Positive Returns in a Challenging Year

The Balanced option, which is where most members are invested, returned 9.52 per cent for super accounts and 10.41 per cent for Choice Income (pension) accounts. The High Growth option returned 10.61 per cent for super and 11.56 per cent for Choice Income accounts.

AustralianSuper has a team of investment specialists who actively manage each investment option through market ups and downs. The fund has a focus on diversification (spreading investments across different types of assets) and this can help protect members’ retirement savings when the market is volatile.

A Year of Global Uncertainty

Investment markets last year were very unpredictable. Some of the causes included conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine, and a lack of clarity about US tariff policies. Between February and April, global share markets dropped sharply due to concerns about US trade policies and their impact on the economy. The market recovery in late April and into May 2025 was a reminder that it’s important to maintain a long-term view when it comes to your super.

Unlisted assets like infrastructure and private credit played a big role in FY25, offering some protection during market downturns.

Staying Calm Through Market Ups and Downs

It can be unsettling when markets are volatile, but it’s good to remember that super is a long-term investment and ups and downs are normal. If you make decisions based on short-term considerations, you may end up worse off in the long run. When the market fell, members who switched into defensive investment options like cash risked missing out on the most substantial returns of the year. 

As a long-term investor, AustralianSuper reviews and adjusts the portfolio to respond to the changing economic and market outlook. The investment team actively manages each investment option through market ups and downs.

The Outlook for The Year Ahead 

In the short term, AustralianSuper expects the markets to stay unstable and unpredictable, due to uncertainty around US government decisions and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Many different outcomes are possible when it comes to trade and tariff policies, global geopolitics and conflict, and how governments respond with fiscal and monetary policies.

AustralianSuper’s investment team keeps a close eye on the economy and market conditions with the aim to best position the fund for members over the long term. This includes tracking the outlook for growth, employment rates and inflation, watching how new technology like AI affects productivity and earnings, and monitoring how geopolitical issues affect global markets.

See AustralianSuper’s FY25 performance update

Disclaimers:

Sponsored by AustralianSuper Pty Ltd, ABN 94 006 457 987, AFSL 233788, Trustee of AustralianSuper ABN 65 714 394 898. 

Any general advice provided in this article is provided under the AFSL held by AustralianSuper, it does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision, consider if the information is right for you and refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, available at australiansuper.com/PDS or by calling 1300 300 273. A Target Market Determination (TMD) is a document that outlines the target market a product has been designed for. Find the TMDs at australiansuper.com/TMD.

Investment returns aren’t guaranteed. Past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future returns.