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Fund-vs-fund · Diversified

Booster Socially Responsible High Growth FundvsMilford Conservative Fund

Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund (fund size NZ$872.7 million, annual fund charge 1.35%) and Milford Conservative Fund (fund size NZ$939.2 million, annual fund charge 0.85%) are both diversified managed funds, as shown on Sorted Smart Investor on 22 May 2026; for the year to 31 March 2026 their 1-year returns after fees and tax were 5.74% and 1.83%, per their quarterly fund updates filed on FMA Disclose.

How much do these two overlap?

They hold 86 of the same securities. If you held both, roughly 7.2% of your money would be in the same companies — so the diversification you get from holding the pair is smaller than holding two funds suggests.

7.2%
Shared holdingBooster SociallyMilford ConservativeMin weight
Microsoft2.34%0.47%0.47%
Amazon.com1.92%0.39%0.39%
Spark New Zealand0.61%0.31%0.31%
Bank of America0.27%0.38%0.27%
Kiwi Property Group0.25%0.25%0.25%
Mercury NZ1.22%0.24%0.24%
Infratil1.74%0.21%0.21%
GOODMAN GROUP0.21%0.28%0.21%
MARKS & SPENCER GROUP0.20%0.24%0.20%
Transurban Group0.19%0.20%0.19%

Min weight is the smaller of the two weightings — if you hold both funds, that is the floor of your exposure to that position. Direct holdings only: anything either fund holds through an underlying fund or ETF is not counted, so the real overlap can only be higher. From each fund's FMA Disclose full portfolio filing.

Where you can buy these

Platform availability confirmed within the last 180 days. This is a statement of availability, not a recommendation — ManagedFundsNZ is not a Financial Advice Provider. Check the current PDS before investing.

Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund

No platform availability confirmed. Usually means it is bought directly from the manager — check their site.

Milford Conservative Fund

Why these two differ

The most material structural difference between these two funds is their asset allocation. The Milford Conservative Fund holds 23.37% in growth assets, classifying it as a conservative portfolio anchored in fixed income — its top holdings are all New Zealand government and local government bonds. The Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund sits at the opposite end of the spectrum, with 98.37% in growth assets and top positions in global equities including NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft, alongside Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. This divergence in construction is reflected directly in their risk indicators: Milford Conservative carries a rating of 3 out of 7, while Booster Socially Responsible High Growth carries a 5 out of 7.

The five-year return figures follow the same pattern. Booster's fund returned 6.76% per annum over five years against Milford's 2.5%, though higher historical returns in growth-oriented funds are typically accompanied by greater volatility and the possibility of larger short-term losses. Fund sizes are comparable — NZD 939 million versus NZD 873 million respectively — so neither fund presents an obvious liquidity distinction at this snapshot.

Fees differ meaningfully: Milford charges 0.85% annually, while Booster charges 1.35%. Booster's fund is a KiwiSaver scheme account fund; the Milford fund is a retail managed fund — investors should confirm which vehicle suits their circumstances. Both funds sit within the Diversified category but represent opposite ends of its risk-return spectrum.

Always verify current fees, returns, and holdings against each fund's product disclosure statement and latest Quarterly Fund Update on FMA Disclose before relying on any of this information.

Comparison generated 2026-07-05 from each fund's FMA Disclose QFU facts as at that date. If the underlying facts change, this narrative is withheld until it is regenerated — the tables on this page always reflect the current data.

What's different at a glance

  • Milford Conservative Fund charges 0.50% lower in annual fund charges (0.85% vs 1.35%).
  • Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
  • Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. The other fund does not.

Where each fund sits in its cohort

Percentile rank vs all 68 diversified funds we've matched on Sorted Smart Investor. Mechanical only — no opinion, no forward-looking view.

Annual fund charge

Lower is better

Booster

1.35%

Highest 15% of cohort

Milford

0.85%

Lower half of cohort

5-year return p.a.

Past performance — not a predictor

Booster

6.76%

Top 6% over 5 years

Milford

2.50%

Lower half over 5 years

Fund size

Larger = more stable, lower close-risk

Booster

NZ$873m

Largest 11% in cohort

Milford

NZ$939m

Largest 8% in cohort

MetricBoosterMilfordLower / higher is
Annual fund charge1.35%0.85%Lower is better
Risk indicator (1–7)53Higher = more volatility
5-year return p.a.6.76%2.50%Higher is better
(past not future)
Fund sizeNZ$873mNZ$939mLarger = more stable, lower close-risk
Growth / income split98% / 2%23% / 77%More growth = higher long-run return + volatility
NZ tax structurePIE (PIR-capped)PIE (PIR-capped)PIE = simpler. FIF = annual return.
Currency hedging——Hedged smooths NZD/foreign FX moves at a small cost.
Responsible investment screeningYesNoSpecific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO.
Available viaDirectDirectPlatforms accepting retail subscriptions.

What each fund says it does

Booster

Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund

The Socially Responsible High Growth Fund is suited to investors who seek potentially higher returns on average over long term periods (ten years plus), allowing for short to medium term ups and downs, whilst excluding investments which do not satisfy certain socially responsible investment criteria. We aim to achieve this by investing predominantly in growth assets, with little or no allocation to income assets, and the application of our Responsible Investment Policy.
Full Booster Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund profile →

Milford

Milford Conservative Fund

The Fund’s objective is to provide moderate returns and protect capital after the base fund fee but before tax over the minimum recommended investment timeframe of three years. It is a diversified fund that primarily invests in fixed interest securities, with a moderate allocation to equities.
Full Milford Milford Conservative Fund profile →

Documents

Crawled directly from each manager's website. How we record provenance →

Common questions

What's the difference between the Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund and the Milford Conservative Fund?
Both are diversified funds available to NZ retail investors. Milford Conservative Fund charges 0.50% lower in annual fund charges (0.85% vs 1.35%).
Which fund has lower fees, Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund or Milford Conservative Fund?
Milford Conservative Fund has the lower annual fund charge (0.85% p.a. vs 1.35% p.a.). Source: each fund's most recent Quarterly Fund Update on the FMA Disclose register.
How do the 5-year returns compare?
Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund's 5-year return p.a. is 6.76% and Milford Conservative Fund's is 2.50% (after fees, before tax). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Are both funds PIE-taxed in NZ?
Yes. Both are NZ Portfolio Investment Entities (PIEs). Investor tax on the fund's income is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
Does either fund apply responsible-investment screening?
Yes — Booster Socially Responsible High Growth Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. Milford Conservative Fund does not. Specific exclusions and engagement policies are documented in each fund's Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO).
Where can I read the official documents for these funds?
Both funds publish their Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Statement of Investment Policy (SIPO) and Quarterly Fund Update (QFU) on the FMA Disclose register at disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Always read the current PDS before investing.
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Important: This comparison is general information only — not personalised financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. The right fund for you depends on your personal circumstances. Read each fund's Product Disclosure Statement and consider speaking to a licensed financial adviser.