Choosing and switching funds
Choosing a fund to invest in can be daunting – but the good news is you don’t have to be an investment expert to choose the right fund for you.
When it comes to investing your hard-earned money, it’s important to make the decision that’s right for you. Smart investing isn’t just about ‘what’ fund to invest in – it’s about asking yourself ‘why’, too. Whether you’re choosing a fund for the first time or reviewing your existing fund choice, we’re here to show you how.
Let's break it down.
How to choose the right fund for you
Choosing the right fund to put your hard-earned KiwiSaver savings in can seem complicated – but it doesn’t have to be. Basically, it comes down to two questions:
- What are you investing for – your first home or retirement?
- When do you plan to withdraw your KiwiSaver savings?
Your investment goals and timeframe
The key thing to think about is why you’re investing, and when you’re likely to want access to your savings.
For example:
- Let’s say you’re 30 years old and you’re saving for retirement. With at least 35 years until retirement, there’s plenty of time for your savings to grow and recover from the inevitable market movements along the way. A growth fund may be a good choice, because growth funds typically deliver higher returns over the long term – and you’re in it for the long haul.
- But maybe you’d like to buy a home in the near future. In this case, you’ll want to know exactly how much money you have available for your house deposit. A conservative fund may be a good choice. It has a lower level of risk so it’s less likely to fluctuate in value – which gives you more certainty about how much money you have, when you need it.
- Or perhaps you’re just incredibly busy and want a fund that moves seamlessly with you as you move through life. Some KiwiSaver schemes offer options that switch funds automatically for you. For example, our Lifetimes option moves your savings automatically as you get older, into the fund that’s considered appropriate for an average person of your age.
Importance of the right fund
Our expert explains the importance of choosing the right fund, reviewing your fund, and what to consider.
Transcript – Importance of the right fund
[Text on screen: Ask an ANZ expert, Importance of the right fund. Sam, KiwiSaver Expert – ANZ]
Sam: The big KiwiSaver question. Are you in the right fund?
[Text on screen: Fund choice]
Sam: A lot of us enrol – smart move – but don’t spend a heap of time researching our first fund.
Firstly, don’t panic. KiwiSaver is all about the long game, so it should evolve with you over time - kind of like the clothes you wear, or the home you live in.
[Text on screen: Age and stage]
Sam: They change with age and stage and the fund you invest in is no different.
[Text on screen: Short or long time to withdrawal?]
Sam: When you’re younger, the general guide is to invest in a more aggressive fund and take advantage of potentially bigger returns in the long run, because you have time to ride out the ups and downs.
[Image on screen: Line graph with big ups and down, but an overall upward trend]
Sam: But, say you decide you want to buy your first home using your KiwiSaver savings. As you get closer to making your first home withdrawal, you might opt for a less risky, lower return fund, so that the lump-sum you’ll need doesn’t fluctuate too much.
[Image on screen: Line graph with small ups and downs, but an overall upward trend]
Sam: It’s a good idea for you to review your fund at least once a year. We have seven for you to choose from.
[Text on screen: Cash Fund, Conservative Fund, Conservative Balanced Fund, Balanced Fund, Balanced Growth Fund, Growth Funds, High Growth Fund]
Sam: Again, don’t panic. We have a tool to help you narrow it down.
[Text on screen: Fund Chooser Tool]
Sam: One thing I will highlight though is our Lifetimes option, where we take care of the fund choice for you and move it gradually through different funds to reduce your risk as you get closer to retirement.
[Text on screen: Lifetimes option]
Sam: How easy? Plus, you can go back to managing your own fund choice any time you want.
The upshot? Take your time. Do your research. And try not to obsess over the fund you’re in. Just check in on it now and then and base your next move armed with the facts.
[Text on screen: ANZ logo. ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited is the issuer and manager of the ANZ KiwiSaver Scheme. PDS available at anz.co.nz. We recommend seeking financial advice about your situation and goals before getting a financial product]
Choosing the right fund to put your hard-earned investment savings in can seem complicated – but it doesn’t have to be. Basically, it comes down to two questions:
- When do you plan to withdraw from your investment fund?
- How much risk are you willing to take?
Risk vs reward
It’s important to understand that all investments have a level of risk. With investing, as with most things in life, there’s a trade-off between risk and reward.
Different funds have different levels of risk and reward. For example:
- Growth funds invest mainly in growth assets like shares and property, which can have a higher level of risk. That means they’re more likely to fluctuate in value in the short term – for example, if there’s a market downturn. However, history shows they usually bounce back faster when markets recover, and typically deliver higher returns over the long term.
- Conservative funds invest mainly in income assets like fixed interest (e.g. government bonds) and cash, which have a lower level of risk. That means their value is more stable (i.e. they don’t fluctuate so much), but they also typically deliver lower returns over the long term.
- Balanced funds invest more or less equally in both growth and income assets. As the name suggests, they try to achieve a balance between risk and reward that is somewhere between growth and conservative funds.
What's your risk appetite?
It’s really important to choose a fund with a level of risk that you’re comfortable with. Ask yourself which fund you’d be happier with:
- A fund that can have big swings in value from time to time, but has the potential for better returns over the long term
- One that is more consistent, but with lower long-term returns, or
- Something in the middle.
Worried you’ll make a mistake? Don’t be. It’s easy to change your fund if your situation changes (more on that below).
To switch or not to switch?
Once you’ve chosen a fund, it makes sense to keep an eye on it to make sure it’s still meeting your needs. Set time aside regularly to review your appetite for risk, your goals, and your investment timeframe. These may change as your situation changes. If you’re investing for your retirement, for example, what was appropriate for your 30 year old self (with a long time until retirement) might not make sense when you’re 60, with just a few more working years to go.
If you’re thinking about switching funds, it’s important to understand why. Is it because of a change in your circumstances, or is it a reaction to market events (such as a market downturn)?
Switching in market downturns
When investment markets are down, your fund balance can go down too. When that happens, it can be tempting to try and ‘course correct’ by switching to a lower-risk fund (for example, from a growth or balanced fund to a conservative fund). At this point, take a step back and ask yourself ‘why’.
Remember, it’s normal for your balance to fluctuate. Shifting from a growth or balanced fund to a conservative fund may ‘lock in’ your losses, which can be an expensive mistake.
Higher risk funds can fall faster in market downturns, but they can recover faster too – and over the long term, history shows us that they generally recover those losses (and continue to grow). So by switching to a lower risk fund in a downturn, you could miss out when the market recovers.
When your balance falls, it’s natural to want to take action. But if you’re investing for the long term and investment goals haven’t changed, doing nothing is often the best option.
Free investment advice
The future is bright when you feel confident about your investment choices. If you need help choosing the right investment option for you, talk to one of our ANZ Investment Advisers. They can provide free advice tailored to your individual situation.
Take the first step today – call us for a free, no-obligation chat with one of our qualified Investment Advisers on 0800 269 238. See ANZ’s financial advice provider disclosure.
Important information
ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited is the issuer and manager of the ANZ KiwiSaver Scheme, ANZ Default KiwiSaver Scheme and ANZ Investment Funds. Important information is available under terms and conditions. Download the guide and product disclosure statement.
ANZ Investments is the issuer and manager of the ANZ Default KiwiSaver Scheme. The ANZ Default KiwiSaver Scheme is no longer a default scheme and is closed to new members. Important information is available under terms and conditions and by searching `ANZ Default KiwiSaver Scheme' on the offer register at disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz.
Past performance does not indicate future performance. The actual performance any given investor realises will depend on many things, is not guaranteed and may be negative as well as positive.
We recommend seeking financial advice about your situation and goals before getting a financial product. Please talk to ANZ by calling 0800 736 034, or for more information about ANZ's financial advice service or to view ANZ's financial advice provider disclosure statement see anz.co.nz/fapdisclosure