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Kernel KiwiSaver Scheme
Kernel KiwiSaver Scheme is a KiwiSaver provider that runs 25 KiwiSaver funds, has 21,077 members, manages $810 million, or 0.6% of the KiwiSaver market.
About Kernel KiwiSaver Scheme
Kernel Wealth is a New Zealand-owned index fund manager founded in 2018, with its KiwiSaver scheme launched in 2022. It focuses on passive index funds that track market indices directly rather than selecting individual stocks. The range is broad for a newer provider, spanning diversified funds alongside single-sector, thematic and ESG-tilted options across shares, property, infrastructure, bonds and cash. Most funds carry a low base management fee, with no separate membership fee, and the scheme is still young enough that it does not yet have a five-year KiwiSaver return history.
Key facts
- Ownership
- NZ-owned
- KiwiSaver scheme established
- 2022
- Investment approach
- Passive indexing
- KiwiSaver funds under management
- $810 million (0.6% of the KiwiSaver market)
- Members
- 21,077
- Average member balance
- $38,478
- KiwiSaver funds offered
- 25
- Annual fee range
- 0.25% – 0.45%
Fund range by risk profile
- Defensive: 3 funds
- Conservative: 1 fund
- Balanced: 1 fund
- Aggressive: 20 funds
How has Kernel KiwiSaver performed?
Their funds are under 5 years old. Over the last 3 years, their highest-returning fund was the High Growth Fund, at +14.6% a year after fees and tax.
| Risk profile | Fund | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive | Kernel Cash Plus Fund | +2.6% |
| Balanced | Kernel Balanced Fund | +10.5% |
| Aggressive | Kernel High Growth Fund | +15.8% |
KiwiSaver funds offered by Kernel KiwiSaver Scheme
| Fund | Risk profile | Annual fee | 1 year | 5 years p.a. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kernel Cash Plus Fund | Defensive | 0.25% | +2.6% | Not reported |
| Kernel NZ Bond Fund | Defensive | 0.40% | +3.5% | Not reported |
| Kernel US Bond Fund | Defensive | 0.30% | +1.0% | Not reported |
| Kernel Conservative Fund | Conservative | 0.25% | Not reported | Not reported |
| Kernel Balanced Fund | Balanced | 0.25% | +10.5% | Not reported |
| Kernel Australia 100 Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | Not reported | Not reported |
| Kernel Emerging Markets Fund | Aggressive | 0.45% | +19.7% | Not reported |
| Kernel Global Esg (NZd Hedged) Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +12.2% | Not reported |
| Kernel Global Esg Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +14.2% | Not reported |
| Kernel Global Infrastructure (NZd Hedged) Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +13.2% | Not reported |
| Kernel Global Infrastructure Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +16.3% | Not reported |
| Kernel Global Property (NZd Hedged) Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +4.0% | Not reported |
| Kernel High Growth Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +15.8% | Not reported |
| Kernel NZ 20 Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +3.0% | Not reported |
| Kernel NZ 50 Esg Tilted Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +5.0% | Not reported |
| Kernel NZ Commercial Property Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +7.5% | Not reported |
| Kernel NZ Small & Mid Cap Opportunities Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +11.9% | Not reported |
| Kernel S&P 500 (NZd Hedged) Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +12.6% | Not reported |
| Kernel S&P 500 (Unhedged) Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +15.1% | Not reported |
| Kernel S&P Global 100 (NZd Hedged) Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +21.6% | Not reported |
| Kernel S&P Global 100 Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +24.3% | Not reported |
| Kernel S&P Global Clean Energy Fund | Aggressive | 0.45% | +85.3% | Not reported |
| Kernel S&P Global Dividend Aristocrats Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | +13.8% | Not reported |
| Kernel World Ex-US (NZd Hedged) Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | Not reported | Not reported |
| Kernel World Ex-US Fund | Aggressive | 0.25% | Not reported | Not reported |
Figures are after fund charges and tax, sourced from the FMA Disclose Register. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.