Super fund introduces ethical index option

The Ethical Index Shares option is comprised of 50 per cent Australian shares and 50 per cent international shares, with an annual investment fee of 0.3 per cent and an indirect cost ratio of 0.08 per cent.

It is the first ethically screened index shares option offered by a superannuation fund according to Christian Super.

A full list of the fund’s holdings on the website shows investments in companies such as Caltex, milk manufacturer a2 Milk and the big four banks, as well as international shares in groups such as Amazon, Apple and BHP.

“We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to respond to feedback from financial advisers who have values-aligned clients looking for this kind of option from their superannuation fund,” Ross Piper, chief executive of Christian Super, said.

“This new investment option provides low-fee equity exposure while continuing to incorporate our signature ethical screens.”

Christian Super has also launched a new Ethical Growth Plus investment option, with an 84 per cent allocation to growth assets and an investment objective of 3.5 per cent above inflation over a 10-year period.

Around 12 per cent of the assets in this option are allocated to impact investments, the highest out of the fund’s eight investment options.

Christian Super now has around 27,000 members and $1.5 billion in funds under management. The fund aims to invest ethically in line with Christian values.