Manager head-to-head
Kernel vs Simplicity
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.
Kernel
- Retail funds
- 27
- Median fee
- 0.25%
- Median 5y return
- 2.75%
- Tracked AUM
- NZ$2.4b
Simplicity
- Retail funds
- 11
- Median fee
- 0.15%
- Median 5y return
- 1.78%
- Tracked AUM
- NZ$11.3b
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 | Kernel | Simplicity |
|---|---|---|
| Diversified | 0.25% (3) | 0.25% (5) |
| Cash | 0.25% (1) | 0.12% (1) |
| NZ Fixed Interest | 0.40% (1) | 0.10% (1) |
| International FI | 0.30% (1) | 0.15% (1) |
| International Equities | 0.25% (9) | 0.15% (2) |
| Australasian Equities | 0.25% (4) | 0.10% (1) |
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
Simplicity — largest funds
- Simplicity Unhedged Global Share Fundfee 0.15% NZ$2.7b
- Simplicity Hedged Global Share Fundfee 0.15% NZ$2.7b
- Simplicity NZ Share Fundfee 0.10% 5y 0.02% NZ$1.4b
- Simplicity Growth Investment Fundfee 0.25% 5y 6.00% NZ$1.3b
- Simplicity Hedged Global Bond Fundfee 0.15% NZ$964m
- Simplicity Balanced Investment Fundfee 0.25% 5y 4.34% NZ$738m
Common questions
Which charges lower fees — Kernel or Simplicity?
Across funds with a reported annual fund charge, the median is 0.25% for Kernel and 0.15% for Simplicity. 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 2.75% across Kernel's funds and 1.78% across Simplicity'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.