Top Fund Management Companies in Australia

The fund management industry is an important sector of the Australian economy, managing assets worth approximately AUD 3.3 trillion in 2022, employing approximately 27,000 people, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This article explores the factors contributing to the industry's growth, key statistics, trends, challenges, and future outlook.

read full article below
Filter bySearch by company name, registration number or domain name
CompanyHeadcountContactDescriptionDecision Maker
CHARTER HALL700 +65 3103 2015
reits@charterhall.com.au

We go further to help investors, businesses and communities achieve their aspirations. With over 30 years’ experience in property investment and funds management, we’re one of Australia’s leading fully integrated property groups. We use our property expertise to access, deploy, manage and invest equity across our core sectors – Office, Industrial & Logistics, Retail and Social Infrastructure. Operating with prudence, we’ve curated a diverse $69.1 billion property portfolio of 1,548 high quality properties. With partnership at the heart of our approach, we’re creating places that help grow communities; turning them into the best they can be and unlocking hidden value. Taking a long-term view, our $16.0 billion development pipeline delivers sustainable, technologically enabled projects for our customers. Charter Hall has also extended its Fund Management capability with a 50% investment in the listed equities Fund Manager Paradice Investment Management (PIM), which invests on behalf o…

GBST462 +61 2 9253 6555
privacyofficer@gbst.com

GBST delivers technology and digital solutions to enable, support and scale wealth management organisations globally. Our team of experienced professionals create vital back, middle, and front-office solutions for wealth managers, life and pension companies, stockbrokers, fund managers, advisers, and investment managers, as well as offer financial tools and digital services to banks and loan providers. Founded in 1983, GBST works with more than 100 financial brands across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, and the UAE. Our leading-edge technology supports over 5.5 million investor accounts under administration with Direct to Consumer, Advised and Workplace channel solutions. Sign up to our online newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gFjfh6s5

BETASHARES130 +61 1300 487 577
info@betashares.com.au

Welcome to Betashares’ LinkedIn page – your home of daily ETF industry and investing insights. Betashares is Australia’s leading manager of exchange traded funds (ETFs) on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Trusted by hundreds of thousands of Australian investors, we are committed to empowering investors to reach their financial goals. Betashares offers the largest and most diverse range of ETFs in Australia providing investors with access to funds that cover Australian and international shares, fixed income, cash, currencies, commodities and alternative strategies. As of July 2022, Betashares currently has more than $21 billion in assets under management in over 70 funds.

FRONTIER ADVISORS95 +61 3 8648 4300
frontier@frontieradvisors.com.au

Australias number one ranked provider of advice and research for institutional investors*, Frontier Advisors has been offering independent and unbiased service for almost thirty years. With no product conflicts, no investment manager or broker tie-ups, and no affiliates competing with our clients, Frontier Advisors stands tall on the integrity of our advice and service. Our best ideas go to our clients. Frontier Advisors offers a wide range of innovative services in investment and manager research and advice, business consulting, quantitative solutions and governance and regulatory services. Employing around 100 staff, including more than 60 qualified investment professionals, our ratio of consultants to clients has built a record of strong, successful and enduring partnerships. Our Director and Principal Consultant level staff average nine years with Frontier and over 20 years industry experience giving Frontier a strong foundation of insights and expertise. Frontier is a founding …

FUNDS SA75 +61 8 8218 6400
fundssa@funds.sa.gov.au

Funds SA is the investment management partner for South Australian public sector superannuation funds and approved authorities. At Funds SA, our primary aim is to build prosperity for South Australians through global market access. We are a corporation owned by the Government of South Australia, established under our own legislation. Funds SA is Adelaide-based and globally connected. Our expertise and experience, international partnerships and investment capabilities drive our pursuit of future financial prosperity through global market reach. Funds SA invests over $40 billion on behalf of our clients. We employ a ‘managers of managers’ approach – global partnerships and investment reach that opens up a world of opportunity for our clients. This combined with expertise and knowledge, sophisticated investment solutions and agility, enable us to navigate the continually evolving financial landscape. Our team works with our investment partners across the world to research the finan…

MRS PROPERTY65 +61 8 8297 2400
admin@mrs.com.au

MRS Property is an independent property advisory, investment and asset management company specialising in commercial property. With offices in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, we take the time to get to know our clients and understand their needs to ensure their property investments are successful. Our key point of difference is our commitment to providing a professional, proactive, innovative, enthusiastic, and above all, personal service. We take the time to get to know our clients, to be available, and to truly seek the best outcomes for them in every property investment or transaction. We treat everybody’s property or investment as if it is our own. We know that owning and investing in commercial property can be time consuming, frustrating and overwhelming. At MRS, property is what we know and are passionate about, we love problem solving and finding the best solutions. As your trusted property advisor, we offer a range of services including: • Advisory and Consultancy; …

IG AUSTRALIA37 +65 6390 5133
helpdesk@ig.com.sg

We are Australia’s No.1 CFD & FX provider*. We give clients access to over 15,000 global financial markets through our CFD and Share Trading services. Our unrivaled product development, innovative technology and high standard of client service have set us at the forefront of the industry. Our clients include brokers, fund managers, trading companies and private investors. IG Group is a world-leading provider of CFDs and an established member of the FTSE 250. IG Group has over 185,000 trading clients and processes over 5 million transactions a month, with over 99% of them online. More about us: • An established global market leader • Providing clients with access to trade CFDs on over 6,000 shares, as well as forex, indices, commodities, options and more • Providing clients with access to trade shares on over 13,000 local and international markets • Serving retail and institutional clients in more than 164 countries • Headquartered in London with 17 offices around the world including…

PENDAL121 +61 1300 346 821

Pendal is an investment manager focused on delivering superior investment through active management. Our experienced, long-tenured fund managers have the autonomy to offer a broad range of investment strategies with high conviction based on an investment philosophy that fosters success from a diversity of insights and investment approaches. In 2023, Pendal became part of Perpetual Limited (ASX:PPT), bringing together two of Australia’s most respected active asset management brands to create a global leader in multi-boutique asset management with autonomous, world-class investment capabilities and a growing leadership position in ESG. Through the Perpetual and Pendal brands, Barrow Hanley, J O Hambro, Regnan, Trillium and TSW, we have a growing presence in the US, UK and Europe. Our specialist ESG-focused asset management firms, Trillium and Regnan are at the forefront of ESG thought leadership and provide leading sustainable and impact-driven investment strategies. Perpetual servi…

SALTER BROTHERS84 +61 3 9258 2100
info@salterbrothers.com.au

Salter Brothers is a global fund manager with a focus on specialist property, credit and private equity. With an established track record of acquiring, developing and managing high quality specialist property assets and private equity investments across Australia and USA, Salter Brothers have Group Assets Under Management of over AUD$3 Billion.

CAPSTONE FINANCIAL PLANNING38 +61 1300 306 900
info@capstonefp.com.au

Originally established in 2002, Capstone Financial Planning is one of Australia’s leading financial services Licensees. As a privately owned and operated organisation, Capstone is not owned by a bank, fund manager or financial institution. This distinctive positioning allows the group to offer tailored and flexible solutions to our Advisers, a quality becoming increasingly rare in an era of institutional consolidation. Rather than a one size fits all approach, our Advisers determine their client’s future based entirely on their needs and advice requirements. At Capstone, we truly are free from institutional influence. We focus on you; we create an environment conducive to business growth and provide a premium support structure to enable advice, business and client efficiencies. We understand that no business is the same and that’s why we have varying levels of authorisation. With in house, backroom operational support, Capstone Advisers enjoy many of the scale benefits genera…

BANNER ASSET MANAGEMENT22 +61 2 9262 2422
enquiries@bannerassetmanagement.com

Banner Asset Management is an alternative asset manager specialising in the provision of debt & equity opportunities in the Australian real estate market. We are part of the Banner Group, with investment professionals located in Australia, Singapore and Japan. Since 2010 Banner has invested across a range of real estate investment and development opportunities in the major population centres of Australia’s east coast. Banner partners with experienced privately owned real estate groups to source and deliver upon these opportunities. Banner provides real estate finance solutions across the capital spectrum in the form of senior debt, “stretch” senior and equity participation facilities to experienced, privately owned real estate groups within the Australian market. We seek attractive, risk-adjusted returns for investors while meeting the commercial needs of our project partners. Banner offers both pooled and contributory style funds to suit Wholesale, High Net Worth and Institutional …

IRONBARK ASSET MANAGEMENT44 +61 1300 363 992
client.services@ironbarkam.com

Founded in May 2009 by Ironbark Asset Management (Ironbark) is a provider of best-in-class asset management solutions. Ironbark seeks to build investment solutions that are relevant and meet the needs of its distributors and investors. To achieve this, Ironbark invests in quality people to deliver the highest service standards. Through our strategic partnerships with international and Australian fund managers, we provide investment solutions across a diverse range of asset classes including Australian & International Equities, Alternatives, Fixed Income and Domestic & Global Property Securities.

PFS CONSULTING35 +61 2 9225 6100
info@pfsconsulting.com.au

PFS provides specialist advice in areas including strategy, governance, compliance and licensing, risk management, financial modelling, group insurance, actuarial matters, employee benefits, and management of stakeholder relations. Our clients include AFS licensees, fund managers, superannuation funds, general insurers, life insurers and re-insurers, government agencies, credit unions, employers, and professional associations and industry bodies. Our highly experienced consultants and actuaries personally provide services to a wide range of corporate, government and institutional clients. PFS is an independent, employee-owned consultancy.

LAGUNA BAY40 +61 7 3062 2514
admin@lagunabay.com.au

Laguna Bay is a full service fund management and direct investment platform specialising in the Australian Food and Agriculture sector. Our team has a strong history of originating large-scale food and agricultural deals, accessing top decile operators and generating superior cash returns for institutional investment. The Laguna Bay Investment Team brings both the ability to source attractive Australian opportunities through their personal and corporate networks, and the financial acumen to analyse top performing assets for their investors. We offer a conduit between the relative value of Australian food and agribusinesses and the real asset portfolios of the world’s top institutional investors. The food and agriculture asset business is about people, trust, relationships and understanding the needs and culture of a community. Having walked on both the farming and the finance and commercial sides, we are able to offer solutions based on real world experience. This is our competitive…

NORTHCAPE CAPITAL32 +61 2 8234 3629
katie.orsini@northcape.com.au

Northcape Capital is an international boutique fund manager fully owned by its staff. We specialise in managing concentrated high-quality equity portfolios for clients. Significant value-added returns since our establishment in 2004 has facilitated growth in funds under management to more than A$10 billion. One of the keys to our success is our multiple portfolio manager structure, which encourages accountability, curiosity, constructive debate and diversity of thinking. This has been instrumental in attracting and retaining high calibre, experienced investment professionals across offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Tokyo. Our experienced investment team is focused solely on delivering strong performance for our clients over the long term. Research Our focus on critical thinking in our research process drives an informed assessment of a company’s sustainable competitive advantage. We believe that discovering and investing in high quality companies with a meaningful competitive advan…

HYPERION ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED23 +61 2 9276 3030
investorservices@hyperion.com.au

Hyperion is an outperforming boutique Global and Australian equities fund manager based in Australia. Hyperion manages quality equity portfolios for both institutions and for clients of financial advisers. Our investment process is focused on finding the highest-quality growing listed businesses that we believe can produce investment out-performance for clients over rolling 5+ year periods. The portfolios we create are concentrated and benchmark insensitive. Most recently the Hyperion Small Growth Companies Fund was named the top-performing small-cap fund of the decade by Mercer for the 10 years ending December 2019. Hyperion was named Morningstars Australian Fund Manager of the Year 2016, as well as being crowned the Domestic Equities - Large Caps Category Winner and Domestic Equities - Small Caps Category Winner. In previous years Hyperion also won the Australian Fund Manager of the Year awarded by Money Management and Lonsec.

SENTIENT IMPACT GROUP19 +61 3 8534 8060
enquiries@sentientimpact.com

Sentient Impact Group is challenging the world of investment by using capital at scale for positive, environmental, societal and financial impact. It builds on the legacy of Small Giants and Impact Investment Group with its decade-long track record of leadership and performance in impact investing. Sentient brings together a powerful combination of investment experience with deep expertise across clean energy, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity and social impact, with a high calibre team who are collectively driven to prove that capital can power the transition to a better and more sustainable world. Sentient Impact Group combines three business areas to become a leading global impact investor: • Sentient Funds: Develops products across different investment solutions and provides a platform for small-scale, mission-aligned fund managers to find a home by offering back-office, distribution, and other services. • Sentient Advisory: offers Impact and Corporate Strategy, Financial…

ASSOCIATE GLOBAL PARTNERS LIMITED (ASX:APL)22 +61 1300 052 054
invest@associateglobal.com

Associate Global Partners (AGP) is an independent, multi-boutique asset management firm. Our purpose is to provide Australian investors with access to unique, world-class investment strategies that help them achieve their financial objectives. At AGP, we partner with leading investment managers to provide a contemporary marketing and distribution platform that offers access to the retail, wholesale, and institutional investment market in Australia. With significant experience across business strategy, distribution, marketing, operations and compliance, our high-calibre team promotes and supports a range of strategies across multiple asset classes. The word ‘Associate’ means partnership and our mission is to partner with investment managers and clients for the long term. We seek to build quality relationships, based on trust and the strength of our expertise, and always endeavour to deliver exceptional service and results for our clients.

OPTION GROUP24 +61 1300 366 148

From its beginning as a mortgage broker, Option Group has grown and expanded into a diversified group of businesses that includes financial services, property, media and entertainment. We have helped investors build wealth through a disciplined strategic approach. Investors are assured by the fact we have procured $3 billion in loans, developing over $500 million in property assets and have in excess of $100 million in funds under management.

CENTENNIAL39 +61 2 9284 9666
privacy@centennial.com.au

In 2011, Jonathan Wolf and Lyle Hammerschlag identified a gap in the commercial property market where assets above $20m were often out of reach for individual or family office investors, yet the size and active management required to gain full value made them unattractive to larger fund managers. This opportunity for a team of innovative, value-add specialists became the foundation of Centennial. As the market evolved, so did we. Through our deep property network, we saw opportunities to apply our model to other sectors of the Australian property market. So, in 2018 we formed a partnership with one of the countries leading industrial and logistics specialists Paul Ford, who has built out a specialised team of industrial and logistics experts covering transactions, leasing, asset management and development. In 2021 we were pleased to appoint Adrian Taylor as Managing Director and Group CEO. Adrian was previously the Office CEO at Charter Hall, leading 120 office professionals across A…

Top Fund Management Companies in Australia

Factors Contributing to the Growth and Success of the Fund Management Industry

Government Initiatives

The Australian government has implemented various initiatives to support the growth and success of the fund management industry. One such initiative is the superannuation guarantee, which requires employers to contribute a percentage of their employees' earnings to a superannuation fund.

In addition, the government has implemented tax incentives for individuals and businesses to invest in managed funds, encouraging investment in the industry.

Industry Growth and Comparison to Previous Years

The fund management industry has experienced growth due to the increasing demand for investment products, driven by a growing population and a strong economy. In addition, the rise of passive investing, through index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has increased the accessibility of investing and lowered costs for investors.

The fund management industry in Australia has experienced steady growth in recent years, with a 9.2% increase in assets under management from 2021 to 2022. The superannuation industry is the largest sector within the fund management industry, managing approximately AUD 2.9 trillion in assets in 2022, followed by the managed funds industry, which managed approximately AUD 392 billion in assets.

Key Trends in the Fund Management Industry

Technological Disruptions

The fund management industry is constantly evolving, with technological disruptions playing a significant role in shaping its future. The adoption of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, has improved investment analysis and management, while the use of robo-advisors has increased the accessibility of investing for retail investors.

In addition, the development of cryptocurrency and blockchain-based investment products has the potential to disrupt traditional investment models and increase the accessibility of investing.

Sustainability

Sustainability has become a key focus for the fund management industry, with increasing pressure from investors and stakeholders to invest in companies that meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. The industry has responded by developing new investment products that focus on ESG factors and by incorporating ESG criteria into their investment analysis.

Challenges Facing the Fund Management Industry

Increased Competition

The fund management industry faces increasing competition from both traditional and non-traditional sources, such as banks and fintech companies. This has put pressure on fund managers to differentiate themselves and offer unique investment products and services to remain competitive.

Regulatory Challenges

The fund management industry is subject to regulatory challenges, such as increasing scrutiny of fees and charges, and increasing requirements for transparency and disclosure. These regulations can increase the cost of compliance for fund managers and put pressure on margins.

Future Outlook for the Fund Management Industry

The fund management industry in Australia is expected to continue experiencing growth in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for investment products and the adoption of new technologies. The shift towards sustainable investing is also expected to continue, with increasing pressure from investors and stakeholders.

However, the industry will also face challenges, such as increased competition and regulatory challenges. To remain successful, the industry will need to continue to innovate and adopt new technologies to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

One area of potential growth is in the development of new investment products that focus on ESG factors and sustainability. Australian companies have an opportunity to capitalize on this trend by developing new investment products and services that incorporate ESG criteria into their investment analysis.

Another area of potential growth is in the adoption of blockchain-based investment products, which can increase the accessibility of investing and reduce costs for investors. The development of cryptocurrency and blockchain-based investment products has the potential to disrupt traditional investment models and increase the accessibility of investing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the fund management industry is a critical component of the Australian economy, with a significant contribution to assets under management and employment. The industry has experienced steady growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand for investment products and government initiatives to support the industry.

Looking forward, the industry is expected to continue to grow and evolve, with opportunities for innovation and the adoption of new technologies. However, the industry will also face challenges, such as increased competition and regulatory challenges.

To remain successful, the industry will need to continue to adapt and innovate, developing new investment products and services that meet the changing needs of investors and incorporating sustainability and ESG factors into their investment analysis. With the right investments and initiatives, the fund management industry in Australia has the potential to continue to grow and contribute to the country's economic prosperity.

undefined's picture
By Melissa Goh
Published on 10 May 2023