With its latest win, a non-bank lender has set a new record for having nabbed the same prize 12 years in a row.
La Trobe Financial has been named Australia’s Best Credit Fund - Mortgages in Money magazine’s 2021 Best of the Best Awards.
The group’s flagship investment account – the 12 Month Term Account (Credit Fund) – now boasts a record unmatched in the market.
La Trobe Financial chief investment officer, Chris Andrews, expressed his delight upon hearing the news.
“To receive this accolade and continue to be recognised as Australia’s very best is a testament to our sound investment processes and the incredible team we have here. It’s particularly rewarding this year considering the once in a lifetime pandemic that has affected all global markets,” he said.
The magazine’s annual Best of the Best awards look to identify Australia’s best managed funds, superannuation funds, exchange traded products, banking products and insurers – as well as recognise those which provide the best value.
In the managed fund section, the Money judges compared fund volatility against peers and short, medium and long-term performance, taking into account that investors are looking for a balance of return, risk management and capital protection. In selecting La Trobe as the winner, the magazine reported the Credit Fund “had well and truly stood the test of time” as it has now earned the title a dozen years in a row.
La Trobe Financial president and CEO Greg O’Neill OAM reiterated that meeting consumer investor needs is of paramount importance to the group.
“So many of the investors in the Credit Fund are typical Australian mum and dad investors and this accolade attests to our consistent returns through responsible and ethical lending practices,” he said.
La Trobe Financial’s Credit Fund holds the highest ratings of any fund in the sector. In the 2020 financial year, the group returned $211.2m in interest payments to investors.
The recognition from Money comes hot off the heels of another honour as La Trobe was recently named 2021 Best Investment Management Team - Australia, by Capital Finance International magazine.
The Credit Fund has also been rated ‘recommended’ by Lonsec and Zenith, as well as coming highly rated by SQM Research with a 4.25 star suggesting “it outperforms its peers and benchmark most of the time and that management is of a high calibre”.
