Vincent Stranges
Generation Life has announced the expansion of its investment bond menu with five new options across private markets, geared strategies and global small caps. Detailed in the latest product information sheet, the enhancements provide access to asset classes traditionally reserved for institutional investors, adding greater choice and deepening diversification for investors and financial advisers seeking tax-efficient portfolio construction.
Private markets
Two new private market strategies offer exposure to private credit and unlisted property:
- MPC Wholesale Investments Fund, managed by Metrics Credit Partners, provides private credit exposure through income-generating lending strategies
- Charter Hall Diversified Property Portfolio offers access to high-quality unlisted property with long-term capital-growth potential.
Private assets complement traditional listed equities and fixed-interest exposures by enhancing diversification and smoothing returns across market cycles. Their lower correlation to listed markets and less-frequent valuations can also reduce overall portfolio volatility.
These additions coincide with a growing interest in private markets, with global private capital AUM projected to reach over US$18 trillion by 2027, up from US$10.89 trillion 2022[1]. Australian investors are increasingly turning to private capital markets for better returns, and the new options support that participation in a tax-efficient investment bond structure.
Geared funds
Two additional geared strategies provide professionally managed geared exposures, without personal borrowing or credit implications for investors:
- Generation Life Tax Effective Australian Share Fund (Geared) managed by Invesco
- iShares Hedged International Equity Index Fund (Geared) managed by BlackRock
The funds target a conservative 45 per cent loan-to-value ratio, and all borrowing costs of the fund are tax deductible within the fund to drive tax efficiency. Access to institutional borrowing rates – rather than retail borrowing rates – can further enhance cost effectiveness.
Global small caps
A global small-caps strategy delivers exposure to high-quality smaller companies with long-term growth potential.
- Langdon Global Smaller Companies Fund, managed by Langdon Equity Partners Limited – a specialist global small-cap strategy targeting high-quality companies with sustainable long-term growth characteristics
Small-cap allocations can complement broader global equities by providing exposure to earlier-stage, innovative businesses with differentiated sources of return.
Vincent Stranges, Head of Product at Generation Life, said the enhancements strengthen Generation Life’s position as a pioneer and market-leader in investment-bond innovation.
“Investor expectations have changed. People want access to the tools and opportunities that have driven institutional portfolios, but without the complexity or barriers to entry that usually come with them. That’s exactly what this expansion to our investment menu is designed to achieve.”
“By offering these strategies within an investment bond structure, investors and financial advisers can access them more easily, in a way that supports their long-term goals. Ultimately, it’s about broadening access to high-quality investment opportunities that are genuinely meaningful and aligned with the evolving needs of investors and financial advisers.” Mr Stranges concluded.
As Australia’s leading provider of investment bonds, Generation Life remains committed to delivering forward-thinking solutions that optimise after-tax outcomes and empower advisers and investors to build lasting wealth with confidence.