Fund-vs-fund · Diversified
Kernel High Growth Fund vs SBS Wealth Growth Strategy
Both are Diversified funds available to NZ retail investors. Numbers below are sourced from the FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor and reflect the latest published quarterly fund updates.
Why these two differ
The most material structural difference between these two funds is cost. The Kernel High Growth Fund discloses an annual fund charge of 0.25%, while the SBS Wealth Growth Strategy discloses 1.17% — a gap of 0.92 percentage points that compounds materially over time on similar-sized pools of capital (approximately NZD $530 million and NZD $477 million respectively).
Both funds sit at risk indicator 5 on the standard 1–7 scale and carry an identical growth-asset allocation of 98.37%, placing them in the same risk and asset-mix tier within the Diversified category. Where they diverge structurally is portfolio construction. Kernel holds individual global equities directly alongside an emerging-markets ETF, with its five largest positions being single-name stocks and one ETF. SBS Wealth operates a fund-of-funds model, routing the majority of its exposure through third-party managed funds — most prominently the Dimensional Global Sustainability PIE Fund (NZD Hedged) at 36.68% — which introduces an additional layer of portfolio management and an implicit sustainability tilt not visible in Kernel's disclosed holdings.
On performance, SBS Wealth discloses a five-year annualised return of 7.39%; Kernel's five-year return is not available in this snapshot, likely reflecting the fund's shorter operating history. Both are KiwiSaver scheme accounts as indicated by their respective PDS documents.
Verify all figures against each fund's current Product Disclosure Statement and latest Quarterly Fund Update on FMA Disclose before relying on this comparison.
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
- Kernel High Growth Fund charges 0.92% lower in annual fund charges (0.25% vs 1.17%).
- Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
Where each fund sits in its cohort
Percentile rank vs all 67 diversified funds we've matched on Sorted Smart Investor. Mechanical only — no opinion, no forward-looking view.
Annual fund charge
Lower is better
Kernel
0.25%
Lowest 6% of cohort
SBS Wealth
1.17%
Upper half of cohort
5-year return p.a.
Past performance — not a predictor
Kernel
—
—
SBS Wealth
7.39%
Top 5% over 5 years
Fund size
Larger = more stable, lower close-risk
Kernel
NZ$530m
Largest 14% in cohort
SBS Wealth
NZ$477m
Largest 19% in cohort
| Metric | Kernel | SBS Wealth | Lower / higher is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fund charge | 0.25% | 1.17% | Lower is better |
| Risk indicator (1–7) | 5 | 5 | Higher = more volatility |
| 5-year return p.a. | — | 7.39% | Higher is better (past not future) |
| Fund size | NZ$530m | NZ$477m | Larger = more stable, lower close-risk |
| Growth / income split | 98% / 2% | 98% / 2% | More growth = higher long-run return + volatility |
| NZ tax structure | PIE (PIR-capped) | PIE (PIR-capped) | PIE = simpler. FIF = annual return. |
| Currency hedging | — | — | Hedged smooths NZD/foreign FX moves at a small cost. |
| Responsible investment screening | No | No | Specific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO. |
| Available via | Direct | Direct | Platforms accepting retail subscriptions. |
Portfolio overlap
How many top-10 positions both funds hold, and at what weight. Computed from each fund's most recently disclosed top-10 holdings — exact-name matched (Microsoft Corp. = Microsoft Corporation), with a Cash / Cash & Equivalents collapse rule.
Matching holdings
1
of each fund's top 10
Kernel weight in shared
2.0%
of Kernel High Growth Fund top 10 is shared
SBS Wealth weight in shared
1.6%
of SBS Wealth Growth Strategy top 10 is shared
| Holding | Kernel | SBS Wealth |
|---|---|---|
 Infratil Limited NZ | 1.98% | 1.57% |
"Min weight" = the smaller of the two weights — a conservative read of how much exposure you'd have to that position if you held both funds.
What each fund says it does
Kernel
Kernel High Growth Fund
A diversified fund comprising several of the Kernel Funds, targeting high growth and suitable for long-term investors comfortable accepting higher volatility.Full Kernel Kernel High Growth Fund profile →
SBS Wealth
SBS Wealth Growth Strategy
The fund aims to provide investors with capital growth over the long-term, by investing primarily in a broad spread of Australasian and international equities, with a small amount held in cash.Full SBS Wealth SBS Wealth Growth Strategy profile →
Common questions
What's the difference between the Kernel High Growth Fund and the SBS Wealth Growth Strategy?
Which fund has lower fees, Kernel High Growth Fund or SBS Wealth Growth Strategy?
Are both funds PIE-taxed in NZ?
Where can I read the official documents for these funds?
