Managed funds popularity spikes as loan numbers fall

Managed funds have regained popularity among SMSF trustees, with a recent survey indicating that they now account for more than 25 per cent of SMSF portfolios.

A quarterly survey conducted by platform services provider OneVue found investment in managed funds in the six months to the end of December 2015 rose by 5.10 per cent to 28.19 per cent.

According to the survey, managed funds are now the biggest asset class for OneVue’s SMSF advice investors.

Listed shares, on the other hand, fell 4.89 per cent to 21.53 per cent for the same six-month period. Investment in cash and term deposits also saw a slight decline of 0.34 per cent to 19.93 per cent.

Loans for residential properties also saw a drop, with the total value of loans falling 0.74 per cent down to 5.17 per cent of assets.

Investment in direct property fell to 7.83 per cent, down 1.54 per cent over the period. Listed trusts rose 0.93 per cent to 1.05 per cent of assets.

OneVue head of product and transactions Brett Marsh said a reduction in traditional asset classes for SMSFs such as cash, direct shares and property and their replacement with managed funds and self-managed assets “indicates the professionalism that has come in developing portfolios”.

“There’s a world of difference between holding a small number of bank and mining stocks and utilising a professionally managed share portfolio via a managed fund or SMA,” said Mr Marsh.

“This level of professionalism in portfolio management is a necessity for trustees, as they are likely to weather even more years of market volatility.”