What is a managed fund?

A managed fund is a professionally managed investment portfolio. They can include investments in shares, property, fixed interest, cash and more.

There are a number of benefits of investing in a managed fund:

  • Easy to manage - Instead of making a number of small investments (eg buying many individual companies' shares) you can hold just one investment, where you purchase 'units' in the managed fund that holds many shares and/or other investments
  • Easy to diversify - Diversification means 'not putting all your eggs in one basket'. With a managed fund you can lower risk, by investing across asset classes (eg shares, property), as well as within asset classes (eg purchasing many different companies' shares)
  • Easy to get started - You can start your Australian Ethical managed fund with as little as $1,000 with a regular investment plan.

Get started with managed funds now

LED LightsBright Idea
We invest in some of the companies that produce a new, incredibly energy-efficient style of LED light bulb

Ethical investing: the right thing, and the smart thing to do

Good ethics are one thing, good returns are another. Here are just some of the reasons why ethical investing makes good financial sense:

  • Demand for ethical and sustainable products and services - like those many of the companies we invest in provide - is increasing.
  • The renewable energy sector has a much more promising future than fossil fuels.
  • Investing in sustainable companies allows investors to avoid being financially impacted by disasters associated with unsustainable companies, such as a water contamination disaster caused by Coal Seam Gas extraction (we avoid investments in CSG).

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Performance: Busting the myths

Performance: Busting the myths

Two of the most common myths of ethical investing, are that you have to sacrifice returns and that it’s riskier. Neither of these myths are true.

More about our performance

* Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns are to end of 2012, and are calculated gross of any administration and investment management fees, tax, and other costs, and as if distributions of income had been reinvested at the actual distribution reinvestment price. 
‘Market Index’ is the S&P/ASX300 index.
‘Ethically Screened Index’ is a theoretical index of the stocks within the S&P/ASX300 that pass Australian Ethical’s positive and negative screens.

Our Ethical Charter - Unchanged since 1986

Our Ethical Charter: Unchanged since 1986

The Australian Ethical Charter is a series of statements that guide both the positive side (investments we seek out) and the negative side (investments we avoid) of our ethical approach.

We are proud to say that it has not changed since our inception in 1986.

To the right is a summary of the main points of our charter.

View the full Australian Ethical Charter

We seek out positive investments that support: People Quality Sustainability

We avoid investments that cause unecessary harm to: People Animals Society Environment

Active vs Passive investment management

Active vs Passive investment management

Many other funds don't select shares that they expect to perform well financially; rather they invest in a pool of shares without looking at each companies financial credentials - this is called passive funds management. In contrast, active managers like Australian Ethical only invest in shares we expect will perform well financially.

Of course, we don't stop there! All of the companies we invest in must pass our strict positive and negative ethical screens.

Companies we invest in

More about our ethical approach

Herman Miller
We invest in Herman Miller, who manufacture and deliver award-winning furniture and interior products. They've also received awards for their approach to reducing waste and using recycled materials in their designs.

 

Choosing the right managed fund for you

Whether you need to invest for the short or the long-term, we have a range of investment options to suit your financial goals. You can select one option or spread your investment across multiple options:

Investment optionSuitable if you...
Balanced Trust
  • plan to invest for five years or more
  • want to both grow your investment and earn a moderate income
  • are comfortable with moderate levels of risk for potential moderate returns.
Smaller Companies Trust
  • plan to invest for seven years or more
  • are comfortable with higher levels of risk to achieve potentially higher returns
  • prefer investments in smaller Australian companies and some overseas companies.
Larger Companies Trust
  • plan to invest for seven years or more
  • are comfortable with higher levels of risk to achieve potentially higher returns
  • prefer investments in Australian and overseas companies.
International Equities Trust
  • plan to invest for seven years or more
  • are comfortable with higher levels of risk to achieve potentially higher returns
  • prefer investments in overseas companies involved in smart energy technologies.
Climate Advocacy Fund
  • plan to invest for seven years or more
  • are comfortable with higher levels of risk to achieve potentially higher returns
  • seek a return consistent with the broad share market
  • seek an investment working to improve climate outcomes.
Cash Trust
  • plan to invest for a year or more
  • want your investment to keep up with inflation
  • are comfortable with lower levels of risk to get stable returns.

 

Join - for Managed Funds

Join over 18,000 Australians choosing to invest ethically

You can get started investing in a Managed Fund, with as little as $5,000, or $1,000 if you start a regular investment plan.

Managed Funds - Start investing now

Got a question?
Call 1800 021 227. We're happy to help!