FirstChoice Lifestage is an investment option that determines how your money is invested depending on your age. The investment mix is designed for people born within the same five-year period as you. This means we’ll do the hard work for you as FirstChoice lifestage adjusts your investment mix as you get older.
When you're younger, you have more time to ride out the ups and downs of investment markets therefore your money will be invested in 'growth' assets such as property and shares. These assets have a greater potential to deliver higher returns and grow your retirement savings.
As retirement gets closer, you have less time to recover from any short term losses, so more of your super will be invested in defensive assets, such as cash and fixed interest, to provide greater stability. The good news is this happens automatically.
Find the Lifestage option designed for you
To find out which FirstChoice Lifestage option is designed for you simply select your year of birth below.
Seeing as you are born between: $LIFESTAGE$, we have invested your money into the below options.
If you were born prior to 1946 your super will be invested in the FirstChoice Lifestage 1945-49 option.
If you were born after 2005 your super will be invested in the FirstChoice Lifestage 2000-04 option.
Move the slider to see how your investment will gradually change as you move closer to retirement.
Defensive Assets
Defensive assets generally carry a lower level of risk and are less volatile over periods of time. These assets include fixed interest and cash to provide greater security.
Cash and Defensive Alternatives
Cash generally refers to investments in bank bills and similar securities which have a short investment timeframe. Cash investments generally provide a stable return, with low potential for capital loss.
Fixed Interest
Fixed interest securities, such as bonds, generally operate in the same way as loans. You pay cash for the bond, and in return you receive a regular interest payment from the bond issuer for an agreed period of time. The value of the bond can fluctuate based on interest rate movements. When the bond matures, the loan is repaid in cash. Historically, bonds have provided a more consistent but lower return than shares.
Multi-Asset
Multi-Asset allocation is classified as 50/50 growth/defensive and Unlisted Property/Infrastructure is classified as 75/25 growth/defensive.
Growth Assets
Growth assets generally provide higher returns over the long term but may involve more risk and may fluctuate in value over periods of time. These assets include shares, property and infrastructure securities.
Property, Infrastructure and Multi-Asset
Property generally involves buying a property directly or investing in property securities. Property securities do not involve buying a property directly. Instead, they can provide an indirect exposure to property and generally represent a part ownership of a company or an entitlement to the assets of a trust. The company or trust may hold, manage or develop property in sectors such as office, industrial and retail. Property securities are generally listed on a stock exchange and are bought and sold like shares.
Infrastructure refers to the physical assets required for a business or country to operate, including transportation, communication and utilities (eg water, sewage and electricity). It may also include ‘social infrastructure’ such as prisons, hospitals and public housing. Infrastructure investments typically have; high upfront capital requirements, low ongoing operating costs and relatively predictable cash flows and operational risks. Infrastructure securities are securities listed on a stock exchange that predominantly own infrastructure assets.
Australian Shares
Shares represent a part ownership of a company and are generally bought and sold on a stock exchange. Shares are generally considered to be more risky than the other asset classes because their value tends to fluctuate more than that of other asset classes. However, over the longer term they have tended to outperform the other asset classes.
Global Shares
FirstChoice Lifestage fees
It’s important to be aware of the fees you’re paying on your account and how they affect your balance over time. Your employer may have negotiated pricing and benefits for your superannuation and insurance. It’s worth checking with them what these benefits are, or you can view your details online via FirstNet.