The Public Trustee's long-term view and prudent approach to money management has resulted in an investment performance that is steady and appropriate to the current economic climate.
In the past financial year, the Public Trustee Common Account, which operates as a cash management account for the day-to-day expenses of clients, achieved a net return of 2.21% on investment with an average balance of $359 million.
The Public Trustee also manages the individual investment of clients' larger value trusts by supervising individual portfolios for capital growth.
Public Trustee Investment Funds
The four investment funds are used to invest clients' money for a long-term outlook and are designed to allow for more flexibility to meet different client needs.
One of Australia's leading fund managers assists the Public Trustee to manage the funds, which are:
- Cash
Money is invested to earn income, without capital growth to offset inflation. The investments, which include cash and short term income-bearing securities, are often referred to as defensive, or income-producing assets. The fund expects to have a very low level of fluctuation in market values, with a corresponding rate of return.
- Conservative
Money is invested in a mix of 30% growth assets to offset inflation and 70% income-producing assets. Growth assets, which also provide income, include Australian and overseas shares, Australian and overseas property, infrastructure, Australian and overseas fixed interest, cash and alternative assets. The fund expects to have a low level of fluctuation in market values, with mostly income, and some capital growth, forming the rate of return.
- Growth
Money is invested in a mix of 70% growth assets to offset inflation and 30% income-producing assets. Growth assets, which also provide income, include Australian and overseas shares, Australian and overseas property, infrastructure, Australian and overseas fixed interest, cash and alternative assets. The fund expects to have a moderate level of fluctuation in market values, and in the long term the capital growth component provides a rate of return higher than the cash or conservative funds.
- Growth Plus
Money is invested in growth assets to offset inflation. These include Australian and overseas shares, Australian and overseas property, infrastructure, and alternative assets. While the fund expects to fluctuate more in market value than other funds, in the long term it is also expected to produce higher returns from capital growth than the other funds.