Our goal is to deliver strong investment returns over time so our members can achieve a sustainable and dignified retirement.
Our vision and approach
We invest for the long term, aiming to grow members’ super over their working life, while protecting their savings.
We do this by setting performance objectives for each of our investment options that seek to balance risk versus reward, and by constantly monitoring economic and investment conditions.
As active investors, we also instruct our investment managers to look for opportunities to outperform the market and generate additional returns, rather than relying on index managers who use passive strategies.
How we invest your super
First Super’s Board sets the investment strategy for the Fund. We appoint specialist fund managers to implement that strategy, and we employ the services of an asset consultant, Frontier Advisors, to select and monitor the performance of our managers.
As a member, you should know that your super contributions are invested in a wide range of asset classes, both within Australia and around the world. These include:
Shares/equities
Property
Infrastructure
Cash, bonds and fixed income
And more.
By spreading your money across different asset classes, we increase the likelihood of strong returns for your super. This is because weak performance in one asset type can be offset by positive performance from another asset.
Choosing your investments
As a member, you can decide where your super is invested by choosing one or a combination of First Super’s five investment options.
Responsible investing
At First Super, we take steps to ensure our members’ retirement savings are protected against environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks. There’s more than enough evidence to support the belief that companies with sound ESG risk management outperform ESG non-believers.
What are ESG risks? Examples include carbon emissions, water usage, fair labour practices, global human rights, board structure and diversity, and standards for running a company.
By incorporating ESG risks as part of First Super’s investment strategy, we consider the overall impact of an investment. This means looking beyond just the possible investment return and asking questions like ‘Is it sustainable?’ and ‘Is it well run?’ and ‘Are employees treated fairly?’
At the heart of our ESG application is how investment returns are generated. If it’s not sustainable, or if it’s the result of bad corporate behaviour, then it’s not right for us. Here’s how we go about applying our ESG risk management:
We understand the way we operate has a broader economic and social impact beyond financial outcomes for members. Our ESG and Voting Policy is guided by the principles of the United-Nations-backed Principles of Responsible Investment and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).
Through our private equity program, we apply an ESG evaluation framework developed with our private equity mandate manager, Stafford Partners. We are prepared to turn down potential private equity investments if they pose unacceptable ESG risks.
First Super investment managers
Balanced (MySuper)
Asset class
Fund Manager
Australian Fixed Income
Blackrock Aus Bond Index Fund
IFM Aus Credit Opportunities Mandate
IFM Specialised Credit Fund
Australian Listed Equities
Allan Gray Australian Equities Fund
Ausbil Australian Equities Fund
Eley Griffiths Aust Equities Small Companies Mandate
With your First Super membership, you can get advice about your investment options at no extra cost. It’s all part of our service to you. Call us today on 1300 360 988 or email us.
