Managed funds explained

Learn more about managed funds

Introduction

A managed fund is one type of ‘managed investment scheme’ (MIS), which is a professionally managed investment portfolio that pools the money of multiple investors. Investment/fund managers are appointed to manage the money within the fund including the selection, buying and selling of the underlying investments.

Pooling your money with other investors can open the door to investment opportunities that might not be accessible through direct investment. This approach also enhances your portfolio’s diversification. Plus, with a managed fund structure, you benefit from professional management of your investments, helping your money work harder for you.

When you invest in a managed fund, you receive a number of ‘units’ based on your investment amount divided by the fund’s ‘entry’ unit price on that day. This is why managed funds are often referred to as ‘unit trusts’. The value of your units can fluctuate, reflecting changes in the value of the underlying assets.

Investment options for managed funds

The fund manager or administrator typically offers a variety of investment options for you to choose from. Each option comes with distinct investment goals, timeframes, risk levels, and underlying assets, allowing you to select the best fit for your financial objectives.

Some managed funds offer a diversified allocation across different asset classes based on risk levels. For example, a “balanced” fund typically invests about half of the portfolio in growth assets like stocks and real estate, while the other half is allocated to more defensive assets such as cash and bonds.

Other funds may focus on specific asset types, such as Australian shares, international shares, property, or cash. Various investment styles, like value or growth investing, can be employed to manage these portfolios effectively.

When investing in a managed fund you need to choose which options are best suited to your personal preferences and financial goals. This includes consideration for:

  • Your risk profile
  • Your investment time horizon
  • Your need for diversification across asset classes
  • Your preference to invest in a particular type of investment or asset class

The Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) provides you with information on the investment options and may help you to determine the suitability.

Returns and taxation of managed funds

The assets within a managed fund can generate income, such as interest, rental income, dividends, or realized capital gains, while also potentially delivering capital growth.

The fund manager deducts applicable fees and expenses from the generated income, with the remaining amount typically distributed to investors (unit holders).

This income is reported in the investor’s tax return and taxed at their marginal tax rate. If franking credits are available, they are passed on to investors, helping to reduce their tax liability.

If you sell units, it may result in a capital gain or loss depending on changes in the fund’s unit price since your initial and subsequent investments. A 50% capital gains tax discount applies to gains on units held for over 12 months, unless the units are owned by a company.

Benefits of managed funds

Managed funds have a number of advantages that allow you to select options that suit your specific needs and objectives. These benefits may include:

  • Diversification: Managed funds offer a diversified portfolio, spreading investments across various asset classes and securities.
  • Wide Investment Choices: A broad selection of asset classes and diversified portfolios are available for investors.
  • Specialist Access: Gain access to specialist investments and diverse investment strategies.
  • Tailored Portfolio Options: Customise your portfolio by choosing specialist managed funds, such as those focused on infrastructure, emerging markets, or small caps.
  • Professional Management: A team of expert investment managers handles the selection, review, and monitoring of investments, including risk management.
  • Active Fund Management: Actively managed funds adjust to market changes, offering potential to outperform benchmarks.
  • Minimal Involvement Required: Managed funds require less participation and time commitment from investors compared to direct investments.
  • Regular Investment Options: Many managed funds support regular investments with small minimum amounts, ideal for strategies like dollar-cost averaging or building a savings plan.
  • Tax Assistance: Managed funds provide tax statements to help simplify the process of completing your tax returns.

Disadvantages and risks of managed funds

There are a number of risks and disadvantages of managed funds to be aware of. The key risks will be determined by the nature of the managed fund including the asset classes and securities that it invests in. The risks and disadvantages include:

  • Market Risk: The performance of a managed fund is influenced by the assets it invests in. Growth assets like shares and property can offer higher long-term returns but come with greater risks, including potential capital losses, compared to safer investments like cash and bonds.
  • Limited Control: Investors do not have control over which individual investments are bought or sold within the fund.
  • Tax Management: Investors have no control over the timing of asset sales or purchases, which can impact the capital gains tax outcomes of the fund.
  • Capital Gains in Distributions: Managed fund distributions may include a return of capital, which can be less tax-efficient for investors.
  • Limited Transparency: There is limited visibility into the underlying portfolio. Managed funds typically report their holdings with some delay.
  • Higher Fees: Management, administration fees, and buy-sell spreads can result in higher overall costs.
  • Currency Risk: Fluctuations in international currency values can affect the value of global assets in the portfolio.
  • Gearing Risk: Some managed funds may use borrowing to amplify returns, which can also increase potential losses.

Growth versus value investing

Investors should decide whether to invest in rapidly growing companies or undervalued industry leaders. Each option carries different risk and return profiles and may perform better at various stages of the market cycle. It’s important for investors to choose a strategy that aligns with their personal financial goals.

Growth investing focuses on high-quality companies with strong earnings growth, high return on equity, high profit margins, and typically low dividend yields. While there are no guarantees, these companies are often industry innovators generating significant profits. They tend to grow rapidly by reinvesting most or all of their earnings to sustain future growth.

Value investing focuses on purchasing strong companies at attractive prices, often when their stock has fallen due to being out of favor with investors or during an unfavorable economic cycle. Investment managers typically seek a low price-to-earnings ratio, low price-to-sales ratio, and higher dividend yields. Value investing prioritizes buying stocks at the right price, with the belief that these undervalued companies will eventually rebound as the market recognizes their true worth.

Quality and lower volatility investing

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in other investment styles, such as Quality and Lower Volatility investing. Many products now focus on one or both of these strategies.”

Investing in Quality companies is usually associated with companies with efficient management, sound balance sheets, low debt, profitability, and strong cash flows. Quality strategies seek to provide excess returns by investing in companies that are better positioned for short- and long-term growth.

Lower Volatility investing targets companies with less volatile share prices that typically fall less than the share market during share market declines.

Higher quality and lower volatility portfolios aim to deliver strong up-market participation and down-market protection. These portfolios also tend to blend well with growth and value portfolios to improve overall portfolio diversification.

Considering managed funds?

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