Home > What is an Equity Fund?
Overview
Equity funds are managed funds which invest primarily in companies. You can choose equity funds that invest in Australian shares, international shares or a combination of both. If you decide to invest in Australian equity funds, you could opt for managed funds that mirror the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (a passive or index fund) or one where the fund manager seeks to outperform the index.
Growth equity funds are those where the fund manager selects shares they believe are likely to outperform the market. The Wilson HTM Priority Growth Fund is an example of a High Growth Australian equity fund, while the Wilson HTM Priority Core Fund has a Growth risk/return profile.
What are Managed Funds?
Managed funds, also known as unit trusts, allow investors to pool their money with others, thus enabling them to invest in assets and markets that may be difficult to access individually. Managed funds are run by investment professionals and come in a variety of forms including fixed interest, property and equity funds or a combination of these.
Why Invest in Managed Funds?
Managed funds provide diversification. For example if you want to invest in shares but only have $1,000, you are usually limited to buying only a few companies. If those companies perform badly, you could risk losing much of your money. However if you invest in equity funds, depending on the fund’s strategy, you may have an interest in 20 to 100 or more different companies.
You can also choose managed funds that reflect your desire for returns taking into account your risk tolerance. For example, equity funds are usually higher risk compared to fixed interest managed funds, but they often have a higher return over the long term.
Read more about our Wilson HTM Priority Growth Fund and Wilson HTM Priority Core Fund.