Spotlight: InvestSMART High Growth Portfolio
It's been more than a decade since InvestSMART launched our first investment portfolios. The High Growth Portfolio was the second of our diversified portfolios to hit the market, making its debut on 27 October 2014. Here's what you need to know.
About the InvestSMART High Growth Portfolio
The High Growth Portfolio invests in a portfolio of five to 15 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with an emphasis on growth assets such as Australian and international shares.
It is best suited to Aussies saving for longer-term goals, including retirement, as the minimum suggested investment timeframe is seven years or more.
Here are a few quick facts about the High Growth Portfolio:
- Inception date: 27 October 2014
- Suggested timeframe: 7 years
- Risk: High
- Minimum initial investment: $10,000 (or $4,000 with Fundlater)
- Management fee: 0.44% p.a. capped at $880 p.a.
- Admin fee: 0.11% p.a. includes buy-side brokerage costs.
- Benchmark Index: Morningstar® Australia Aggressive Target Allocation NR AUD
Where does the InvestSMART High Growth Portfolio invest?
The High Growth Portfolio has a high allocation of growth assets, with 48.5% invested in international equities, 36.5% in Australian equities, and 6% in property and infrastructure as at 31 July 2025. The remaining 9% is in fixed interest (5%) and cash (4%).
The ETFs that InvestSMART currently includes in the High Growth Portfolio are:
- Betashares Australian High Interest Cash ETF (ASX: AAA)
- iShares Core Composite Bond ETF (ASX: IAF)
- VanEck FTSE Global Infrastructure (Hedged) ETF (ASX: IFRA)
- iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ)
- Vanguard Australian Property Securities Index ETF (ASX: VAP)
- Vanguard Global Aggregate Bond Index (Hedged) ETF (ASX: VBND)
- Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)
Some of the top underlying ETF holdings include Commonwealth Bank, BHP, NVIDIA, Microsoft and Goodman Group.
What are the fees?
The annual management fee is 0.44% - that's $44 a year on a $10,000 investment (the minimum). The management fee is capped at $880 a year for balances of $200,000 or more.
A flat 0.11% admin fee covers all buy-side brokerage, so you can top up your investments without extra costs.
Brokerage does apply when selling (including during rebalances) at $4.40 per trade, or 0.044% of the trade value (whichever is higher).
There are also indirect costs charged by the underlying ETFs and for the High Growth Portfolio these are estimated to be 0.13% a year.
How has the InvestSMART High Growth Portfolio performed?
The High Growth Portfolio has provided a great return for investors, averaging 9.06% a year since its inception in October 2014. So what does that mean in dollar terms? Well, if you had invested $10,000 in the High Growth Portfolio when it first launched, your investment would have been worth $25,546 at the end of July 2025.
In the 12 months to the end of July 2025, the High Growth Portfolio returned 13.37%.
InvestSMART High Growth Portfolio performance
|
|
1 yr |
3 yrs p.a. |
5 yrs p.a. |
SI p.a.1 |
|
Capital return |
9.87% |
9.77% |
8.70% |
6.23% |
|
Income return |
3.50% |
3.63% |
3.37% |
2.83% |
|
Total return |
13.37% |
13.40% |
12.07% |
9.06% |
Returns to 31 July 2025. 1Since inception on 27 October 2014.
How does the InvestSMART High Growth Portfolio compare to its peers?
The High Growth Portfolio has outperformed the majority of its peers both over the short and long term. As you can see from the table below, the High Growth Portfolio has returned 12.07% p.a. over five years. The average annualised returns of the peer funds in this category was 9.93% over that same period.
High Growth Portfolio performance vs peers
|
|
1 yr |
3 yrs p.a. |
5 yrs p.a. |
SI p.a. 1 |
|
High Growth Portfolio |
13.37% |
13.40% |
12.07% |
9.06% |
|
Average of peers |
12.59% |
11.46% |
9.93% |
6.68% |
|
Excess to peers |
0.78% |
1.94% |
2.14% |
2.38% |
Returns to 31 July 2025. 1Since inception on 27 October 2014.
With a flat admin fee of 0.11% a year and a management fee of 0.44% per year (capped at $880 per year), the High Growth's annual fee is lower than the average fee of its peer funds, which is sitting at 1.07% a year at the time of writing.
Key takeouts
The InvestSMART High Growth Portfolio is a great option if you are saving for the long term and are comfortable with a degree of volatility as there's a very high allocation to growth assets.
The fees are competitive and the portfolio's long-term returns have been strong, with the portfolio outperforming the majority of its peers over one, three and five years as well as since its inception more than 10 years ago.
If you'd like help selecting the right InvestSMART ETF portfolio for you check out our free statement of advice quiz. It will show you which one may best suit your goals and investment timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The InvestSMART High Growth Portfolio is a diversified investment option that focuses on growth assets, primarily through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It is designed for long-term investors, particularly those saving for retirement, with a suggested investment timeframe of seven years or more.
The High Growth Portfolio invests in a mix of Australian and international equities, property and infrastructure, cash, and fixed interest. As of December 2024, it had 46% in international equities, 36% in Australian equities, 6% in property and infrastructure, 7% in cash, and 5% in fixed interest.
The portfolio has a management fee of 0.44% per year, capped at $880 annually for balances of $200,000 or more. Additionally, there is a flat admin fee of 0.11% per year, which includes buy-side brokerage costs. Indirect costs from underlying ETFs are estimated at 0.13% annually.
Since its inception in October 2014, the High Growth Portfolio has averaged an annual return of 8.86%. For example, a $10,000 investment at launch would have grown to $23,750 by the end of December 2024, representing a 137.5% increase.
The High Growth Portfolio has consistently outperformed its peers, with a five-year annualized return of 8.91% compared to the peer average of 6.37%. It also has lower fees, with a total annual fee of 0.55% compared to the peer average of 1.03%.
The minimum initial investment for the High Growth Portfolio is $10,000. However, with the Fundlater option, you can start with as little as $4,000.
Some of the top underlying ETF holdings in the High Growth Portfolio include major companies like Commonwealth Bank, BHP, Apple, Goodman Group, and NVIDIA.
The High Growth Portfolio is ideal for investors with long-term goals who are comfortable with high-risk investments due to its significant allocation to growth assets. If you're unsure, InvestSMART offers a free statement of advice quiz to help determine the best portfolio for your needs.
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