member outcomes assessment

Our Member Outcomes Assessment for the year ending 30 June 2022.

The Member Outcomes Assessment is a legislative requirement for all super funds. We're required to assess the benefits, services, and performance of the products we offer against various assessment factors and comparisons; and to determine how the financial interests of HESTA members are being promoted. We’re proud to share the performance results with you for the 2021-22 financial year.

 

assessing our performance

 

 

HESTA is a fund created to deliver the outcomes our members need and want; our member focus is central to who we are. Our structure, our operations and our leadership are all informed by our members and their work. Our members’ needs drive our strategy, brand, and culture.

HESTA has assessed the products we offered during the 2021-22 financial year, which were:

  • HESTA MySuper
  • HESTA Choice – Accumulation (our HESTA, HESTA Personal Super, and HESTA Corporate Super products)
  • HESTA Choice – Income Stream (our HESTA Retirement Income Stream and HESTA Term Allocated Pension (closed)); and
  • HESTA Choice – Income Stream (our HESTA Transition-to-retirement1Income Stream).

 

Benchmarking for Transition to Retirement (TTR) products is currently not possible due to the lack of available data to compare.

 

 

In conducting our comparative analysis, we benchmarked our products (excluding TTR) against other products in the market.

The analysis also considered our deep understanding of our members’ characteristics. The unique characteristics of our fund inform our strategy and enable us to connect with our members through personalised communication.

To ensure everything we do as a fund continues to promote the financial interests of our members, we’re required to assess our performance against a range of factors including:

  • investment strategy, performance, and risk
  • the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) Annual Performance test (for MySuper)
  • insurance strategy
  • fees and costs
  • the various benefits, facilities, and options we offer, and
  • the scale and size of our business.

We’ve drawn a comparison against products and services provided by other funds using publicly available data from the APRA and independent ratings agencies including Chant West and SuperRatings.

 

HESTA MySuper

HESTA Choice - Accumulation

HESTA Choice - Income Stream

List of MySuper comparison products (pdf)

List of Choice (Accumulation) comparison products (pdf)

List of Choice (Income Stream) comparison products (pdf)

 

 

 

 

Through our analysis and comparison to comparable products in the market, and the APRA Annual Performance test (for MySuper), we have determined that the financial interests of HESTA members (and other beneficiaries) are being promoted by HESTA.

Investment strategy and performance

HESTA MySuper is a ready-made investment option which is diversified and designed to meet the needs of members who don’t exercise choice in their investment option. Based on our assessment of factors including the level of investment risk and investment objective, HESTA’s MySuper investment strategy remains appropriate for members of the product because:

  • it reflects our understanding of HESTA MySuper members’ account balances, risk tolerance and appetite for product complexity;
  • it has an investment return objective to achieve a positive real return (i.e. a return which provides an amount over the rate of inflation) over the long-term comparable to peers;
  • its investment risk rating is in line with other MySuper options with a similar growth / defensive asset allocation split and was considered appropriate for members; and
  • it has an acceptable probability to achieve its 10-year investment objective.

 

HESTA Choice – Accumulation investment options comprise ready-made, diversified investment options, and for HESTA Your Choice (for specific asset class/classes) and are designed to meet the needs of members who want access to a range of investment option choices with different risk/return outcomes. Based on our assessment of factors including the level of investment risk and investment objective, the strategy remains appropriate because:

  • it reflects our understanding of our members’ varied risk appetite and for diversification; 
  • it has an investment return objective to achieve a real return target (i.e. a return which provides an amount over the rate of inflation) over the long-term or a return above a defined benchmark; and
  • its investment risk rating is in line with comparable options, and was considered appropriate for members.

 

HESTA Choice – Income Stream investment options comprise ready-made, diversified investment options, and for HESTA Your Choice (for specific asset class/classes) are designed to meet the needs of our members who want access to a range of investment option choices with different risk/return outcomes.

Based on our assessment of factors including the level of investment risk and investment objective, the strategy remains appropriate because:

  • it reflects our understanding of our members’ varied risk appetite and for diversification; and
  • it has an investment return objective to achieve a real return target (i.e. a return which provides an amount over the rate of inflation) over the long-term or a return above a defined benchmark.


Find more about HESTA’s investments.

 

HESTA MySuper and HESTA Choice – Accumulation products investment results2


The table below details how we compare to the industry, as per Chant West's data.
 

HESTA’s investment option 1-year return Relative to median 3-year returns Relative to median 5-year returns Relative to median HESTA 10-year returns Relative to median
HESTA Balanced Growth (MySuper) -1.80% Better than median 5.30% Better than median 6.70% Better than median 8.50% Better than median
HESTA Conservative -1.40% Better than median 3.00% Better than median 4.50% Better than median 5.80% Better than median
HESTA Indexed Balanced Growth - 6.10% Better than median n/a No return or no benchmark n/a No return or no benchmark n/a No return or no benchmark
HESTA Sustainable Growth -7.80% Lower than median 5.20% Better than median 7.00% Better than median 10.40% Better than median
HESTA High Growth -2.00% Better than median 6.90% Better than median 8.30% Better than median 10% Better than median
HESTA Cash and Term Deposits 0.20% Match median 0.40% Lower than median 1.00% Match median 1.70% Match median
HESTA Diversified Bonds - 8.60% Better than median - 1.70% Better than median 0.90% Better than median 2.60% Better than median
HESTA Property and Infrastructure 12.90% No return or no benchmark 5.80% No return or no benchmark 6.70% No return or no benchmark 7.90% No return or no benchmark
HESTA International Shares -14.50% Lower than median 5.50% Lower than median

7.20%

Lower than median 10.80% Lower than median
HESTA Australian Shares -3.70% Better than median 5.00% Better than median 7.40% Lower than median 9.40% Match median    

 

Source: Chant West Member Outcomes Dashboard – comparing HESTA with most products in the market (excluding any employer plans). Data that is not available or where there is no comparable data referenced with n/a.

2 Returns (after fees and costs) are calculated on the annualised investment return (after tax and investment fees) over the specified period to 30 June 2022 and the administration fees as at December 2022. Excludes insurance fees (for the avoidance of doubt).

Product ratings are only one factor to be considered when making a decision. See hesta.com.au/ratings for more information.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

 

HESTA Choice – Income Stream (Account-based pensions) product investment results3


The table below details how we compare to the industry, as per Chant West's data.
 

HESTA’s investment option 1-year return Relative to median 3-year returns Relative to median 5-year returns Relative to median HESTA 10-year returns Relative to median
HESTA Balanced Growth -4.10% Match median 5.00% Better than median 7.00% Better than median 9.00% Better than median
HESTA Conservative -1.80% Better than median 3.20% Better than median 4.90% Better than median 6.40% Better than median
HESTA Indexed Balanced Growth - 6.90% Better than median n/a No return or no benchmark n/a No return or no benchmark n/a No return or no benchmark
HESTA Sustainable Growth

- 8.80%

Lower than median 5.70% Better than median 7.70% Better than median 11.40% Better than median
HESTA High Growth - 5.60% Lower than median 6.00% Better than median 8.30% Better than median 11% Better than median
HESTA Cash and Term Deposits 0.20% Match median 0.50% Lower than median 1.10% Lower than median 2.00% Match median
HESTA Diversified Bonds - 9.70% Better than median n/a No return or no benchmark n/a No return or no benchmark n/a No return or no benchmark
HESTA Property and Infrastructure 14.00% No return or no benchmark 6.90% No return or no benchmark 7.30% No return or no benchmark 8.60% No return or no benchmark
HESTA International Shares -15.50% Lower than median 5.80% Lower than median

7.80%

Lower than median 11.60% Lower than median
HESTA Australian Shares -3.70% Better than median 4.80% Match median 7.90% Lower than median 10.10% Lower than median    

 

Source: Chant West Member Outcomes Dashboard – comparing HESTA with most products in the market (excluding any employer plans). Data that is not available or where there is no comparable data referenced with n/a.

3 Returns are calculated net of investment fees and costs (excluding administration fees).

Product ratings are only one factor to be considered when making a decision. See hesta.com.au/ratings for more information.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.



HESTA Choice – Income Stream (Transition-to-retirement) product investment results


There are no comparative results for Transition to Retirement (TTR) returns.

 

Key results4

HESTA MySuper HESTA Choice - Accumulation HESTA Choice - Income Stream
  • MySuper (Balanced Growth) ranks in the top quartile for net returns across 1-, 3- and 5-year periods; and in the second quartile across 10 years.
  • Our MySuper product investment risk is in line with other MySuper options with a similar growth / defensive asset split and remains appropriate for MySuper members.
  • Our MySuper product passed the APRA annual performance test with a score of 0.44% compared to a benchmark set by APRA of -0.5%.
  • Chant West allocated an overall investment rating of High Quality to the Choice (Accumulation) product.
  • The 10-year net return for Choice (Accumulation) investment options were in the top two quartiles when benchmarked with comparable products, except for the Australian Shares and International Shares options, which ranked in the third quartile.  Australian Shares improved in shorter investment time periods across 1, 3 and 5 years (top two quartile results). 
  • HESTA Choice (Accumulation) investment risk rating is in line with comparable products and remains appropriate.
  • Chant West allocated an overall investment rating of High Quality to the Choice (Income Stream) product.
  • Over medium to longer periods, Choice options continue to perform well compared to the market.
  • Returns for Choice (income stream) options rank in the top two quartiles for comparable Choice (income stream) products, except for the Your Choice: Cash and Term Deposits, International Shares and Australian Shares (which benchmarked outside second quartile).  

 

Find more about HESTA’s investments.

 

Product ratings are only one factor to be considered when making a decision. See hesta.com.au/ratings for more information.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.


Fees and costs

Our analysis found that HESTA’s fees and costs, and the basis for the setting of fees on a cost recovery basis is appropriate for members currently invested in HESTA products.

All fees charged to HESTA member accounts consider principles of cost recovery in setting the amount to reflect HESTA’s position as a not-for-profit fund. All fees deducted from member accounts are retained in the reserves to fund the operations of the Fund, planning for significant projects that are not business as usual, address risks or to respond to any initiatives that arise that will benefit members of the fund (and in accordance with reserving policies).

The table below details how we compare to the industry. As per Chant West data – fees for a member with a $50,000 account balance was below most comparable products with a comparable risk profile for most of our investment options.

 

HESTA MySuper and HESTA Choice - Accumulation products - period to 30 June 2022 

 

HESTA's investment option HESTA fees Relative to median
HESTA Balanced Growth (MySuper)    $500 Below the median
HESTA Conservative    $365 Below the median

HESTA Indexed Balanced Growth

   $170 Below the median
HESTA Sustainable Growth    $630 Above the median
HESTA High Growth    $585 Above the median
HESTA Cash and Term Deposits    $155 Below the median
HESTA Diversified Bonds    $280 Below the median
HESTA Property and Infrastructure    $585 No benchmark available
HESTA International Shares    $365 Below the median
HESTA Australian Shares    $305 Below the median

 

Source: Chant West Member Outcomes Dashboard – comparing HESTA with most MySuper and Choice products in the market (excluding any employer plans).

 

 

HESTA Choice - Income Stream products - period to 30 June 2022 

 

HESTA's investment option HESTA fees Relative to median
HESTA Balanced Growth (MySuper)    $496 Below the median
HESTA Conservative    $466 Above the median

HESTA Indexed Balanced Growth

   $286 Below the median
HESTA Sustainable Growth    $746 Above the median
HESTA High Growth    $496 Below the median
HESTA Cash and Term Deposits    $271 Above the median
HESTA Diversified Bonds    $396 Above the median
HESTA Property and Infrastructure    $656 No benchmark available
HESTA International Shares    $481 Above the median
HESTA Australian Shares    $396 Below the median

 

Source: Chant West Member Outcomes Dashboard – comparing HESTA with most Income Stream products in the market (excluding any employer plans).

 

 

Key results

HESTA MySuper HESTA Choice - Accumulation HESTA Choice - Income Stream

Fees and costs for a member with a $50,000 balance are in the second quartile when compared to most MySuper products according to Chant West.

For most of the Choice (accumulation) options, fees, and costs for a member with a $50,000 account balance are in the top two quartiles when compared to equivalent Choice (accumulation) products, according to Chant West. 
Fees and costs for a member with a $50,000 balance compare favourably against comparable products across most of the Choice (income stream) options according to Chant West.

 

Source: Chant West Member Outcomes Dashboard – comparing HESTA with most products in the market (excluding any employer plans).

 

Services and benefits

Our analysis found that the options, benefits, and facilities available to members in HESTA’s products are appropriate for those members.

In reaching this finding, we considered the availability of services and member usage as compared to other funds. Chant West data showed that HESTA’s options, benefits, and facilities were well utilised by members, and the services available were similar to our peers. We also considered the fees and costs are appropriate, compare favourably to peers and come in below the median for the provision of services, benefits, and facilities.

Find out more information.
 

Insurance strategy and fees (HESTA MySuper and HESTA Choice Accumulation only)

Our analysis found that for members in our accumulation products, our insurance strategy remains appropriate and insurance fees do not inappropriately erode retirement incomes.

In reaching this conclusion, we found that the cost of Standard Cover insurance premiums compared to a members’ estimated salary was a low percentage, and compared favourably against the benchmark, as per Chant West data.  

Our insurance benefit design carefully considers our members’ needs. Most of our members hold Standard Cover, which includes Death and Income Protection (IP) cover. Our Standard Cover is designed to provide a basic level of insurance cover. We are one of only a few super funds to offer IP cover as part of our Standard Cover because we find it helps more members overcome temporary disabilities and get back to work sooner especially when combined with the rehabilitation and wellbeing services included with our insurance offering.  Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Cover is available as voluntary cover.

The insurance benefit design has the flexibility to meet specific insurance needs that may not be met by the Standard Cover. This includes the ability to increase cover without having to provide full medical evidence, in some instances.

Key results 

  • Chant West rates the HESTA insurance offering as highest quality.

Find out more about HESTA’s insurance services.

 

Scale and size of business operations

HESTA has determined that the scale and size of HESTA’s business operations do not disadvantage members, and our operating costs are not inappropriately affecting the financial interests of members.

When compared against most funds in the market HESTA performs better than the benchmark in most metrics:

  • operating expense per member is lower than the median
  • membership growth is above the median
  • net benefit to HESTA MySuper members demonstrates outperformance over the median recorded over 1 and 5 years.

As HESTA continues to grow, investment fees are expected to naturally decline through scale benefits. This also enables our investment team to leverage our size and reputation in negotiating lower fees with fund managers.

With over 944,000 members and $66 billion in assets5, we can use our scale and size to deliver value to all our members.

Find out more about HESTA.


Represents membership and FUM at 30 June 2022.

 

 

 

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