Using the most recent returns from 30th September 2021, we will examine Mercer’s recent KiwiSaver Performance.
Mercer has been helping New Zealanders manage their retirement savings for over 60 years. The KiwiSaver Provider is experienced in investing in New Zealand and is well known for its local knowledge, expertise, and global reach.
During September, the Global Equity Markets had a challenging month due to a slowing global economy, worsening supply chain, and the potential Evergrande bankruptcy in China dented investor sentiment. Because of the Global Equity markets condition, there was a decline in Mercer’s funds’ recent returns.
To see if Mercer has the appropriate fund that aligns with your values, retirement goals and situation, complete National Capital’s KiwiSaver Healthcheck.
News about Mercer
Performance of Mercer KiwiSaver Funds
Mercer Cash Fund
Mercer Sustainable Conservative Fund
Mercer Sustainable Plus Moderate Fund
Mercer Sustainable Plus Balanced Fund
Mercer Sustainable Plus Growth Fund
Mercer Sustainable Plus High Growth Fund
Mercer Sustainable Plus Shares Fund
Mercer is no longer a default KiwiSaver provider. These changes only affect default members – people who have been automatically enrolled into the Mercer KiwiSaver scheme and have not made a KiwiSaver provider choice since. If you are a default member of Mercer and do nothing before the 1st of December, your KiwiSaver savings will be moved to a different provider and into a balanced investment option (from conservative) after the 1st of December.
|
1 month |
3 months |
1 year |
5 years |
|
|
Cash |
0.01% |
0.01% |
0.10% |
1.01% |
|
Sustainable Conservative |
-0.91% |
0.31% |
3.25% |
3.77% |
|
Sustainable Plus Moderate |
-1.15% |
0.73% |
7.76% |
4.98% |
|
Sustainable Plus Balanced |
-1.71% |
1.19% |
12.65% |
6.93% |
|
Sustainable Plus Growth |
-2.14% |
1.57% |
17.72% |
8.77% |
|
Sustainable Plus High Growth |
-2.36% |
1.88% |
21.55% |
10.35% |
|
Sustainable Plus Shares |
-2.59% |
0.88% |
22.09% |
11.65% |
Sourced from Mercer fund performance report
* These returns are to 30 September 2021 and are before tax and after fund management fees. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future performance, and return periods may differ.
Note: The following information is sourced from Mercer Monthly Performance updates published on 29th October 2021.
The Mercer Cash fund invests mainly in cash and short term interest-bearing investments, designed for investors who want no exposure to growth assets or for investors that may need the funds in the shorter term. The Cash fund has had a 1-month and 3-month return of 0.01%, far below the 5-year return of 1.01%. This means the fund’s producing returns, but not at the expected performance level.
*The following is Sourced from Mercer Cash fund update
Returns
Fees
The total annual fees for investors in the Mercer Cash fund are 0.28% per year, with an additional $27 administration fee only charged to clients over 18 or with a balance above $1000.
Investment mix
The investment mix is 100% cash and cash equivalents due to being a cash fund.
Top ten investments
This table shows Mercer’s top 10 investments in the Cash KiwiSaver fund, which make up 34.60% of the fund.
Mercer’s Conservative fund invests mainly in cash and fixed interest, with only limited investment in growth assets such as shares. This fund is suitable for investors who want to achieve slightly higher returns than those expected from investing solely in cash. The fund performs adequately with a 1-year return of 3.25%, close to the 5-year return of 3.77%. Due to current market conditions, the Conservative fund has probably been impacted by the latest 1-month return of -0.91.
*The following is Sourced from Mercer Conservative fund update
Returns
Fees
The total annual fees for investors in the Mercer Conservative fund are 0.47% per year, decreased from 0.52%, with an additional $27 administration fee only charged to clients over 18 or with a balance above $1000.
Investment mix
The investment mix shows the type of assets that the fund invests into.
Top ten investments
This table shows Mercer’s top 10 investments in the Conservative KiwiSaver fund, which make up 12.92% of the fund.
Mercer’s Moderate fund invests in cash and fixed interest, with a third of investments in growth assets. This fund is a good choice for investors who want to invest in a fund with a broad mix of assets and who are comfortable with a higher degree of volatility in returns than expected from the Conservative fund. The moderate fund has a 1-year of 7.76%, which is considerably higher than the 4.98% 5-year return, a positive performance for KiwiSaver investors.
*The following is Sourced from Mercer Moderate fund update
Returns
Fees
The total annual fees for investors in the Mercer Moderate fund are 0.73% per year, with an additional $27 administration fee only charged to clients over 18 or with a balance above $1000.
Investment mix
The investment mix shows the type of assets that the fund invests into.
Top ten investments
This table shows Mercer’s top 10 investments in the Moderate KiwiSaver fund, which make up 11.53% of the fund.
Mercer’s Balanced fund invests in a wide range of assets. The fund is aimed at investors who want a diversified investment with exposure to shares, tangible assets, fixed interest and cash, who are comfortable with a higher degree of volatility in returns and who can invest for the long term. The 1-year returns of 12.65% show an optimistic performance as the returns are almost double the 5-year returns of 6.93%.
*The following is Sourced from Mercer Balanced fund update
Returns
Fees
The total annual fees for investors in the Mercer Balanced fund are 1.10% per year, with an additional $27 administration fee that’s only charged to clients over 18 or with a balance above $1000.
Investment mix
The investment mix shows the type of assets that the fund invests into.
Top ten investments
This table shows Mercer’s top 10 investments in the Balanced KiwiSaver fund, which make up 74.54% of the fund.
Mercer’s Growth fund invests mainly in growth assets with a limited amount in cash and fixed interest. It’s suitable for investors wanting to invest principally in growth assets and are comfortable accepting more volatile returns to achieve higher longer-term returns. The 1-year return of the Growth fund is 17.72% which is over double the 5-year return of 8.77%, which is a strong performance for KiwiSaver investors.
*The following is Sourced from Mercer Growth fund update
Returns
Fees
The total annual fees for investors in the Mercer Growth fund are 1.17% per year, with an additional $27 administration fee only charged to clients over 18 or with a balance above $1000.
Investment mix
The investment mix shows the type of assets that the fund invests into.
Top ten investments
This table shows Mercer’s top 10 investments in the Growth KiwiSaver fund, which make up 12.00% of the fund.
Mercer’s High Growth fund invests almost entirely in growth assets such as shares and tangible assets, with only a small amount invested in cash and fixed interest. This fund is suitable for KiwiSaver investors wanting to invest predominately in growth assets, who want higher long-term returns and are comfortable with increased volatility in returns.
The high growth fund had high 1-year returns of 21.55%, significantly higher than the 5-year returns of 10.35%. Despite the negative 1-month returns of -2.36%, the 1-year returns remain high, showing an optimistic performance for the KiwiSaver fund for investors.
*The following is Sourced from Mercer High Growth fund update
Returns
Fees
The total annual fees for investors in the Mercer High Growth fund are 1.21% per year, with an additional $27 administration fee only charged to clients over 18 or with a balance above $1000.
Investment mix
The investment mix shows the type of assets that the fund invests into.
Top ten investments
This table shows Mercer’s top 10 investments in the High Growth KiwiSaver fund, which make up 12.79% of the fund.
Mercer’s Shares fund invests almost entirely in the share market. The fund fits investors seeking exposure primarily to shares and who are comfortable with a high level of volatility in returns. The 1-month returns were a disappointing -2.59%. However, similar to the High Growth fund, the Shares fund had high 1-year returns of 22.09% and were significantly higher than the 5-year returns of 11.65%. The remarkable performance of the fund fully displays the aspects of the Shares funds high volatility and high returns and how it can be a positive long term investment for KiwiSaver investors.
*The following is Sourced from Mercer Shares fund update
Returns
Fees
The total annual fees for investors in the Mercer Shares fund are 1.06% per year, with an additional $27 administration fee only charged to clients over 18 or with a balance above $1000.
Investment mix
The investment mix shows the type of assets that the fund invests into.
Top ten investments
This table shows Mercer’s top 10 investments in the Shares KiwiSaver fund, which make up 15.34% of the fund.
Mercer KiwiSaver funds have been sourced from Mercer KiwiSaver Funds. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future performance, and return periods may differ.