Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme

Why choose a Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme?Header

Sharesies built their KiwiSaver Scheme around one core idea: you should have a say in where your retirement savings go. Most providers offer a handful of pre-set funds and that’s it. Sharesies takes a different approach.

With the self-select option, you can invest up to half your KiwiSaver balance in individual companies and ETFs—the kind of control that used to be reserved for people with a financial adviser and a much bigger balance. There are guardrails in place too, so each pick can only make up a maximum of 5% of your investment plan. It’s flexibility with some sensible limits baked in.

Their investment plan builder is worth a look, even if you’re just curious. It walks you through the different base funds and self-select options, gives you an idea of fees, and shows you an overall risk rating for your plan. You can save your plan and come back to it, or jump straight in.

If you care about ethical investing, the Sharesies Pathfinder Ethical Growth Fund is one of the base fund options. And for those keen on US market exposure, the Sharesies US500 Fund tracks the S&P 500 at a low annual fund charge of just 0.09%.

Still weighing up your options? You can compare Sharesies with other KiwiSaver providers on Glimp to get a clearer picture.

Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme Fees

Fees on the Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme depend on how you set up your investment plan. If you stick with base funds only, you’ll pay just the annual fund charge for each fund you’ve chosen. These range from 0.09% for the Sharesies US500 Fund up to 1.48% for the Sharesies Pie Global Growth 2 Fund.

Things get a bit more layered if you use self-select investments. On top of the annual fund charges on your base funds, you’ll pay a transaction fee each time you buy or sell your picks—1% on amounts up to $1,000, then 0.1% for anything above that. There’s also a 0.15% annual administration fee on the balance of your self-select picks.

Investing in anything denominated in US dollars—like the Sharesies US500 Fund or US self-select picks—means a 0.50% currency exchange fee applies when buying or selling. All fees are included in unit prices or deducted at the point of transaction.

Worth noting: All fees are tax deductible which means they offset the income you earn and decrease the tax you pay, Sharesies does all the tax work for you using your PIR to make things efficient.

 

Types of Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme Funds – Fees, Returns, Management

Sharesies offers nine base funds across four risk categories: high growth, growth, balanced, and conservative. Each base fund invests solely in one underlying fund, managed by established fund providers like Milford, Pathfinder, Pie Funds, Generate, Fisher Funds, Vanguard, and Smart. Here’s a closer look at each one.

Sharesies Milford Aggressive Fund

This one’s built for investors who are comfortable riding out the ups and downs in exchange for the potential of higher long-term returns. It invests in the Milford Aggressive Fund, which focuses primarily on international equities with a moderate allocation to Australasian shares. The suggested investment timeframe is 10 or more years, and the annual fund charge sits at 1.15%. If you’re in this for the long haul and can handle some volatility, it’s a solid option to consider.

Sharesies US500 Fund

Want exposure to the biggest companies in the US? The Sharesies US500 Fund invests in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, which tracks the 500 largest US-listed companies. The annual fund charge is just 0.09%. Keep in mind there’s also a 0.50% currency exchange fee when buying or selling, since the underlying fund is held in US dollars. Recommended for a 10+ year investment timeframe.

Sharesies Generate Focused Growth Fund

This fund invests in the Generate Focused Growth Managed Fund and is designed to maximise growth over the long term. It sits in the high growth category with a suggested timeframe of 8 or more years and an annual fund charge of 1.31%. A good pick if you’re after an actively managed growth option with a New Zealand-based fund manager.

Sharesies Pie Global Growth 2 Fund

Investing in the Pie Global Growth 2 Fund, this option gives you exposure to global equities through an actively managed approach. It has the shortest suggested timeframe of the high growth funds at 5+ years, though the annual fund charge of 1.48% is the highest among the Scheme’s base fund options. Worth considering if you like the idea of active global management with a slightly shorter time horizon.

Sharesies Pathfinder Ethical Growth Fund

For investors who want their money to reflect their values, this fund invests in the Pathfinder Ethical Growth Fund. Pathfinder screens out companies involved in things like fossil fuels, weapons, and gambling, and actively invests in businesses making a positive impact. The annual fund charge is 1.33% with a suggested timeframe of 8-10 years. It’s a meaningful option if ethical investing matters to you.

Sharesies Smartshares Growth Fund

This fund invests in the SuperLife Growth Fund, providing diversified exposure to domestic and global growth assets. At 0.51% annually, it’s one of the more affordable growth options in the Sharesies lineup. The suggested timeframe is 9 years. A straightforward choice if you want broad growth exposure without the higher fees of actively managed funds.

Sharesies Fisher Funds Growth Fund

Investing in the Fisher Growth Fund, this option is backed by one of New Zealand’s most well-known fund managers. The annual fund charge is 1.20% and the suggested investment timeframe is 7 years. Fisher Funds has a long track record in the NZ market, which some investors find reassuring.

Sharesies Smartshares Balanced Fund

Looking for something in the middle? The Smartshares Balanced Fund invests in the SuperLife Balanced Fund, which splits between growth and income assets. It’s rated as medium risk with a suggested timeframe of 6 years and an annual fund charge of 0.50%. This is a good fit if you want some growth potential but aren’t ready to go all-in on higher-risk funds.

Sharesies Smartshares Conservative Fund

The most cautious option in the lineup, this fund invests in the SuperLife Conservative Fund. It leans heavily toward income assets like bonds and cash, with a smaller allocation to growth assets. The annual fund charge is 0.47%and the suggested timeframe is 4years. It’s designed for people who prefer stability over chasing higher returns, or those getting closer to using their KiwiSaver for a first home or retirement.

 

Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme Self-Select Investments

This is where Sharesies really stands out. On top of your base funds, you can choose to invest up to 50% of your KiwiSaver balance in PIE funds holding individual companies and ETFs listed on both the NZX and US exchanges. There are over 160 options to pick from.

Each individual pick can make up a maximum of 5% of your investment plan, which keeps things diversified even if you’re picking your own investments. And you can change your picks whenever you like—there’s no lock-in period or penalty for switching things around.

Self-select does come with additional fees (the transaction and admin fees mentioned above), so it’s worth thinking about whether the extra control is worth the cost for your situation. If you’re not sure, starting with base funds only is a perfectly good approach—you can always add self-select picks later.