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Investment returns

A History of Strong Investment Returns

Most of us can’t touch our superannuation for a very long time, but when you do finally need it – after years of hard work – you want to make sure your super has performed to its optimum over the long term because it’s an investment that will determine your quality of life when you need it the most.

Listed below is a history for the past seven financial years showing our returns for each investment option. 
Financial Year Returns
Option Account
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
2007-2008
2006-2007
2005-2006
Aggressive Super
-1.43%
12.4%
11.6%
-12.1%
-12.2%
25.0%
17.7%
Pension
-1.56%
13.6%
13.4%
-13.8%
-13.3%
26.9%
19.4%
Moderately aggressive Super
0.03%
11.4%
10.8%
-10.7%
-9.4%
22.6%
15.9%
Pension
0.03%
12.6%
12.6%
-12.2%
-10.3%
24.4%
17.3%
Balanced Super
0.63%
11.4%
8.6%
-9.9%
-6.4%
21.0%
15.3%
Pension
0.84%
12.6%
10.1%
-11.4%
-7.1%
22.5%
17.1%
Conservative balanced ^ Super
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pension
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Moderately conservative Super
2.86%
8.8%
9.0%
-6.0%
-3.9%
16.4%
11.3%
Pension
3.46%
9.8%
10.4%
-6.8%
-4.6%
17.8%
13.0%
Conservative Super
4.06%
7.4%
7.6%
-3.3%
2.3%
12.2%
8.8%
Pension
4.79%
8.2%
8.5%
-3.6%
2.7%
13.3%
10.0%
RetirePlus ^ Super
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pension
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
 
Australian shares Super
-6.01%
16.7%
13.5%
-12.2%
-13.0%
30.7%
22.6%
Pension
-6.61%
17.8%
14.7%
-12.6%
-13.9%
31.9%
23.7%
Overseas shares Super
-3.14%
6.9%
8.7%
-10.0%
-19.1%
20.0%
12.9%
Pension
-1.83%
8.2%
11.6%
-13.0%
-22.1%
23.8%
14.7%
Property Super
6.92%
12.5%
8.1%
-12.1%
7.0%
16.2%
12.4%
Pension
7.92%
12.4%
9.1%
-13.4%
7.6%
15.4%
14.0%
Fixed interest Super
7.26%
6.6%
4.8%
6.2%
0.3%
4.4%
3.0%
Pension
8.58%
7.7%
5.5%
7.2%
0.3%
5.1%
3.7%
FlexiTerm Deposit* Super
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pension
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Cash Super
4.44%
4.7%
3.6%
4.9%
5.9%
5.4%
4.7%
Pension
5.27%
5.5%
4.1%
5.6%
6.8%
6.2%
5.4%

The Long Term View

Superannuation is a long term investment because the majority of us can’t touch our super for quite a long time, so it is advisable to consider returns over the long term.

To help you take a long term view, below we have listed the 3 year, 5 year, and where applicable the 7 year and 10 year averages for each option.
 
As at 30 June 2012
Option Account
3yrs (pa)
5yrs (pa)
7yrs (pa)
10yrs (pa)
Aggressive Super
7.34%
-0.92%
4.93%
6.02%
Pension
8.24%
-1.07%
5.32%
N/A
Moderately aggressive Super
7.29%
-0.01%
5.09%
N/A
Pension
8.25%
-0.01%
5.60%
N/A
Balanced Super
6.80%
0.54%
5.24%
6.36%
Pension
7.73%
0.58%
5.81%
N/A
Conservative balanced ^ Super
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pension
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Moderately conservative Super
6.84%
1.95%
5.18%
N/A
Pension
7.84%
2.21%
5.86%
N/A
Conservative Super
6.35%
3.54%
5.46%
N/A
Pension
7.15%
4.03%
6.21%
N/A
RetirePlus ^ Super
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pension
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
 
Australian shares Super
7.60%
-0.98%
6.18%
N/A
Pension
8.08%
-1.02%
6.51%
N/A
Overseas shares Super
4.04%
-3.89%
1.48%
N/A
Pension
5.82%
-4.28%
1.74%
N/A
Property Super
9.14%
4.10%
6.88%
N/A
Pension
9.79%
4.28%
7.41%
N/A
Fixed interest Super
6.21%
4.98%
4.61%
N/A
Pension
7.23%
5.79%
5.38%
N/A
FlexiTerm Deposit* Super
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pension
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Cash Super
4.24%
4.69%
4.79%
4.88%
Pension
4.95%
5.44%
5.55%
N/A

^ Conservative Balanced and RetirePlus Options commenced on 22 June 2012. No performance history is yet available.

* FlexiTerm Deposit option commenced on 23 October 2012. No performance history is yet available.