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Generate KiwiSaver Scheme Review

​Updated 5 June 2020
Summary of Generate KiwiSaver
  • Generate offers three funds - the Conservative Fund, Growth Fund and Focused Growth Fund. The funds are actively  managed, which means higher than average management fees, high returns, high risk, albeit without the high fund manager performance fees that usually come with aggressive funds.
  • Management fees are higher than other, more traditional, KiwiSaver schemes because Generate has to pay the fees of the underlying global equity managers; the funds Generate invests in charge as much as 1.25% p.a in some instances.
  • Generate claims that their team has selected external funds that are managed by strong teams, have robust investment processes and good track records. In their view this makes good performance in the future more likely, but the ongoing cost is passed on to investors.
  • As the name suggests, 'generate' is aimed at generating sustained, market-beating returns year-on-year. It's an aggressive scheme, aiming for long-term results. Both the Growth and Focused Growth funds are aimed at investors looking for market-beating returns.
  • Generate also offers a "Stepping Stones" aged-based platform, whereby you invest in a set portion of each of the three funds based on your age bracket (0-35, 36-45 etc). This is designed to grow your investment aggressively while you are young, and protect your money with more conservative assets like term deposits as you get older.
  • The scheme publishes fantastically clear fund updates, all of which show exactly where each fund invests at a granular level (a specific share, underlying global equity fund or cash investments), building confidence with investors. Their monthly newsletters show investment performance and top five holdings in each fund. Generate provides members with a full asset breakdown their investments (to an underlying fund level).
  • There are two types of fees; $3.00 per month is charged for being a member of the Generator KiwiSaver scheme, and once you start contributing to your fund, fees are on the higher-end (1.26% to 1.74%, depending on the fund).
  • Two of the funds recently won 'best in their class' in a 2018 report by Morningstar, an independent investment management research firm, confirming the returns are market-leading.
  • Between 1 April and 30 June 2018, Generator's funds under management skyrocketed to 18% to $837m, as the provider attracts new investors and generates market-beating returns.
  • There are performance fees, estimated to be 0.03% of the Growth Fund's net asset value, and 0.04% of the Focused Growth Fund's net asset value.
  • Switching between any Generate KiwiSaver fund is free. There are no joining fees or exit fees if you take your money to another fund.f
Pros & Cons
PROS
  • Three funds that offer a sliding scale of risk and return, clearly defined in investor statements.
  • Investors get an actively managed fund aimed at beating market returns year after year - the fund managers Generate invests with all have long-term average track records of delivering returns of over 10% p.a. to investors.
  • An age-based investing platform, which moves a higher proportion of an investor's money into conservative funds as they get older, allowing a 'set and forget' investment strategy to maximise returns while protecting wealth.

​CONS
  • High fees - this is due to the costs associated with the global funds Generate invests in and the costs involved in employing a New Zealand-based fund management team. Fees are similar to other growth-focused providers; for example the Milford KiwiSaver Plan and the Fisher Funds KiwiSaver Scheme. 
  • ​Underlying Managers Performance Fees - some underlying managers charge a performance fee; Generate does not. This means Generate is incentivised to invest into underlying funds offering the best trade-off between fees and returns.
Read this First: Fees, Performance and Understanding What's Best For Your Situation
A lot of media attention focuses on KiwiSaver fees, but this is only one thing to consider when picking the most suitable provider and fund for your retirement needs. Generate would likely argue fees should be far less of a consideration and instead point to the past returns (although this is no indication of future performance) and the value for money the fees offer given the services of leading international investment managers. We believe that being comfortable with what you're investing in is the most important aspect of saving for your retirement, not the fee you'll pay. 
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Our Review 
In this guide, we outline what the Generate KiwiSaver scheme is, what funds they offer to KiwiSaver members and how they're different to other funds, as well as looking at alternatives and the level of fees involved.
 
Please note: MoneyHub is not a Financial Adviser, and this guide has been published to explain the investment fundamentals and outline the pros and cons of Generate KiwiSaver as a KiwiSaver investment option.
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This Guide covers:
How does Generate compare with other options?

THE SPECS of the Generate KiwiSaver Funds, Fees and where your money is invested

  • Generate Investment Management Limited, a fund manager, is the manager of the three Generate KiwiSaver funds.
  • Up-to-date fund performance data is available every three months for each fund on the Generate website. 
  • Each of the five funds has a unique risk factor (1 = lowest, 7 = highest) and an annual management fee, as well as distinct investment profiles:​
1: Generate Conservative Fund
This fund invests 67% of its money into income assets (term deposits and fixed interest), and 33% in growth assets (equities and listed property).
  • Average annual return (after fees, pre-tax) since fund launch (2013): ~7.00%
  • Annual management fee: 1.26%
  • Risk factor: 3
  • Expected annual return: 

Investment Composition target:
  • New Zealand fixed interest 62.50%
  • Listed property 16.25%
  • Australasian equities 16.25%
  • Cash and cash equivalents 5.00%

We say: Generate's 'conservative' fund is more aggressive in structure and nature than many KiwiSaver 'moderate' funds, given the 33% exposure to property and equity investments. The active management means the investment managers are chasing the highest interest rates offered by banks and company bonds, while ensuring what they invest in has suitable credit ratings. The Conservative fund invests primarily in New Zealand assets; the top three recent holdings included Infratil (6%), an ASB term deposit (4%) and property company Arvida Group (3%); the fund is diversified with small holdings in a number of assets.

The annual management fee of 1.26% is higher than most 'conservative' funds operated by other KiwiSaver schemes, but as it's clear that this fund more resembles a 'moderate' fund (when the 33% allocation to specific growth investments is considered), the higher fees can be expected.

2: Generate Growth Fund
This fund invests 17.50% of its money into income assets (term deposits and fixed interest), and 82.50% in growth assets (underlying funds, direct equities, property and infrastructure assets).
  • Average annual return (after fees, pre-tax) since fund launch (2013): ~11.00%
  • Annual management fee: 1.57%
  • Risk factor: 4
  • Expected annual return: 

Investment Composition target:
  • International Equities: 42.50%
  • Listed property 20.00%
  • Australasian equities 20.00%
  • New Zealand fixed interest 15.00%
  • Cash and cash equivalents 2.50%

We say: Generate's Growth invests 82.50% in growth assets such as global shares and property. The managers favour investing in underlying funds, direct international equities and direct property and infrastructure. The top five recent holdings included shares in Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway (7%), New Zealand infrastructure giant Infratil (6%) and global asset management funds Platinum International Fund (6%), T Rowe Price Global Equity Fund (6%) and Magellan Global Fund (5%), which actively target undervalued companies with the aim of beating the market year after year.
3: Generate Focused Growth Fund
This fund invests 99% of its money into growth assets (equities and listed property) and 1% in cash, although this may be greater if market conditions deteriorate and the fund manager wants to limit exposure to equities.
  • Average annual return (after fees, pre-tax) since fund launch (2013): ~12.00%
  • Annual management fee: 1.74%
  • Risk factor: 4
  • Expected annual return: 

Investment Composition target:
  • Cash and cash equivalents 1.00%
  • Listed property 16.50%
  • Australasian equities 16.50%
  • International Equities: 66.00%

We say: Generate's Focused Growth Fund is designed to maximise returns by beating the markets it investments in. The 99.00% target allocation of growth assets means the investment managers invest in companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Alibaba. 

Generate's fund managers actively buy and sell investments in an effort to outperform global markets. A sizable proportion of the fund tends to be delegated to leading overseas fund managers, tasked with investing in companies that have a lot of potential to grow on their own entrepreneurial skills. Overseas fund managers often have access to the top management of such companies, giving them key information about whether strategies essential to growth are being successfully implemented. 

Generate Focused Growth fund is ultimately designed to take calculated risks that produce long-term investor returns above its Conservative and Growth funds.
Generate's 'Age Step' Fund Option - Stepping Stones and Stepping Stones Growth
Generate operates the 'Stepping Stones' platform, which allows your KiwiSaver fund to invest in a portion of each fund based on your age. The rationale behind the platform is simple - Generate wants to grow your savings with higher return/higher risk investments when you're younger and have more years to contribute and ride the markets. By the time you reach 56, your savings are invested in safer investments (like fixed-term deposits and some shares) which have a lower chance of decreasing in value before you reach retirement age.

Generate operates 'Stepping Stones' and 'Stepping Stones Growth' - the latter is a series of funds slightly more aggressive than its counterpart for investors under 50. The funds are differentiated by the investor's age - the younger you are, the more growth-focused the fund and the higher the fee.

Stepping Stones - Investor Age, Fund Composition and Fees
Age
Conservative Fund
Growth Fund
Focused Growth Fund
Risk (1 to 7)
Annual Fee
0-35
0%
5​0%
5​0%
4
1..66%
36-45
3​0%
35%
35%
4
1.54%
46-55
6​0%
2​0%
2​0%
3
1.42%
56-60
8​0%
2​0%
0%
3
1.32%
61-64
9​0%
1​0%
0%
3
1.29%
65+
10​0%
​0%
0%
3
1.26%
Stepping Stones Growth - Investor Age, Fund Composition and Fees
Age
Conservative Fund
Growth Fund
Focused Growth Fund
Risk (1 to 7)
Annual Fee
0-50
0%
100%
​0%
4
1.57%
51-55
30%
35%
35%
4
1.54%
56-60
60%
2​0%
20%
3
1.42%
61-64
90%
10%
0%
3
1.29%
65+
100%
0%
​0%
3
1.26%
How does Generate compare with other options?

Generate KiwiSaver - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

What Others Are Saying - Generate KiwiSaver in the Media
"The Generate KiwiSaver scheme offers Kiwis the chance to put their retirement savings into high-octane growth funds designed to be invested primarily in shares...the fund managers Generate would invest with all had long-term average track records of delivering returns of over 10 per cent to investors". 
- Rob Stock, Stuff.co.nz, February 2013
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"The biggest growth from April 1 to June 30 2018 came from KiwiSaver provider Generate, which saw its funds under management rise 17.7 per cent to $837 million. Generate is not a default scheme, which means it doesn't automatically get allocated any members from the government from those who are automatically enrolled".
- Tamsyn Parker, NZ Herald, August 2018

"Morningstar's (KiwiSaver survey to June 30), shows the performance of the saving scheme's various funds. Top performers among their peer group in the quarter were ANZ Default KiwiSaver Scheme Conservative, Generate KiwiSaver Conservative Fund, Summer Investment Selection, Generate KiwiSaver Growth Fund and Booster KiwiSaver Geared Growth".
- Susan Edmonds, Stuff.co.nz, July 2018

Who is the Generate KiwiSaver Scheme Suited To?

Generate proclaims that its International Equities Managers are managers who have proven themselves with 'outstanding track records over a long period of time', meaning when you invest in a Generate fund you are relying on the expertise of overseas and/or local fund managers to make the right investments. This is a major difference between many other KiwiSaver funds which either invest in cash and fixed-income assets, follow market indexes or cautiously invest in New Zealand shares.

Generate and its fund managers have a track record of outperforming markets and returning maximum value to investors.
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Standout Features:
  1. Very aggressive funds and market-beating returns - the Growth Fund and Focused Growth Fund are two of the best performing funds in their class in 2017 and 2018.
  2. In a sample of five Growth funds offered by Generate, ANZ, AMP, SuperLife and Simplicity, Generate returned the highest pre-tax growth in the year to 30 June 2018.
  3. The Stepping Stones age-based investment option, which assigns money into more conservative (i.e. less risky) holdings as the investor heads towards retirement age. Such options provide an excellent way to protect KiwiSaver balances while letting investors 'set and forget' their nest egg saving. 
  4. It's free to change funds; the monthly membership fee means you can move between funds as often as you like.

​Be aware:
  1. These are aggressive funds and are not suitable for short-term investments. 
  2. Fees are much higher than standard bank and index-following KiwiSaver schemes - this is due to the costs associated with investing in the underlying overseas funds.
  3. As with any investment, markets go up and down. The Dotcom bubble in the early 2000s sank global sharemarkets, as did the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. While many global sharemarkets are now at record highs, this is no guarantee of future earnings.
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The Bottom Line
  • Generate is not for the nervous. The fees are high; once you are in either of the Generate Growth funds, you're likely to be in it for the long term.
  • Depending on your KiwiSaver balance, other funds on other platforms can have cheaper management fees, but few will be investing in the same calibre of underlying funds. We have presented a comparison in the table below.
  • For example, the fee difference between the Simplicity Growth Fund (0.31%) and Generate Growth Fund (1.57%) for a $40,000 balance is $510 a year, or ~$25,000 over 25 years. In saying this, these two funds incomparable given Simplicity uses index fund investing, and Generate is actively managed. In any case, it is essential to shop around and compare fund objectives as well as fund fees if you're serious about having the biggest KiwiSaver nest-egg possible.
  • As an illustrative point, we have presented the annual performance of five growth funds below, as well as a table of their annual fees.
  • Generate does not charge any joining fees or exit fees, and you can transfer between funds for free as many times as you want. 
  • In terms of risk, each fund has a risk number (1 = lowest, 7 = highest). Only the Conservative Fund is rated a 3, both Growth funds are rated a 4. 
Fund Fee Comparison: How the Generate Growth Fund compares alongside other
​KiwiSaver Growth Funds
(KiwiSaver balances between $5,000 and $500,000)
Balance
Generate
​Growth Fund (1.57%)
Simplicity 
Growth Fund
(0.31%)
SuperLife80 
Growth Fund
(0.60%)
ANZ Growth Fund
(1.10%)
AMP
​Growth Fund 
​(1.29%)
$5,000
$115
$46
$60
$79
$88
$15,000
$272
$77
$120
$189
$217
$40,000
$664
$154
$270
$464
$539
$100,000
$1,606
$340
$630
$1,124
$1,313
$500,000
$7,886
$1,580
$3,030
$5,524
$6,473
Generate Growth Fund Annual Fee: 1.57% of total investment plus a $36 membership fee
Simplicity Growth Fund Annual Fee: 0.31% of total investment plus a $30 membership fee
SuperLife Superlife80 (Growth Fund equivalent) Annual Fee: 0.60% of total investment plus a $30 membership fee
ANZ Growth Fund Annual Fee: 1.10% of total investment plus a $24 membership fee
AMP Growth Fund Annual Fee: 1.29% of total investment plus a $23.40 membership fee
Growth Funds - Annual Performance (before tax) to 30 June 2018
KiwiSaver Provider
​Annual return (after deductions for charges but before tax) to 30 June 2018
Generate
15.21% per fund update
Simplicity
​11.63% per fund update
ANZ
11.52% per fund update
AMP
10.90% per fund update
SuperLife (SuperLife80 Fund)
7.22% per fund update
How does Generate compare with other options?

8 things to know about the Generate KiwiSaver scheme

Generate KiwiSaver is NOT a default scheme

Due to the nature of the growth-focused funds, the New Zealand government is not permitting Generate to be a default provider. For this reason, you will only find yourself investing with Generate if you either transferred into a fund or picked a fund when joining KiwiSaver. 
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No matter what your employer's default KiwiSaver provider or fund is, you are entitled to select a Generate KiwiSaver fund

Your employer may offer another default KiwiSaver provider, but any KiwiSaver member has the right to pick any one of the 20+ providers and the fund they want. If you feel a Generate KiwiSaver fund is right for you, then you can either join (if you're new to KiwiSaver) or switch your existing fund to a Generate. 
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There is no minimum investment and it's easy to take contribution holidays

As a Generate KiwiSaver member, you'll pay the $3.00 monthly membership fee. This gives you the freedom to invest as you like. And if you want to contribute to your fund at a level above your fixed salary contribution, you can do this by contacting the client services team. 

Dividends your fund receives are reinvested, meaning more cash is invested on your behalf

All of the three Generate KiwiSaver funds invest in shares, and many will pay dividends. These cash payments represent the profits from companies returning it to the shareholders, i.e. you. When a company declares a dividend, your fund will receive money and it is re-invested into more shares, growing the value of your fund. Despite being a cash payment, and as is the case with ALL KiwiSaver funds, there is no option to take this money as cash until you turn 65. 

Generate adopted a 'responsible investing' policy in September 2018

Generate looks at the goods and services companies produce and make sure they don't cause widespread harm. Specifically, direct and underlying fund investments into companies involved in cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines, chemical weapons, nuclear weapons, whaling and/or the manufacture of tobacco are prohibited as per the most recent responsible investing policy.
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​Signing up to Generate KiwiSaver isn't Complicated, but you’ll need to decide what fund to invest in first

Signing up to the Generate KiwiSaver scheme is fast and easy; Generate claims it can be done in two minutes. Before you go ahead, you’ll need to decide your fund first. Helpfully, the names of the three funds - Conservative, Growth and Focused Growth are free of buzzwords or spin.

All three funds are riskier than the standard bank offerings. Generally, if you're looking for a safe investment with the lowest risk of seeing your original investment fall, a conservative fund could be a suitable option. If you're looking for a higher return and are prepared to have your money in higher risk investments which could fall in value, a growth fund operates in this manner.

If you're not sure of what to invest in and want to have a range of options to pick from, look at Sorted's FundFinder tool which includes the Generate KiwiSaver funds.
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Generate is performance and growth focused

Banks dominate 80% of the KiwiSaver market, offering similar fund names and structures. Generate takes a completely different approach; with just three funds it is clear the scheme is all about growth and using international experts to outperform the market. 
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None of the funds invest specifically in New Zealand shares

All three funds invest in shares, but none of these are specifically investing in New Zealand shares - the target of each fund is described as 'Australasian'. This being said, recent fund reports showed top shareholdings included a number of New Zealand companies listed on the NZX. 

Generate also makes it clear that due to the active management style of its funds, the investment allocation targets are not fixed. For example, if a fund states its Australasian equities allocation target is 20%, it can still invest anywhere from 0% to 100% - the investment manager has ultimate control. 

Our Conclusion​

  • The Generate KiwiSaver scheme is aggressive and orientated around one single goal - building the biggest KiwiSaver fund possible for each investor.
  • With all three funds, investors can get exposure to the New Zealand sharemarket, Australian sharemarket, emerging markets, local and global bonds, global property as well as New Zealand cash deposits.
  • The higher the weighting of growth assets vs income assets increases, the higher annual management fee. This is expected to be offset by the long-term performance of the fund.
  • Operating since 2013, the scheme currently holds less than 2% of the total KiwiSaver funds invested. Despite its small position, the funds are becoming popular with existing KiwiSaver members looking for better returns knowing Generate funds are all long-term investments.

How does Generate compare with other options?
Do you have an experience with the Generate KiwiSaver scheme that you would like to share with our readers? Email our research team who would be delighted to hear from you.