Manager head-to-head
Clarity vs Kernel
Two NZ fund managers, side by side: retail fund lineups, median fees, median 5-year after-fee returns and assets under management — every figure from FMA Disclose data. No winner declared; the numbers are the comparison.
Clarity
- Retail funds
- 9
- Median fee
- 1.06%
- Median 5y return
- 5.33%
- Tracked AUM
- NZ$986m
Kernel
- Retail funds
- 27
- Median fee
- 0.25%
- Median 5y return
- 2.75%
- Tracked AUM
- NZ$2.4b
Medians span different asset classes and risk levels — they are context, not a ranking. The per-category table below compares like with like. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Median fee where both compete
| Category | Clarity | Kernel |
|---|---|---|
| International Equities | 1.06% (3) | 0.25% (9) |
| Diversified | 1.06% (2) | 0.25% (3) |
| International FI | 0.70% (1) | 0.30% (1) |
| Australasian Equities | 1.06% (2) | 0.25% (4) |
| Cash | 0.26% (1) | 0.25% (1) |
Clarity — largest funds
- Clarity Fixed Income Fundfee 0.70% 5y 1.84% NZ$212m
- Clarity Global Shares Fundfee 1.06% 5y 13.56% NZ$208m
- Clarity - Capital Group New Perspective Fundfee 1.21% 5y 7.29% NZ$155m
- Clarity Trans-Tasman Value Fundfee 1.06% 5y 5.78% NZ$133m
- Clarity Dividend Yield Fundfee 1.06% 5y 4.87% NZ$127m
- Clarity Enhanced Cash PIEfee 0.26% NZ$125m
Kernel — largest funds
- Kernel S&P Global 100 Fundfee 0.25% NZ$778m
- Kernel High Growth Fundfee 0.25% NZ$530m
- Kernel Global Infrastructure Fundfee 0.25% NZ$510m
- Kernel S&P Global 100 (NZD Hedged) Fundfee 0.25% NZ$230m
- Kernel NZ Commercial Property Fundfee 0.25% 5y 2.75% NZ$140m
- Kernel Australia 100 Fundfee 0.25% NZ$53m
Common questions
Which charges lower fees — Clarity or Kernel?
Across funds with a reported annual fund charge, the median is 1.06% for Clarity and 0.25% for Kernel. Medians hide spread — the per-category table on this page compares like with like, and each fund page shows its exact charge with the source document.
Which has performed better?
The median reported 5-year after-fees return is 5.33% across Clarity's funds and 2.75% across Kernel's. These medians mix different asset classes and risk levels, so they are context, not a verdict — compare same-category funds on the leaderboard, and remember past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Where do these figures come from?
Annual fund charges, 5-year returns and fund sizes are mirrored from FMA Disclose register data via Sorted Smart Investor. Every fund page linked from this comparison shows the underlying disclosure documents.
Mechanical comparison of disclosed figures — no opinion or recommendation. ManagedFundsNZ is not a Financial Advice Provider. Read each fund's current PDS and consider speaking to a licensed financial adviser.