Nikko AM Adds Two New Aggressive Funds To Its GoalsGetter Multi-Manager KiwiSaver Scheme

Scoop

02-07-2025

Addition of Milford Aggressive and new Nikko AM High Growth Fund alongside Generate Focused Growth Fund means returns-focused retirement savers can now spread their risk across three quality funds with a minimum 95% weighting to growth assets.
Nikko AM NZ has responded to the call from financial advisers for greater diversification within the high growth subsector of KiwiSaver with the launch of its own new fund and the addition of Milford's Aggressive fund to its multi-manager GoalsGetter KiwiSaver Scheme.
The GoalsGetter KiwiSaver Scheme, launched just over one year ago, enables advisers to curate personalised diversified portfolios for their clients from a handpicked selection of funds managed by some of New Zealand's leading fund managers. Importantly, these funds have all been pre-vetted by investment experts to assist with the selection process for advisers.
The new Nikko AM NZ High Growth Fund will comprise target allocations of 67% international equities, 24% Australasian equities and 7% listed properties, with just 2% allocated to cash. It will be managed by Nikko AM NZ's vastly experienced Portfolio Manager of Diversified Funds & External Managers, Alan Clarke. The Milford Aggressive Fund, which has target asset allocations of 95% Growth – also primarily through international equities – and 5% Income has returned 10.55% p.a. before tax since inception in 2019.
The GoalsGetter KiwiSaver Scheme also comprises three single-sector equity funds provided by Nikko AM and one from Generate with 100% exposure to growth assets: the Nikko AM SRI Equity Fund, Global Shares Fund, ARK Disruptive Innovation Fund and Generate Thematic Fund.
Nikko AM NZ Head of Distribution, Sam Bryden, says that with Kiwis now far more knowledgeable and engaged in investment markets than when KiwiSaver first launched, it's important that providers keep pace with changing trends and consumer preferences.
'The feedback that we've had consistently from advisers since launching the scheme last year is that their clients are becoming much more comfortable with exposure to high growth funds when risk appetite and investment timeframes allow – which is more than often the case for KiwiSaver investors.'
'For the majority of KiwiSaver members who have over 20 years of saving ahead of them before retirement, the default balanced setting will not match their savings ambition and long-term investment horizons – and having now experienced investment cycles, they have a growing appreciation that with time on their side, there's no need for defensive assets within their retirement portfolio.'
Certus NZ Financial Adviser, Chloe Robertson, says the ability to offer diversification across three pre-vetted, high quality aggressive funds is particularly attractive to clients with high balances who understand the need for exposure to high growth.
'Notwithstanding individual circumstance and risk profile, once you've bought your first home, we would generally advocate that you should have your KiwiSaver entirely in aggressive funds right through until at least your early to mid-fifties. Throughout this time in your life, you'll be focused on long-term outcomes and have time to keep going through investment cycles – so the question we ask clients, is why limit your savings potential with exposure to bonds or cash?' says Robertson.
'The clear benefit of the GoalsGetter KiwiSaver Scheme is that it offers two layers of risk protection through diversification: firstly through the pre-vetted diversified funds themselves, and then the ability to hedge on the unique strategies of all three.'
'For clients with larger balances still seeking exposure to high growth, I'd go so far as to say this is an essential risk mitigation measure.'
The addition of the two high growth funds brings the total number of funds in the GoalsGetter KiwiSaver Scheme to 20 across six of New Zealand's leading fund managers: Nikko AM, Milford, Generate, Salt, Harbour and Pathfinder.
With the recent release of the GoalsGetter app to complement a fully digital onboarding solution for advisers and their clients, it has never been easier for advisers to choose, set and track diversified KiwiSaver strategies that are personalised precisely to match their clients' savings objectives.
With US$246.1 billion* under management, Nikko Asset Management is one of Asia's largest asset managers, providing high-conviction, active fund management across a range of equity, fixed income, multi-asset and alternative strategies. In addition, its complementary range of passive strategies covers more than 20 indices and includes some of Asia's leading exchange-traded funds (ETFs).