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In this article you can discover the top 10 performing Conservative pension funds over 1 year and 10 years. We recommend that you also read our explanatory article Introduction to SuperGuide’s top 10 performing super fund lists which can help you understand how to compare the different risk categories that super investment options sit within.
What is an Conservative investment option?
Investment options with a 21–40% allocation to growth assets are termed Conservative by Chant West, a research company that has been analysing super fund performance for more than 20 years.
Conservative investment options may appeal to people who want a significant portion of their money in defensive assets for greater certainty.
How does a Conservative investment option behave?
In the short term, investment options in the Conservative risk category will generally experience the least volatility of all diversified investment options across all risk categories.
In the long term, a Conservative-style investment option will generally enjoy more certainty but should not be expected to grow as much as investment options in other risk categories with greater exposure to growth assets.
Top 10 Conservative investment options (pension funds): 1 year to June 2021
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Super | Mod. Conservative | 12.7% |
| Energy Super | Stable | 12.6% |
| Aust Catholic & Ret | Conservative | 11.1% |
| TelstraSuper | Conservative | 10.7% |
| VISSF | Conservative | 10.7% |
| Sunsuper | Conservative | 10.7% |
| Super SA | Conservative | 10.6% |
| Russell | Defensive | 10.3% |
| MLC | Horizon 2 | 10.2% |
| Hostplus | Capital Stable | 10.1% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Conservative options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
- Pension fund rankings: All Growth category (96–100%)
- Pension fund rankings: High Growth category (81–95%)
- Pension fund rankings: Growth category (61–80%)
- Pension fund rankings: Balanced category (41–60%)
- Pension fund rankings: Conservative category (21–40%)
2020-21 was a roller coaster year for superannuation and the global economy in general, but the median 1 year return for Conservative investment options across the board was 8.9%.
Below you can find the top 10 performing Conservative investment options over 1 year for previous time periods. Click the arrow to see the top 10 for each period, or continue reading to discover the top 10 performing Conservative investment options over 10 years.
Top 10 Conservative investment options (pension funds): 1 year to December 2020
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Suncorp | Multi-Manager Conservative | 7.1% |
| CSCri | Income Focused | 4.9% |
| VISSF | Conservative | 4.8% |
| Australian Ethical | Conservative | 4.8% |
| Cbus | Conservative | 4.6% |
| Australian Catholic & Retirement | Conservative | 4.5% |
| Australian Catholic Super & Retirement | Conservative Balanced | 4.4% |
| HESTA | Conservative | 4.4% |
| Vision Super | Conservative | 4.3% |
| AustralianSuper | Stable | 3.9% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Conservative options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Conservative investment options (pension funds): 1 year to June 2020
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| CSCri | Income Focused | 4.4% |
| Suncorp | Multi-Manager Conservative | 3.6% |
| Cbus | Conservative | 3.2% |
| Australian Ethical | Conservative | 3.1% |
| VISSF | Conservative | 3.1% |
| Vision Super | Conservative | 2.6% |
| Australian Catholic Super & Retirement | Conservative | 2.3% |
| HESTA | Conservative | 2.3% |
| HESTA | Defensive | 2.1% |
| UniSuper | Capital Stable | 2.0% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Conservative options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Playing the long game
It’s important to keep an eye on how your pension is performing for you year to year (and interesting to see how other funds have performed), but for most people, superannuation will be the longest-held investment we ever have, and our lens on super should reflect that.
Longer-term figures are more significant because they incorporate the ups and downs over that entire period, and allow us to see which investment managers can consistently deliver superior performance, regardless of changing external conditions.
Top 10 Conservative investment options (pension funds): 10 years to June 2021
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Super | Mod. Conservative | 7.7% |
| AustralianSuper | Stable | 7.3% |
| VISSF | Conservative | 7.3% |
| VicSuper | Capital Stable | 7.2% |
| TelstraSuper | Conservative | 7.1% |
| Prime Super | Conservative | 7.0% |
| Aon smartMonday | Moderate | 6.8% |
| Energy Super | Stable | 6.8% |
| Cbus | Conservative | 6.7% |
| UniSuper | Capital Stable | 6.7% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Conservative options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Again median figures can provide good context. In the ten-year period to June 2021, Conservative investment options as a category delivered a median return of 6.5%.
A small difference in performance makes a big difference over time
Although the difference between the top performer and the median may not seem that significant (1.2% per year), the difference builds up significantly over time due to compounding. We have developed the SuperGuide Super fees and returns calculator to help readers understand the difference the fees they pay and projected returns may make over time.
For example, for a 67-year-old with $500,000 in super achieving 7.7% per year, their super balance would grow to approximately $961,585 by age 85 (assuming 0.8% in fees and not withdrawing any super) .
All other things being equal, achieving 6.5% instead would mean a super balance of approximately $779,829 – a difference of $181,756, or approximately 19% less.
But don’t forget sequencing risk
When you are nearing or in retirement it is important to allow for sequencing risk, particularly if you need to draw down a significant part of your super balance.
Below you can find the top 10 performing Conservative investment options over 10 years for previous time periods. Click the arrow to see the top 10 for each period.
Top 10 Conservative investment options (pension funds): 10 years to December 2020
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Super | Moderately Conservative | 7.4% |
| VISSF | Conservative | 7.2% |
| AustralianSuper | Stable | 7.2% |
| TelstraSuper | Conservative | 6.9% |
| Prime Super | Conservative | 6.9% |
| Australian Catholic & Retirement | Conservative | 6.8% |
| Australian Catholic Super & Retirement | Conservative Balanced | 6.8% |
| Aon smartMonday | Moderate | 6.8% |
| Vision Super | Conservative | 6.6% |
| Energy Super | Stable | 6.6% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Conservative options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Conservative investment options (pension funds): 10 years to June 2020
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Super | Moderately Conservative | 7.5% |
| VISSF | Conservative | 7.3% |
| AustralianSuper | Stable | 7.3% |
| TelstraSuper | Conservative | 7.0% |
| UniSuper | Capital Stable | 7.0% |
| Prime Super | Conservative | 6.8% |
| Cbus | Conservative | 6.7% |
| Vision Super | Conservative | 6.7% |
| Aon smartMonday | Moderate | 6.6% |
| CareSuper | Capital Stable | 6.6% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Conservative options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
© Zenith CW Pty Ltd ABN 20 639 121 403 (Chant West), Authorised Representative of Zenith Investment Partners Pty Ltd ABN 27 103 132 672, AFSL 226872 under AFS Representative Number 1280401 2020.
The data provided by Chant West is based on information supplied by third parties and does not contain all the information required to evaluate the nominated service providers, you are responsible for obtaining further information as required. The data provided by Chant West does not constitute financial product advice. However, to the extent that this data is advice it is General Advice (s766B Corporations Act) and Chant West has not taken into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific person who may access or use this data. It is not a specific recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any product(s) and is subject to change at any time without prior notice. Individuals should consider the appropriateness of any advice in light of their own objectives, financial situations or needs and should obtain a copy of and consider any relevant PDS or offer document before making any decision. Data is provided in good faith and is believed to be accurate, however, no representation, warranty or undertaking in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the data is provided. Data provided is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced, modified or distributed without the consent of the copyright owner. Except for any liability which can not be excluded, Chant West does not accept any liability whether direct or indirect, arising from use of this data. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Full details regarding Chant West’s research methodology, processes, ratings definitions are available at www.chantwest.com.au and Chant West’s Financial Services Guide is available at www.chantwest.com.au/financial-services-guide.
