Managed Funds

A managed fund is money pooled together by many investors. That money is then invested by a manager in shares of say public companies or in other assets on behalf of all those investors.

Generally the managed fund receives income and pays out some of that income as a regular ‘distribution’ to the investors.

The value of the investment rises or falls depending on the value of the underlying shares or other assets.

The manager of a fund is called the investment manager or fund manager.

Are managed funds suitable for me?

Managed funds are for people with at least $10,000 to invest, who are mortgage and debt free and who do not need their money back over the next few years.

The two big advantages of managed funds are:

 the funds are managed by professionals and

 they give the small investor diversification and access to investing opportunities often not otherwise accessible.

Investing in managed funds usually makes good economic sense if you go about it the right way.

Managed funds - the status

In March 2013, Australian managed funds had a market value of AU$1,663 billion. The following table shows where those funds were invested:

The market capitalisation of all companies listed on ASX at 31 March 2013 was AU$1,421 billion. This includes of course a significant part of the "Domestic Equities Investments" shown in the above table.

Australian industry, capital markets and the economy have benefitted hugely from the investment in managed funds over the past twenty years.

Steps to investing in a managed fund

There are advantages for the investor in managed funds (and also some pitfalls) irrespective of where those funds are ultimately invested. If you are thinking of investing in a managed fund, we strongly recommend you go through the following webpages in sequence:

Where to start

Be warned

Getting advice

Fees and costs

Selecting a fund

Buying a fund

Monitoring fund performance

Selling a fund

Master Trusts and Wrap Accounts

Tax consequences