Investment concepts

Balancing risk and return

We have a range of investment options for you to choose from, each offering a different mix of the same ingredients. Those ingredients are growth assets and income assets. Growth assets are best suited to long-term saving. Income assets are best suited to short-term saving. Here’s why.

Diversification

One of the advantages of saving with the scheme is that your savings are spread across many different investments across a range of asset classes. Different assets perform differently in different market conditions. For instance, fixed-interest investments such as bonds might produce solid returns at a time when shares are underperforming and vice versa. By spreading your investments across different asset classes, you can reduce the volatility of your overall portfolio while maintaining your expected return. This is referred to as asset diversification. The exposure to each investment class varies depending on which investment option(s) you choose.

Investment risk

All investments involve an element of risk. Risk can be described as the uncertainties both for loss and growth that may affect the value of an investment. Some of the things that may cause a fund’s value to move up and down are market risk, investment return risk, currency risk and liquidity risk.

Market risk

From time to time, market conditions will materially and adversely affect the scheme’s investments. Risks related to market conditions include movements in the general price level of an investment, changes in demand and supply in the market or sectors in which an investment is made and changes in political, economic and regulatory conditions.

Investment return risk

Investment assets offering the highest expected long-term returns also carry with them the highest risk. Those investment options in the scheme that have more growth assets (such as shares) are likely to be more risky, and those that have more income assets (such as fixed interest and cash) are likely to be less risky.

Currency risk

Some of the scheme’s investments are made in currencies other than New Zealand dollars. While currency fluctuations can affect returns positively, there is also a risk they can affect returns negatively.

Liquidity risk

This is the risk that the scheme may not be able to meet its monetary obligations in a timely manner. This would arise if we are unable to cash up investments in time to pay benefits to members or meet other financial obligations.
Sometimes it helps to talk to an expert when making decisions about your super. PSS has engaged Mercer to provide a limited financial advice service to members. You can receive advice about anything to do with your savings in the scheme. There is no individual charge to you for this service. To arrange a time to talk, sign in to your account online and complete a call-back request form.