Common investment options

I'm taking an interest in investing my super fund for the first time and would like to know what are the most common investment options used by super funds and professional investment managers.

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has cited the four most common options as follows:
• Growth. This represents 70-80% invested in shares or property. This aims for higher returns over the long-term, however, volatility of your fund will be high.
• Balanced. This represents 60-70% invested in shares or property, the rest in fixed interest and cash. This mix aims for reasonable returns, but less than growth funds in order to reduce the risk of losses in bad years.
• Capital stable. This represents 60-70% invested in fixed interest and cash (some invested in shares or property). This mix aims to reduce the risk of loss and therefore accepts a lower return over the long-term.
• Capital guaranteed. By law, this invests 100% with Australian deposit-taking institutions or in a capital guaranteed life insurance policy. This guarantees your capital and accumulated earnings cannot be reduced by losses on investments.

(Source: www.fido.asic.gov.au)

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