279,
108579.156431008,
109013.473056732,
109446.256544767,
109873.096945292,
110147.779687655,
110455.532584103,
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113297.904578954,
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113993.257642985,
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115080.53084547,
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115910.600960432,
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116633.254461631,
116957.728175543,
117261.818268799,
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120130.643568131,
120370.904855267,
120613.69297036,
120875.424684106,
121141.350618411,
121414.039798653,
121733.844379482,
122017.971172264,
122172.201887826,
122431.695644636,
122703.12671388,
122975.159545804,
123296.124712219,
123548.881767879,
123792.643711607,
123954.069319007,
124160.328890354,
124223.774818417,
124467.129193286,
124546.290287453,
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125019.200997083,
125157.222194984,
125319.926583838,
125474.947333022,
125725.897227688,
125980.869347265,
126245.303192025,
126525.567765112,
126816.576570971,
127043.451426457,
127199.58782826,
127326.787416088,
127385.103084725,
127597.836206876,
127814.752528428,
128032.037607726,
128236.888867899,
128451.813893641,
128670.181977261,
128790.359927227,
128991.272888714,
129197.658925336,
129332.928874231,
129645.138564533,
129862.294171629,
130007.869803395,
130171.939735087,
130243.92481776,
130348.119957615,
130553.418246548,
130719.090534303,
130934.384876413,
131160.508559094,
131383.481423645
];

// Dates

var dates = [“Sep 2008″,”Oct 2008″,”Nov 2008″,”Dec 2008″,”Jan 2009″,”Feb 2009″,”Mar 2009″,”Apr 2009″,”May 2009″,”Jun 2009″,”Jul 2009″,”Aug 2009″,”Sep 2009″,”Oct 2009″,”Nov 2009″,”Dec 2009″,”Jan 2010″,”Feb 2010″,”Mar 2010″,”Apr 2010″,”May 2010″,”Jun 2010″,”Jul 2010″,”Aug 2010″,”Sep 2010″,”Oct 2010″,”Nov 2010″,”Dec 2010″,”Jan 2011″,”Feb 2011″,”Mar 2011″,”Apr 2011″,”May 2011″,”Jun 2011″,”Jul 2011″,”Aug 2011″,”Sep 2011″,”Oct 2011″,”Nov 2011″,”Dec 2011″,”Jan 2012″,”Feb 2012″,”Mar 2012″,”Apr 2012″,”May 2012″,”Jun 2012″,”Jul 2012″,”Aug 2012″,”Sep 2012″,”Oct 2012″,”Nov 2012″,”Dec 2012″,”Jan 2013″,”Feb 2013″,”Mar 2013″,”Apr 2013″,”May 2013″,”Jun 2013″,”Jul 2013″,”Aug 2013″,”Sep 2013″,”Oct 2013″,”Nov 2013″,”Dec 2013″,”Jan 2014″,”Feb 2014″,”Mar 2014″,”Apr 2014″,”May 2014″,”Jun 2014″,”Jul 2014″,”Aug 2014″,”Sep 2014″,”Oct 2014″,”Nov 2014″,”Dec 2014″,”Jan 2015″,”Feb 2015″,”Mar 2015″,”Apr 2015″,”May 2015″,”Jun 2015″,”Jul 2015″,”Aug 2015″,”Sep 2015″,”Oct 2015″,”Nov 2015″,”Dec 2015″,”Jan 2016″,”Feb 2016″,”Mar 2016″,”Apr 2016″,”May 2016″,”Jun 2016″,”Jul 2016″,”Aug 2016″,”Sep 2016″,”Oct 2016″,”Nov 2016″,”Dec 2016″,”Jan 2017″,”Feb 2017″,”Mar 2017″,”Apr 2017″,”May 2017″,”Jun 2017″,”Jul 2017″,”Aug 2017″,”Sep 2017″,”Oct 2017″,”Nov 2017″,”Dec 2017″,”Jan 2018″,”Feb 2018″,”Mar 2018″,”Apr 2018″,”May 2018″,”Jun 2018″,”Jul 2018″,”Aug 2018”];

// All prices

var allPrices = balancedPrices.concat(growthPrices, australianPrices, internationalPrices, cashPrices);

// FUNCTIONS

var balancedPoints = calcpoints(balancedPrices, chartHeight, chartWidth);
createchart(balancedPoints, balancedPrices);
createaxes(balancedPrices);

function removeChart(){
var lines = document.getElementsByClassName(“line”);
while(lines.length > 0){
lines[0].parentNode.removeChild(lines[0]);
};
var labels = document.getElementsByClassName(“price-label”);
while(labels.length > 0){
labels[0].parentNode.removeChild(labels[0]);
};
var polyline = document.getElementById(“polyline-id”);
polyline.setAttribute(“points”, “”);
var polylineFill = document.getElementById(“polyline-fill”);
polylineFill.setAttribute(“points”, “”);
};

function report(portfolio){
if(portfolio == “balanced”){
removeChart();
createaxes(balancedPrices);
var balancedPoints = calcpoints(balancedPrices, chartHeight, chartWidth);
createchart(balancedPoints, balancedPrices);
} else if(portfolio == “growth”){
removeChart();
createaxes(growthPrices);
var growthPoints = calcpoints(growthPrices, chartHeight, chartWidth);
createchart(growthPoints, growthPrices);
} else if(portfolio == “australian”){
removeChart();
createaxes(australianPrices);
var australianPoints = calcpoints(australianPrices, chartHeight, chartWidth);
createchart(australianPoints, australianPrices);
} else if(portfolio == “international”){
removeChart();
createaxes(internationalPrices);
var internationalPoints = calcpoints(internationalPrices, chartHeight, chartWidth);
createchart(internationalPoints, internationalPrices);
} else if(portfolio == “cash”){
removeChart();
createaxes(cashPrices);
var cashPoints = calcpoints(cashPrices, chartHeight, chartWidth);
createchart(cashPoints, cashPrices);
};
};

function numberWithCommas(num){
var parts = num.toString().split(“.”);
parts[0] = parts[0].replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, “,”);
return parts.join(“.”);
};

function dataconvert(prices, dates){
var data = [];
for(var i = 0; i < prices.length; i++){
var datum = {
price: prices[i],
date: dates[i]
};
data.push(datum);
};
return data;
};

function calcdollar(data, startAmt){
var oneData = [];
for(var i = 0; i < data.length; i++){
oneData.push(data[i] + 1);
};
var dollarAmts = [];
var start = startAmt;
var accum = start;
for(var i = 0; i < oneData.length; i++){
accum = oneData[i] * accum;
dollarAmts.push(accum);
};
return dollarAmts;
};

function calcpoints(prices, chartHeight, chartWidth){
var points = [];
var xPoint = 0;
var step = chartWidth / prices.length;
var max = Math.max.apply(null, allPrices);
var min = Math.min.apply(null, allPrices);
var range = max – min;
var firstInterval = range / numAxes;
var interval = 20000;

var minAxis = 60000 // startAmt – (interval * Math.ceil((startAmt – min) / interval));
var maxAxis = 220000 // minAxis + (numAxes * interval);
var axisRange = maxAxis – minAxis;

for(var i = 0; i < prices.length; i++){
if(prices[i] === maxAxis){
var yPoint = 0;
} else if(prices[i] === minAxis){
var yPoint = chartHeight;
} else {
var yPoint = ((maxAxis – prices[i]) / axisRange) * chartHeight;
}
var xandy = {
x: xPoint,
y: yPoint
};
points.push(xandy);
var xPoint = xPoint + step;
};
return points;
};

function createaxes(prices){
var max = Math.max.apply(null, allPrices);
var min = Math.min.apply(null, allPrices);
var range = max – min;
var firstInterval = range / numAxes;
var interval = 20000;

var minAxis = 60000 // startAmt – (interval * Math.ceil((startAmt – min) / interval));
var maxAxis = 220000 // minAxis + (numAxes * interval);
var axisRange = maxAxis – minAxis;

var step = chartHeight / numAxes;
var accum = step;
var d = "";

// DRAW AXES

for(var i = 1; i minAxis; i = i – interval){
accum = accum + step;
var div = document.createElement(“div”);
div.style.position = “absolute”;
div.className = “price-label”;
div.style.left = chartWidth + 5 + “px”;
div.style.top = accum – 12 + “px”;
var commaNum = numberWithCommas(priceLabel);
div.innerHTML = “$” + commaNum;
document.getElementById(“main-chart”).appendChild(div);
priceLabel = priceLabel – interval;
};
};

function createchart(points, prices){

// DRAW CHART LINE

var pairs = [];
for(var i = 0; i < points.length; i++){
var xPoint = points[i].x;
var yPoint = points[i].y;
pairs.push(xPoint);
pairs.push(yPoint);

var chart = document.getElementById("chart");
var point = chart.createSVGPoint();
point.x = xPoint;
point.y = yPoint;
var polyline = document.getElementById("polyline-id");
polyline.points.appendItem(point);
};

// DRAW CHART FILL

for(var i = 0; i < points.length; i++){
var xPoint = points[i].x;
var yPoint = points[i].y;
pairs.push(xPoint);
pairs.push(yPoint);

var chart = document.getElementById("chart");
var point = chart.createSVGPoint();
point.x = xPoint;
point.y = yPoint;
var polyline = document.getElementById("polyline-fill");
polyline.points.appendItem(point);
};

var num = points.length – 1;

var chart = document.getElementById("chart");
var point = chart.createSVGPoint();
point.x = points[num].x;
point.y = chartHeight;
var polyline = document.getElementById("polyline-fill");
polyline.points.appendItem(point);

var chart = document.getElementById("chart");
var point = chart.createSVGPoint();
point.x = 0;
point.y = chartHeight;
var polyline = document.getElementById("polyline-fill");
polyline.points.appendItem(point);

var chart = document.getElementById("chart");
var point = chart.createSVGPoint();
point.x = 0;
point.y = points[0].y;
var polyline = document.getElementById("polyline-fill");
polyline.points.appendItem(point);

var left = 0;
var step = chartWidth / points.length;

// CREATE INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS

for(var i = 0; i < points.length; i++){
var top = points[i].y;
var div = document.createElement("div");
div.id = left;
div.className = "line";
div.style.position = "absolute";
div.style.height = chartHeight + "px";
div.style.width = step + "px";
div.style.left = left – (step / 2) + "px";
div.style.top = "0px";
document.getElementById("chart-container").appendChild(div);

var div = document.createElement("div");
div.className = "cursor";
div.style.height = chartHeight – points[i].y + "px";
div.style.top = chartHeight – (chartHeight – points[i].y) + "px";
div.style.left = "2px";
div.style.position = "absolute";
div.style.zIndex = "2";
document.getElementById(left).appendChild(div);

var div = document.createElement("div");
div.className = "dot";
div.style.position = "absolute";
div.style.top = points[i].y – 7 + "px";
div.style.left = 0 – (step / 2) + "px";
div.style.zIndex = "3";
document.getElementById(left).appendChild(div);

var div = document.createElement("div");
div.className = "label-chart";
div.style.position = "absolute";
div.style.top = chartHeight + "px";
div.style.left = "-50px";
div.style.zIndex = "3";
var num = Math.round(prices[i]);
var commaNum = numberWithCommas(num);
div.innerHTML = dates[i] + ": $" + commaNum;
document.getElementById(left).appendChild(div);

var left = left + step;
};
};

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have become a popular way for investors to gain exposure not only to passive indices but to a range of market factors.

Smart beta ETFs, which follow rule-based strategies to provide factor exposure, are increasingly recommended by financial advisers because they provide a relatively cheap and effective way of meeting specific investment objectives or creating greater diversification.

But while the smart beta concept might seem easily commoditised, there can be significant differences in investment outcomes even among those investment products that appear to offer something very similar.

For example, the below chart shows the performance of three well-known dividend-focused ETFs, each of which seeks to generate above market income. Over the past three years, these ETFs have exhibited markedly different performance despite sharing the same income objective.

Growth of $10,000 over three years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Lonsec
IHD: iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opportunities ETF
SYI: SPDR MSCI Australia Select High Dividend Yield Fund
ZYAU: ETFS S&P/ASX 300 High Yield Plus ETF

In order to understand these diverging results, investors need to get under the hood to see how individual ETFs determine their index construction rules. Differences in how fund managers determine things like the quality, liquidity, and weights of certain stocks can result in funds with very different allocations. The chart below shows the sector breakdown of each fund’s top 10 stock holdings, revealing very different compositions.

Top 10 holdings—sector breakdown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Lonsec
IHD and ZYAU holdings as at 15 August 2018. SYI holding as at 31 July 2018

Both the ETFS and iShares products have similar exposure to Financials and Materials, but the ETFS fund has a greater allocation to defensive REITs and Utilities, while the iShares fund has diversified more across other sectors. Its top 10 holdings represent only 62% of its total portfolio value, compared to 75% for the ETFS fund. Meanwhile, the SPDR fund’s top 10 holdings are dominated by Financials, with smaller allocations across Consumer Staples and Materials, and no exposure to REITs or Utilities.

What this means is that financial advisers need to do more than simply ‘read the packet’ when selecting investment products. Financial advisers should have a thorough understanding of how individual smart beta products operate to ensure they deliver outcomes in line with their clients’ investment objectives.

Thank you for joining in the conversation

Thank you for attending this year’s Retirement Symposium and joining in the conversation. We hope you found the insights into why “Not All Income is Created Equal” and an improved understanding of the real-life income needs of retirees will be of benefit in your practice and when building retirement portfolios for your clients. If you want to take another look at what our speakers had to say, you can download the presentation slides here.

Not All Income is Created Equal

It is easy to become complacent when volatility is low and markets continue to rise. However, in an environment of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, a return of volatility is a real risk for retirement portfolios. A cohesive investment strategy, is important. Lonsec believes retirement portfolios should be designed to focus specifically on the retirees’ primary objectives and key risks, namely, Yield, Growth and Risk Control.

To keep the conversation going, we have shared some additional insights with you to draw out some of the themes covered by our speakers.

We hope you enjoyed this year’s Retirement Symposium and we look forward to seeing you at our next event soon.

Insights from our Partners

Alliance Bernstein: The Rise of Populism: Strategic Implications
Challenger: Corporate Bonds – More Risk for Less Return
Invesco: Invesco Senior Secured Loans Strategy
Investors Mutual: Equity Income Fund Factsheet
Lazard: The dangers of drawdown
Pendal: Income & Fixed Interest 
Robeco: Guide to factor investing in equity markets

You can also access the latest retirement insights from our partners here.

Best regards,

Veronica Klaus
Head of Investment Consulting
Lonsec Research

lonsecresearch.com.au
lonsecretire.com.au

 

 

Following an extensive market search, Lonsec is pleased to announce the appointment of Libby Newman to the role of Executive Director of Lonsec Research.

Ms Newman has more than 25 years of experience in investment management and funds research, including most recently as Lonsec’s Head of Manager Research in Melbourne. Since joining Lonsec in 2007, Ms Newman has held several senior research roles covering fixed income and multi-asset funds, and has been a key member of Lonsec’s Investment Committee and Manager Selection Committee, which manage Lonsec’s model portfolios.

Prior to joining Lonsec, Ms Newman spent 10 years as part of the fixed income team managing Suncorp’s insurance mandates, and has experience in operations, investment performance systems and risk management at Suncorp, Abbey National, DST International, and boutique credit arbitrage manager Artesian.

As Executive Director, Libby will lead Lonsec Research’s investment analyst and data analytics teams, supported by the diverse knowledge and experience of Lonsec’s leadership team.

“We are very excited to announce Libby as our new Executive Director of Lonsec Research,” said Lonsec CEO Charlie Haynes. “Libby has developed an intimate understanding of the research needs of financial advisers and is widely respected throughout the industry for her sheer depth of investment product knowledge.”

Ms Newman will step into the new role at a time of growth for the Lonsec Group, which includes superannuation research house SuperRatings. Lonsec’s iRate platform remains number one among financial advisers and dealer groups, while Lonsec’s investment consulting team continues to expand, with a focus on providing bespoke investment solutions.

“The quality of our investment research forms the basis of everything we do at Lonsec,” said Ms Newman. “We are continually evolving our tools to meet the new challenges and opportunities within the financial services industry, and I am excited to be playing a part in that.”

Release ends

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This document is published by Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561, AFSL 421 445 (Lonsec).

Please read the following before making any investment decision about any financial product mentioned in this document.

Warnings: Lonsec reserves the right to withdraw this document at any time and assumes no obligation to update this document after the date of publication. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Any express or implied recommendation, rating, or advice presented in this document is a “class service” (as defined in the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (NZ)) or limited to “general advice” (as defined in the Corporations Act (C’th)) and based solely on consideration of data or the investment merits of the financial product(s) alone, without taking into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs (“financial circumstances”) of any particular person.

Warnings and Disclosure in relation to particular products: If our general advice relates to the acquisition or possible acquisition or disposal or possible disposal of particular classes of assets or financial product(s), before making any decision the reader should obtain and consider more information, including the Investment Statement or Product Disclosure Statement and, where relevant, refer to Lonsec’s full research report for each financial product, including the disclosure notice. The reader must also consider whether it is personally appropriate in light of his or her financial circumstances or should seek further advice on its appropriateness. It is not a “personalised service” (as defined in the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (NZ)) and does not constitute a recommendation to purchase, hold, redeem or sell any financial product(s), and the reader should seek independent financial advice before investing in any financial product. Lonsec may receive a fee from Fund Manager or Product Issuer (s) for reviewing and rating individual financial product(s), using comprehensive and objective criteria. Lonsec may also receive fees from the Fund Manager or Financial Product Issuer (s) for subscribing to investment research content and services provided by Lonsec.

Disclaimer: This document is for the exclusive use of the person to whom it is provided by Lonsec and must not be used or relied upon by any other person. No representation, warranty or undertaking is given or made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information presented in this document, which is drawn from public information not verified by Lonsec. Conclusions, ratings and advice are reasonably held at the time of completion but subject to change without notice. Lonsec assumes no obligation to update this document following publication. Except for any liability which cannot be excluded, Lonsec, its directors, officers, employees and agents disclaim all liability for any error, inaccuracy, misstatement or omission, or any loss suffered through relying on the information.

Copyright © 2018 Lonsec Research Pty Ltd, ABN 11 151 658 561 AFSL 421 445. All rights reserved. Read our Privacy Policy here.

Originally published by Investor Strategy News, 12 August 2018

There’s a whole industry that has developed around providing advice for good “leadership”. It’s actually worth billions, this new industry. Someone who doesn’t care too much about the theory but who delivers, to the delight of thousands of Richmond football club supporters each week, is Brendon Gale.

Gale is a keynote speaker at the upcoming SuperRatings and Lonsec ‘Day of Confrontation’ conference in Melbourne on October 30 at the Grand Hyatt.  He is the grandson of a Richmond player who had a handful of games in the 1920s, Jack Gale, and the son of Don Gale, who was a champion of the Tasmanian league. His older brother, Michael, also played for Richmond. Brendon Gale took over the running of the Richmond club in 2010, then at a low point of its illustrious history, and set about rebuilding the club, from membership, then talent, through to its overall culture. His story is interesting on a range of levels.

A good chance to win the premiership again this year, Brendon Gale says that, back in 2010, it was a transformational period where he was trying to turn around a business. His first task was to get the membership numbers up. “I knew we’d lose more matches than we won,” he says, “but we had to build a strong organisational platform. We then had to build a business and make sure that we had enough money to do the things we needed to do. And then, we knew, football success would come.”

He broadened the definition of “success” though. It’s not just about scoring more points than the opposition on any particular day. “We didn’t over-promise to our supporters. We were open and transparent with everything we did,” he says. “People started to take pride again in their memberships and also in our numbers.”

What “success” looks like, he says, is having a “strong premiership club”. This means having a strong culture, being bold and regularly competing for the premiership.

James Kerr wrote a business book called ‘Legacy’ on the culture of the All Blacks, probably the most successful national sporting team in history. A few things stand out:

– “We sweep the sheds”, Kerr wrote about what the All Blacks did, meaning the insistence on humility among senior players. Everyone gets down and does the menial tasks together.

– “Legacy” refers to what the players leave behind after they’ve gone.

– As an aside, and unlike other teams, they banned alcohol or a “beer culture” which began to creep into the team, partly due to sponsorship by Lion Nathan.

– They instilled a sense of pride in every single person who worked for the side – not just the coach and players – from physios to cleaners.

Of course it probably helps if every boy in New Zealand wants to be an All Black and every girl wants to be his girlfriend.

Gale says he has read that book “probably 10 times”. He notes, though, while the All Blacks are certainly a great sporting team, they did “choke” more than once during World Cups. A true competitor, Gale is never going to give too much away to an opposing team, not even one which plays a different code of football.

He agrees with the All Blacks’ insistence on humility among the players – “sweep the sheds”. The mantra for Richmond this year, for instance, is “humble and hungry”.

As a chief executive he is aware that a big football club, such as Richmond, is a diverse business. It’s a consumer business, it’s a media business, it’s a sponsorship business. And then there’s the business of competing every weekend with talented young sportsman trying to win a game of footy.

Gale doesn’t like referring to the players as “kids”. They are “young men”, he says. But, as all fans know, young men who are well paid and full of testosterone tend to get themselves into trouble from time to time. The problem with this is that first-grade footballers are considered role models to the fans, whether they like it or not.

Gale says that in recent years the standards of expected behaviour have increased. There is a lot of public pressure on them, both on and off the field. He says, though: “we are the beneficiaries of the public’s investment in our code”. He expects his young men to behave themselves. And he’d really like them to win the comp.

Volatility has died down since the dramatic spike witnessed in February 2018, but a return to near-historic lows should raise eyebrows among investors. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX Index, a measure of implied volatility in the Australian share market, closed last week at 9.79 points, falling back below double-digits and a far cry from February’s high of 22.16.

S&P/ASX 200 VIX Index


Source: Lonsec, Bloomberg

While fundamentals still provide some support for a low volatility environment, with interest rates at ultra-low levels and earnings growth generally living up to expectations, investors should be prepared for more heightened volatility in the second half of 2018.

As the chart below shows, over the past 10 years the August and September period has seen the biggest average moves in the volatility index, and this is true of both the Australian and US markets.

Average daily change in volatility index, 2008-2018


Source: Lonsec, Bloomberg

While volatility is not always a bad thing, shares are particularly vulnerable when a low-volatility environment comes to a grinding halt.

With the US Fed due to hike rates again in September, and the UK grasping for a Brexit deal ahead of the October European Summit, there are reasons to be nervous. And the fears are not only confined to developed economies: Turkey’s currency has plunged to record lows and is having knock-on effects in other emerging markets.

On the trade front, while the US-China tariff war is yet to hit developed markets hard, the negative impact is starting to creep into measures of manufacturing activity and export volumes in the US and Asia.

In other words, this is no time to be ignoring history.

Release ends

In the wake of Facebook’s plummeting share price, there has been much talk of the so-called FAANG shares and their earnings performance. But investors should not be misled by the market’s bucket mentality, which has a tendency to group together certain stocks, often for superficial reasons.

The recent round of earnings announcements shows that the five FAANG shares—Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google (which trades as Alphabet)—are hitting or exceeding their earnings per share (EPS) estimates, but have experienced wildly divergent share price reactions.

FAANG earnings per share (EPS) and share price reactions

 
Source: Lonsec, Bloomberg, company reports

While the FAANG shares have largely risen together in recent months, Facebook’s violent decoupling from the FAANG growth trajectory shows it is a mistake to think of these shares as behaving as a group. While Facebook met the market’s EPS target, it undershot the consensus revenue estimate and suffered the consequences.

In contrast, Amazon reported strong EPS growth and slightly down-beat revenue versus consensus, leading to only a moderate fall in price. Netflix reported lower than expected revenue and subscriber growth and saw a small bump in its price.

While the FAANG shares may have much in common—they are all technology-related shares—they are fundamentally different businesses. What they have most in common is that they are, with the exception of Netflix, among the highest value shares in the index. When they move in the same direction they can move the market with them, but when they diverge it can leave investors wondering how meaningful the FAANG label is.

FAANG market cap (US $trillion)

FAANG market cap (US $trillion)
Source: Lonsec, Bloomberg

Release ends

Investors sticking to the traditionally high quality, conservative part of global bond markets may be surprised to learn that they are more exposed to riskier credit now than prior to the GFC.

Unlike high quality AAA-rated bonds, a BBB bond is only one or two downgrades away from ‘high-yield’ or ‘junk’ status. When the economy turns sour, these companies can quickly find themselves relegated.

At the start of 2000, the BBB-rated market was worth around US$400 billion, or one third of the total investment grade market. By the end of June 2018, this had grown to $2.3 trillion, compared to a total market value of $5 trillion (see chart below).

The value of the US BBB-rated corporate bond market is growing

Chart - US corporate bond market value vs US BBB-rated Corporate Bond market value

Source: Lonsec, Bloomberg

Bloomberg Barclays US Corporate Bond Index

Globally, companies are increasingly prepared to push their debt ratios higher to fund expansion, and they have found an audience of investors keen to squeeze extra yield from their portfolios. This demand is reflected in US spreads on BBB bonds, which have moved lower and converged with AAA spreads over the past two years (see chart below).

AAA and BBB spreads have converged

Graph - Spread of AAA-rated bonds vs Spread of BBB-rated bonds

Source: Lonsec, FRED

ICE BofAML US Corporate Option-Adjusted Spread

Firms have also sought to lock in access to cheap finance for as long as they can, meaning investors are not only exposed to lower quality credit, but may also be exposed to bonds that are more sensitive to moves in both underlying yields and a widening in credit spreads. In contrast to the global landscape, Australia’s investment grade bond market is dominated by financials, meaning exposure to BBB bonds is comparatively lower.

Investment managers at the conservative end of the risk spectrum, such as pension funds and insurers, rely on the investment grade market for stable and predictable returns. But the ‘risking-in’ trend means that even the safest parts of an investor’s portfolio might not be as safe as they think, and could be exposed to ‘glittering junk’ – companies that appear to offer safe yields but are at risk of being crushed by debt when their equity value falls.

Release ends

SuperRatings’ response to the Productivity Commission’s draft report on efficiency and competitiveness of superannuation indicates support for a review of the current system, with insight provided into some of the draft findings and recommendations where we foresee implementation issues that could potentially present challenges.

View the full response here

What can fund managers learn from the most successful World Cup teams? For every on-field win, there is a lot going on behind the scenes, and the same is true for Australia’s leading investment managers. Here are some universal tips on how funds can set themselves up for lasting success, based on the match-winning habits of the stars of the world game.

1. Beware the star player model

After winning the match against Portugal, Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani was struck out with a calf injury and forced to sit out a two-goal loss to France. In the risk management literature, this is known as key person risk. If your star portfolio manager leaves, your fund may underperform and you may be forced to change up your entire investment strategy. Successful teams reduce their reliance on a single star player by developing their other players and fully utilising the field. Having said that, it doesn’t hurt to have a few flamboyant strikers.

2. Maintain discipline

Winning teams are able to maintain focus and stick to their game plan even when the match is moving against them. Belgium’s astounding comeback against Japan from two goals down shows that discipline wins games and complacency loses them. Don’t panic when volatility rears its head or the market corrects. Stick to your investment strategy and make sure you are doing what you told your investors you would do. Timing the market is hard, and the chance of success diminishes rapidly when you are overcome by fear.

3. Take responsibility

When things go pear-shaped, avoid losing your head and admit when you have made a mistake. As we learned from the bizarre theatrics of Brazil’s forward Neymar, a refusal to take responsibility on and off the field will quickly see your fans disappear. Likewise, fund managers who blame the market for not doing what it should have done are unlikely to build trust with their investors.

4. Remember to score

This may seem like an obvious point, but scoring goals is the key to winning matches. Don’t be like the Australian team and overload your defence at the expense of scoring opportunities. Balance risk and return appropriately and if you have an active mandate, use it. If you are an active equity manager wondering why your investment product is being overtaken by smart beta alternatives, remember what you are there to do: generate alpha. Locking up play might work in the early rounds, but it is not a World Cup winning strategy.

5. Review your strategies

Successful teams continually assess their strategies against different sides by reviewing game footage and analysing their opponents. Investment managers should plan for a range of different market scenarios, including the worst-case scenario, and test investment hypotheses in a clinical manner. Assess your fund’s track record over long time periods and through different economic and market conditions. A lot has changed since 1966, and what worked then may no longer work now. The best teams can adapt to new ways of playing while identifying what still works.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This document is published by Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561, AFSL 421 445 (Lonsec).

Please read the following before making any investment decision about any financial product mentioned in this document.

Warnings: Lonsec reserves the right to withdraw this document at any time and assumes no obligation to update this document after the date of publication. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Any express or implied recommendation, rating, or advice presented in this document is a “class service” (as defined in the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (NZ)) or limited to “general advice” (as defined in the Corporations Act (C’th)) and based solely on consideration of data or the investment merits of the financial product(s) alone, without taking into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs (“financial circumstances”) of any particular person.

Warnings and Disclosure in relation to particular products: If our general advice relates to the acquisition or possible acquisition or disposal or possible disposal of particular classes of assets or financial product(s), before making any decision the reader should obtain and consider more information, including the Investment Statement or Product Disclosure Statement and, where relevant, refer to Lonsec’s full research report for each financial product, including the disclosure notice. The reader must also consider whether it is personally appropriate in light of his or her financial circumstances or should seek further advice on its appropriateness. It is not a “personalised service” (as defined in the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (NZ)) and does not constitute a recommendation to purchase, hold, redeem or sell any financial product(s), and the reader should seek independent financial advice before investing in any financial product. Lonsec may receive a fee from Fund Manager or Product Issuer (s) for reviewing and rating individual financial product(s), using comprehensive and objective criteria. Lonsec may also receive fees from the Fund Manager or Financial Product Issuer (s) for subscribing to investment research content and services provided by Lonsec.

Disclaimer: This document is for the exclusive use of the person to whom it is provided by Lonsec and must not be used or relied upon by any other person. No representation, warranty or undertaking is given or made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information presented in this document, which is drawn from public information not verified by Lonsec. Conclusions, ratings and advice are reasonably held at the time of completion but subject to change without notice. Lonsec assumes no obligation to update this document following publication. Except for any liability which cannot be excluded, Lonsec, its directors, officers, employees and agents disclaim all liability for any error, inaccuracy, misstatement or omission, or any loss suffered through relying on the information.

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Important information: Any express or implied rating or advice is limited to general advice, it doesn’t consider any personal needs, goals or objectives.  Before making any decision about financial products, consider whether it is personally appropriate for you in light of your personal circumstances. Obtain and consider the Product Disclosure Statement for each financial product and seek professional personal advice before making any decisions regarding a financial product.