Rest delivers strong returns for FY2024/25 in support of members’ long-term financial future

Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, has again recorded a strong return for its flagship Growth investment option in the 2024/25 financial year, with the 12 months characterised by intermittent volatility and uncertain market conditions.

Rest’s MySuper default investment option, Growth, returned 9.85% for the 2024/25 financial year, a result that is ahead of its long-term 10-year and 20-year average returns.

With an average return of 8.33% per annum since inception on 1 July 1988, Growth continues to support the long-term financial futures of our members.

Listed shares were positive drivers of returns during the financial year and Rest’s investment options with a higher allocation to listed shares benefitted from this.

Overseas Shares – Indexed returned 16.39% and Sustainable Growth returned 14.93%, with Australian Shares – Indexed, Balanced – Indexed and High Growth also delivering double-digit returns.

For Rest’s Pension members, the default Balanced investment option delivered a return of 9.21%, also ahead of its long-term 10-year and 20-year average returns.

Rest’s interim co-Chief Investment Officer Kiran Singh says the strong result means the Growth option continues to exceed its investment objective¹, supporting our members to achieve their best-possible retirement.

"At Rest, we are dedicated to growing our members’ retirement savings over the long-term and I’m pleased we’ve delivered these results for our members,” says Mr Singh.

"The dominant US technology stocks continued their surge through to mid-March, before pulling back with the broader market following the US Government’s tariff announcements.

"The announcements caused heightened volatility, especially across global equity and bond markets. Despite this, both global and local markets recovered strongly, regaining ground and ultimately reaching all-time highs as conditions remained favourable for growth, particularly in the US.

"Locally, Australian banks outperformed while inflation continued to moderate and employment conditions improved.

"When it comes to listed markets, we continue to focus on investing in quality companies, a strategy which also helps see us through periods of high market and economic uncertainty."

Rest’s interim co-Chief Investment Officer Simon Esposito says the unlisted assets in the portfolio continued to deliver valuable diversification and stability, as well as a reliable and steady income.

"Many of Rest’s longstanding investments in high-quality real assets have performed well this year, such as our investments in the energy infrastructure sector, including renewables," said Mr Esposito.

"Rest has more than 1 million members aged 30 or younger – a 20-year-old member today may not retire until the year 2070 - which means we must look further ahead into the future than perhaps any other fund.

"This very long investment horizon allows us to take advantage of the benefits of real assets, and harness future-focused investment opportunities for our members.

"Our diversified and long-term approach helps us ride out market volatility with well balanced and resilient portfolios.

"This certainly helped us continue to deliver solid returns across an occasionally challenging year, and can in turn help our members feel secure and confident that their retirement savings continue to grow."

Investment returns are as at 30 June 2025. Returns are net of investment fees and costs, transaction costs, and tax, except for the Balanced Pension return, which is net of investment fees and costs, and transaction costs. The earnings applied to members’ accounts may differ. Growth's returns since the beginning on 1 July 1988 is an annualised return. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance. Returns are only one factor to consider when deciding how to invest your super.