Question 1

How many KiwiSaver funds are there?

Accepted Answer

There are currently 470+ KiwiSaver funds available in New Zealand across 30+ providers. These include defensive, conservative, balanced, growth, and aggressive funds, as well as specialized options like ethical funds, passive index funds, and lifecycle funds. Each fund has different investment strategies, fees, and risk profiles to suit different investor needs.

Question 2

What are the different types of KiwiSaver funds?

Accepted Answer

KiwiSaver funds are categorized by risk level: Defensive (lowest risk, 0-10% growth assets), Conservative (10-30% growth assets), Balanced (40-60% growth assets), Growth (60-90% growth assets), and Aggressive (90-100% growth assets). There are also specialized funds like ethical/responsible investment funds, passive index funds, and target date/lifecycle funds that automatically adjust risk as you age.

Question 3

Which KiwiSaver fund has the best returns?

Accepted Answer

Top-performing KiwiSaver funds based on 5-year returns include: Milford Active Growth (9.8% p.a.), Fisher Funds Growth (9.0% p.a.), and Generate Focused Growth (8.7% p.a.). However, past performance doesn't guarantee future returns. The 'best' fund depends on your risk tolerance, investment timeframe, and whether you're comfortable with short-term volatility for long-term gains.

Question 4

What KiwiSaver fund should I choose?

Accepted Answer

Choose a fund based on: 1) Time until retirement (longer = can take more risk with growth/aggressive funds), 2) Risk tolerance (comfortable with ups and downs = growth funds, prefer stability = conservative funds), 3) Purpose (first home in 3-5 years = conservative, retirement in 30+ years = aggressive), and 4) Fees (lower fees mean more money for you long-term). Use our comparison tool to find funds matching your profile.

Question 5

Can I switch between KiwiSaver funds?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can switch KiwiSaver funds at any time for free. If switching within the same provider (e.g., from conservative to growth fund), it typically takes 1-2 weeks. If switching to a different provider entirely, the process takes 2-3 weeks and your new provider handles everything. You can switch as often as you like, but frequent switching may not be optimal due to market timing risks.

Question 6

What are KiwiSaver fund fees?

Accepted Answer

KiwiSaver fund fees range from 0.27% (low-cost index funds like Kernel) to 1.5%+ annually (actively managed funds). Fees include management fees (covering investment management and administration) and sometimes performance fees. A 1% difference in fees can cost you over $100,000 in lost retirement savings over 40 years. Always compare total fees (including PIR tax) when choosing a fund.

PROVIDER	FUND NAME	RISK LEVEL	1Y RETURN💸	5Y RETURN	FEE💰	Value	Start Date
Generate	Conservative Fund	Conservative	4.34%	N/A	1.21%	$130M	16-05-2022
NZ Funds	Life Cycle - Age 75	Growth	1.51%	5.28%	1.55%	$1M	01-11-2010
Smartshares	Quaystreet Australian Equity Fund	Growth	3%	9.89%	1.37%	$3M	30-11-2010
Smartshares	Quaystreet High Growth Fund	Growth	N/A	N/A	1.43%	$7M	19-04-2024
Kernel	Kernel S&P Global Dividend Aristocrats Fund	Aggressive	16.31%	N/A	0.25%	$3M	11-04-2022
ANZ	High Growth Fund	Aggressive	2.6%	N/A	0.95%	$557M	03-08-2023
Booster	Socially Responsible Moderate Fund	Conservative	3.31%	2.81%	1.21%	$71M	24-03-2020
AMP	Superlife Moderate Fund	Balanced	3.58%	3.21%	1.07%	$32M	28-07-2016
Generate	Growth Fund	Growth	4.56%	8.36%	1.39%	$2B	16-04-2013
Fundrock	Investnow Mercer All Country Global Shares Index Fund	Aggressive	7.93%	N/A	0.43%	$18M	05-10-2020

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