Simplicity Conservative Fund

At 0.25%, this fund charges one of the lowest management fees in the New Zealand conservative space. Nearly a third of the portfolio sits in cash and equivalents, with another third in international bonds and a further 19% in New Zealand bonds, leaving just 20% in growth assets. The largest single holding is cash at bank, followed by floating rate notes from Westpac and Kiwibank. A 2% stake in Simplicity Living Ltd, the provider's own build-to-rent housing venture, is the only unlisted property holding.

The fund sits 10th in its category over one year with a 5.9% return, and climbed to 6th over three years at 7.4% annualised. The five-year figure of 1.9% places it 17th. With $188.8 million under management, this is a mid-sized conservative option built around domestic and international fixed interest, minimal equity exposure, and a substantial cash buffer. The equity sleeve includes small positions in US tech stocks like NVIDIA and Apple alongside a modest Australasian allocation.

General information only, not financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.