Investment FAQs

There are three ways you can monitor your investment performance:

• View returns on our website. View the returns for your investment option (or options) online here. The net fund earning rates (and unit prices for Pension) are published weekly generally on the third business day of the week, but we encourage you to also review the monthly net fund earning rates for a longer-term view.
• View earnings by logging-in to your account online. Log-in to SuperSite at anytime to view which investment options you’re invested in and the interest amounts earned on each option, as well as your account balance estimate. Pension members can log-in to Pension Online for more information about your investment.
• Your member statement. We also send you two statements each year for the periods ending June 30 and December 31, in September and March respectively.

If you’d like to discuss the performance of your investment in detail or are nearing retirement, we recommend you seek advice from one of our dedicated Industry Fund Financial Planning licensed financial advisers.

The weekly net fund earning rates and unit prices are used for calculating the actual earnings on your investment. Find out how they work here.

Most superannuation funds pay fees to investment managers to invest and manage their assets. Investment expenses are deducted from investment returns before they are applied to your account. More about investment expenses.

Often, different asset classes will perform well or poorly at the same time because they react differently to influences such as economic growth, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rate movements.  A change which is good for one asset class can be bad for another. Find out more about how different asset classes have performed.

The weekly net fund earning rates and unit prices are used for calculating the actual earnings on your investment. While the monthly net fund earning rates are for comparison purposes only. These monthly net fund earning rates are not used for actual calculations. Find out more here.

If you have super or a pension account with HOSTPLUS, you’re an investor. That’s why changes in the share market and other asset classes affect you too. Understandably, you may be disappointed to see a negative return but don’t lose sight of the fact that your super is a long term investment, which aims to deliver competitive returns over the long term.

Usually different asset classes will react differently to influences such as economic growth, inflation, interest rates and exchange rate movements. That means when one asset class performs poorly, another might perform well. However, despite diversification, the unavoidable fact is that at times, the softening of stock markets domestically and internationally can affect all superannuation funds.

To put it into perspective: Australian shares fell by 20.3% within a one year period to 30 June 2009 and international shares fell by 15.6% within the same period. While markets, by their very nature, will fluctuate in the short term, historically, they have always recovered. And in the long term, shares have consistently earned a higher rate of return than other asset classes such as cash and fixed interest.

It is impossible to know how long any market conditions will continue. As a superannuation fund we always look toward long term performance. We don’t make short term speculations on market fluctuations, which are notoriously difficult and risky, even for professionals. Instead, HOSTPLUS has a robust long term investment strategy in place that has been implemented only after careful consideration and expert advice from leading investment consultants, tax specialists, auditors, and administrators.

To help you make informed decisions about your financial strategy or if you are nearing retirement, we strongly recommend that you take advantage of the free initial one hour fact finding consultation with a licensed financial adviser from Industry Fund Financial Planning (AFSL 232514).

Keep in mind, however, that just because investment values fall now, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your investment will lose money. To put it another way: most people wouldn’t consider selling their house if market values fell for a year or two. They might consider waiting until the property market recovers. In the same way, your super is a long-term investment and the inevitable short-term fluctuation every now and then should not be a concern. What’s important for you and for us is your position in the long-term, upon retirement.

As you know from your bank account, cash investments are stable. But this stability comes at a cost. Cash investments typically may not earn enough to meet the long term goals of your retirement.

It’s sensible to diversify investments as they react differently to economic conditions. This could help offset poor performance that may occur in any individual asset class.

The return on a fixed interest investment has an income component and a capital component. The income component is made up interest payments and is always positive. However, the capital component can be positive or negative as the price of the bond goes up and down. The bond price will fall if market interest rate rises. So if the price falls (the capital component) is larger than the interest payments (the income component) then the result will be a negative overall return.

Cash investments – as you know from your own bank account – are stable, but this stability comes at a cost as cash investments typically may not earn enough to meet the long-term goals of your retirement.

Records show that shares have consistently earned a higher rate of return over other asset classes such as cash or fixed interest and are beneficial for long-term growth.

Subject to your individual circumstances, it’s sensible in the long-term to have a diversified investment option such as shares, property, cash and fixed interest. To discuss this in further detail or if you’re nearing retirement, we encourage you to speak with one of our dedicated Industry Fund Financial planning licensed financial advisers.

Under current Australian legislation we have no authority to change your investment option from the one you pre-selected or defaulted to. You have the control to choose where you money is invested. Additionally, we are not aware of your entire financial circumstances and therefore it would be irresponsible to move your money around without your explicit direction.

Although we cannot guarantee investment returns, HOSTPLUS’ sole purpose is to maximise member returns. Each of our investments are closely monitored and regularly reviewed by our asset consultants on a monthly basis.  All superannuation funds are affected by the softening of share markets locally and globally.

Overall, there are a number of independent research houses such as Rainmaker and Super Ratings that assess the performance of all superannuation funds. Our commitment to value for money for all of our members has earned us some of our industry’s highest accolades. More about our awards.

Like all super funds, we cannot guarantee investment performance. The term ‘Superannuation Guarantee’ relates to an employer having the obligation of paying 9 per cent superannuation on your behalf into a complying superannuation fund.

There is no ‘best way’ to invest that will suit everyone’s investment needs. It is important to consider your attitude to risk and how long you have to invest when developing your investment portfolio. If you're concerned about your investment choices or nearing retirement, we recommend you speak to a licensed financial adviser.