Super ESG options can outperformBY JAMIE WILLIAMSON | TUESDAY, 13 NOV 2018 12:13PMThe average ESG investment option offered by Australia's superannuation funds outperformed the average MySuper default product in the 12 months to 30 September. Related News |
Editor's Choice
ASIC cancels AFSL of Australian Fiduciaries
ASIC has cancelled the Australian financial services licence (AFSL) of Queensland-based Australian Fiduciaries, which is currently in liquidation.
Treasury expects regulators to do the heavy lifting
Treasury has released new Statements of Expectations for APRA and ASIC, with an emphasis on how the regulators should promote a more sustainable and secured financial ecosystem.
NGS Super names head of strategy
NGS Super has appointed a former ASFA committe member as head of strategy, as the fund aims to strengthen its retirement offering.
SS&C axes jobs, shifts roles offshore
US software services giant SS&C Technologies has slashed 170 Australian roles in the operations, technology and delivery teams.
Products
Expert Feed
When geopolitics becomes a portfolio risk
Geopolitics is back - again - and Australian investors can no longer treat it as distant background noise.
Does association membership still matter?
With all the changes the advice sector has experienced in recent years, such as regulatory reform and increased education and professional standards ...
Digital assets and where they stand in 2026
So far in 2026 digital assets have captured the headlines largely for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't tell the full story.
Rethinking default design in a changing market environment
The evolution underway in the US DC system highlights the value of periodically reassessing default design assumptions.
Featured Profile
Blake Briggs
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL
FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL
Since becoming chief executive, Blake Briggs has renewed the Financial Services Council's influence, expanded the membership base, and strengthened its policy and advocacy credentials. Karren Vergara writes.
I'm not sure if it's a fair comparison to line up shares options next to balanced MySuper defaults. Comparing ESG shares options to standard shares options would be a better comparison, and would show a different story (from a strictly financial perspective)
Focusing on balanced options within workplace super funds, in the year to 30 June 2018 ESG options out-performed regular balanced options on average by 0.7%, by 0.1% pa over three years and by 0.5% pa over five years. Sure it's marginal but that's the point. The message to us at Rainmaker is that well-run investment options be they ESG or regular perform similarly. There are two subsidiary points. First is the massive range that exists within the sector. Eg, over five years, the performance of regular balanced options ranged from 2% pa to 12% pa while the performance of ESG balanced options ranged from 7% pa to 12% pa. Second is that funds should not use ESG as an excuse for under-performance. Put another way, all of us should stop drinking our own Koolaid.