Socially Conscious Balanced
Option: Socially Conscious Balanced
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Investment approach
The Socially Conscious Balanced option offers a diversified portfolio for members who want to grow their super over the long term and invest in an option which has additional exclusions and an additional approach to sustainable investing.
The sustainable investment approaches of integration and stewardship also apply to this option, as relevant to the asset class and investment style. Thematic investing, where investments are selected to access specific trends, such as investment in climate-related opportunities, may also be used when selecting external investment managers for this option.
Summary
10-year returns as at 30 September 2025
7.61% p.a.
Returns over the last 10 years1
5+ years
Suggested timeframe
Who it suits
Suitable if you're an investor who:
- wants a diversified portfolio with around 70% growth assets
- wants to grow your super over the long term and invest in an option which has additional exclusions and an additional approach to sustainable investing
- is prepared to accept the option can have negative returns over the shorter term
- is prepared to accept the option may not be suitable if you have a low risk tolerance, are seeking to preserve your super, or are likely to need access to your super in the next few years.
Risk3
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Expected number of years of negative annual returns in any 20 years: 3 to less than 4. The risk is based on the standard risk measure (SRM)^.
Investment objective
Accumulation and TTR Income accounts:
CPI + 3.5% p.a.
Retirement Income accounts:
CPI + 4.0% p.a.
Option size
Super assets:
$835.7 million
Pension assets:
$284.0 million
^For more definitions
Socially Conscious Balanced performance
As at 30 September 20251
The September quarter was marked by heightened volatility as investors navigated escalating trade tensions, shifting central bank policy and rising political risks.
However, investor appetite remained resilient, and the September quarter saw strong momentum in the impact bond markets, with over $170 bn in green, social, and sustainability bonds issued during the period. Global equities delivered strong returns.
Our unlisted asset portfolios generally underperformed public markets in the quarter.
For the Socially Conscious Balanced option, the exclusion list applied to the Australian and international stocks permitted in this option, combined with a diversified strategy and disciplined focus on fundamentals, contributed positively to returns when compared to the benchmark.
The 10-year return of 7.61% p.a. for Accumulation accounts is above the option’s return objective of CPI+3.5% p.a.
Table
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Past performance isn't a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns shown are after investment fees and costs, transaction costs and investment taxes (where relevant) but before all other fees and costs.
Returns shown here for our Accumulation account are also the returns that apply for Transition to Retirement Income accounts. Tax generally doesn't apply to investment earnings in Retirement Income accounts.
Socially Conscious Balanced asset allocation
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AssetAllocationTable
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Details of the exclusions for the Socially Conscious Balanced option including the exceptions to these exclusions are outlined in our Super Savings Investment Guide and QSuper Investment Guide.
From 1 July 2025. For more information on these asset classes, strategic asset allocations, and allowable ranges, read the PDS that applies to you.
What we invest in
Portfolio holdings disclosure information for all of Australian Retirement Trust’s products in line with the specific requirements of Australian law can be found here.
Outlook and strategy
As at 30 September 2025
Our Socially Conscious Balanced option holds a substantial allocation to the key unlisted asset classes, particularly real estate, infrastructure, and private equity. As a large superannuation fund, we maintain well-diversified portfolios of these assets that we expect will deliver strong, long-term returns, while reducing our members’ exposures to share market volatility.
We don’t design portfolios based on short-term economic, market, or geopolitical forecasts. However, our investment team and external investment managers do seek to capitalise on opportunities that inevitably emerge during times of heightened market volatility.
At the end of September 2025, our active asset allocation strategy favoured bonds over shares and cash. The strategy also sought to take advantage of significant differences in relative value between countries. Within the shares allocation, we preferred Japanese shares over shares in the US and Australia. In fixed income, we were overweight in France, UK, Italy, and Australia and maintained underweight positions in Canadian, German, US, and Japanese bonds. The strategy’s currency exposure is underweight the US dollar, while favouring Asian and Latin American currencies.
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