What are self-select funds?
Self-select funds let members invest their pension savings in funds outside the default option. This gives them more control over their investments. It also means they can invest in funds that line up with their personal values and beliefs, such as sustainability-focused funds or funds that align with religious beliefs.
The value of a pension can go down as well as up, so members could get back less than paid in.
Fund management and diversification
Available to members of the Aviva Master Trust, the self-select range includes funds managed by Aviva Investors, our in-house asset manager, plus funds from leading fund managers such as BlackRock, HSBC and Schroders.
As well as being managed by global asset managers, the range of self-select funds is diversified, not just in the types of assets they invest in, but also geographically. The funds invest in all the main asset classes, including equities, bonds and property. Depending on the fund, they may invest in the UK or overseas or both.
There are funds to suit different risk appetites, so members can choose funds that match the risk they want to take with their investments. We also have a mix of actively managed funds and passive/index tracker funds for members to choose from.
Take a look at the Aviva Master Trust Standard Self-Select Fund List.
Strong governance
Governance plays a major role in making sure funds are performing as expected. At Aviva, we use a structured approach to monitoring and analysing funds, which highlights solutions to improve performance where necessary.
Read more about Aviva’s structured governance process.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a key concern for the Aviva Master Trust Trust Board. Its range of self-select funds includes ethical funds and funds that take environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into consideration.
These funds give members the opportunity to invest their pension savings in funds that align to their values and beliefs.
ESG considerations are fundamental to these funds’ investment strategies, which may also exclude areas that do not meet certain standards, such as human rights, labour, anti-corruption and the environment.
Shariah Funds
The Aviva Master Trust offers a range of Shariah Funds, designed to meet the needs of Muslim members and other investors looking for a faith-based solution. The range includes the HSBC Islamic Global Equity Index Tracker Fund, the HSBC Shariah Multi Asset Fund, the HSBC Global Sukuk Index Fund, and funds that make up the Aviva Shariah Investment Strategy (the Shariah Long Term Growth Fund, the Shariah Growth Fund and the Shariah Consolidation Fund).
These funds invest exclusively in securities that meet Islamic investment principles and therefore exclude sectors which are not permissible according to the Islamic faith.
Stewardship Funds
The Stewardship Funds are managed by Aviva Investors.
Environmental and social exclusion screens are applied to the funds at the outset of the investment process to exclude companies and sectors that don’t meet our minimum sustainability standards.
Companies are then identified for investment in the funds using Aviva Investors' three sustainability pillars - Climate, Earth and People. Companies must demonstrate that they contribute to one or more of the sustainability pillars.
Find out about the funds in our Stewardship Philosophy.
Managing their investment choices
With the self-select range of funds, members can choose to invest in areas and ways that match their personal criteria, whatever they might be. Having a clearer idea of where their money is going, can make saving for retirement more engaging and satisfying for members.
Your members can research, manage and change their investment choices online with MyAviva.
