Skip to main content
Hostplus logo
Hostplus Pty Ltd Program
  • Members
  • Employers
  • Advisers
  • SMSF Investors
Contact us
Search
  • Super

  • Why choose Hostplus?
  • Compare Hostplus
  • Our fees and costs
  • Your future, your super
  • Salarylink
  • Maritime Super merger
  • Your investment options

  • Compare investment options
  • Choiceplus direct investment option
  • How we invest
  • Our investment performance
  • Investment returns
  • MySuper dashboard
  • Investment holdings
  • Insurance

  • Death and total & permanent disablement
  • Income protection insurance
  • Personal super insurance
  • Parental leave premium waiver
  • Specific life events insurance
  • 360Health
  • Important changes to your insurance in super
  • Tools and resources
  • Important information about insurance at Hostplus
  • Financial planning and advice

  • Financial advice options
  • SuperSmart learning and advice
  • Retirement planning
  • Meet our trusted financial advisers
  • Book an appointment
  • Live webinars
  • Aged care services

We now help members invest in their health.

In partnership with our insurer MetLife, we're pleased to offer 360Health to all Hostplus members and their families.*  It's a way to connect to a range of virtual health and wellbeing services at no extra cost.

Check out 360Health

*The term ‘family/families’ consists of a Hostplus member’s children, partner, parents, and parents in-law.

  • Learning Hub
  • Educational videos
  • Super basics
  • Retirement learning hub
  • Know your investments
  • Investment case studies
  • Live webinars
  • Recorded Webinars
  • SuperSmart learning and advice
  • Women and super
Icon depicting a shield

Protecting Your Retirement: The Warning Signs of High-Risk Schemes

Following the collapse of the First Guardian/ Shield schemes, Hostplus is urging members to familiarise themselves with the red flags to look out for when making decisions about your super. These include cold calling, pressure tactics, and exaggerated promises about high returns.

Read now
  • Grow and manage your super

  • First Home Super Saver Scheme
  • Consolidate your super
  • Voluntary contributions
  • Find your lost super
  • Life changes

  • Changing jobs
  • Starting a family
  • Access your super early
  • Leaving Australia
  • Thinking about retirement
  • Nominate a beneficiary
  • Manage your insurance

  • Transfer your insurance cover
  • Making a claim
  • Manage your pension
  • Tools to manage your super
  • Forms and resources
  • 360Health
  • Security and scams protection
Canstar: 2018 - 2015 Outstanding Value Superannuation

Hostplus Outstanding Value Super

8 years in a row

We’re proud to have won Canstar’s Outstanding Value Super Award for the eighth year in a row. The award recognises our strong long-term performance, competitive fees and an array of product features. 

Find out more
  • Retirement

  • Why retire with Hostplus?
  • Epic Retirement Tick
  • Retirement Bonus
  • Plan and prepare for retirement

  • Access your super
  • How much super do you need?
  • Age pension and super
  • Aged care services
  • Retirement income

  • Open a retirement account
  • Pension account
  • Pension investment options
  • Transition to retirement account
  • TTR investment options
  • Choiceplus direct investment option
  • CPIplus
  • Forms and resources

  • Retirement calculator
  • Retirement learning hub
  • Webinars
  • Retirement income strategy

Retirement ready. Tick.

The Epic Retirement Tick is a new recognition from Chant West for super funds that meet a high standard across key retirement criteria. 

Hostplus is proud to be among the first of only six funds to earn the Tick - helping members feel confident about their retirement today and into the future.

Learn more
  • Forms and resources
  • Retirement calculator
  • SuperSmart learning and advice
  • Supporting our members
  • First Nations peoples and Hostplus
  • 360Health
  • Security and scams protection
  • Other languages

Reminder: EOFY Claiming a tax deduction on a prior year

To claim a tax deduction for a personal contribution made last financial year, Hostplus must receive your Notice of Intent to Claim a Tax deduction by 30 June this financial year.
Submit online via Member Online for immediate receipt. Please allow extra time if posting.

Log in to Member Online
  • Member Online

    Enter your Member Number and Password to access your account anytime.

  • Pension Online

    Log in to manage your Pension account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • QuickSuper

    Pay your employees super contributions across multiple super funds.

  • Self-Managed Invest (SMI) for SMSF

    Enter your Username and Password to access your account and start managing your investments.

Manage your super on the go with the Hostplus Members app

Learn more
  • Member Join

    Everyone is welcome to join us as a member of our personal super plans.

  • Pension Join

    Starting a Hostplus Pension or joining Hostplus if you’re not already a member is easy.

  • Employer Join

    No fees. Easy payments. Become a registered Hostplus employer in less than 10 minutes.

  • SMI Join

    It only takes a few minutes to register to invest with Hostplus Self-Managed Invest.

search mobile

Hostplus for Members

Hostplus for Employers

Hostplus for Advisers

Hostplus for SMSF Investors
Contact us

Our products and services

  • Super

  • Why choose Hostplus?
  • Compare Hostplus
  • Our fees and costs
  • Your future, your super
  • Salarylink
  • Maritime Super merger
  • Your investment options

  • Compare investment options
  • Choiceplus direct investment option
  • How we invest
  • Our investment performance
  • Investment returns
  • MySuper dashboard
  • Investment holdings
  • Insurance

  • Death and total & permanent disablement
  • Income protection insurance
  • Personal super insurance
  • Parental leave premium waiver
  • Specific life events insurance
  • 360Health
  • Important changes to your insurance in super
  • Tools and resources
  • Important information about insurance at Hostplus
  • Financial planning and advice

  • Financial advice options
  • SuperSmart learning and advice
  • Retirement planning
  • Meet our trusted financial advisers
  • Book an appointment
  • Live webinars
  • Aged care services

We now help members invest in their health.

In partnership with our insurer MetLife, we're pleased to offer 360Health to all Hostplus members and their families.*  It's a way to connect to a range of virtual health and wellbeing services at no extra cost.

Check out 360Health

*The term ‘family/families’ consists of a Hostplus member’s children, partner, parents, and parents in-law.

Learning Hub

  • Learning Hub
  • Educational videos
  • Super basics
  • Retirement learning hub
  • Know your investments
  • Investment case studies
  • Live webinars
  • Recorded Webinars
  • SuperSmart learning and advice
  • Women and super
Icon depicting a shield

Protecting Your Retirement: The Warning Signs of High-Risk Schemes

Following the collapse of the First Guardian/ Shield schemes, Hostplus is urging members to familiarise themselves with the red flags to look out for when making decisions about your super. These include cold calling, pressure tactics, and exaggerated promises about high returns.

Read now

Manage your super

  • Grow and manage your super

  • First Home Super Saver Scheme
  • Consolidate your super
  • Voluntary contributions
  • Find your lost super
  • Life changes

  • Changing jobs
  • Starting a family
  • Access your super early
  • Leaving Australia
  • Thinking about retirement
  • Nominate a beneficiary
  • Manage your insurance

  • Transfer your insurance cover
  • Making a claim
  • Manage your pension
  • Tools to manage your super
  • Forms and resources
  • 360Health
  • Security and scams protection
Canstar: 2018 - 2015 Outstanding Value Superannuation

Hostplus Outstanding Value Super

8 years in a row

We’re proud to have won Canstar’s Outstanding Value Super Award for the eighth year in a row. The award recognises our strong long-term performance, competitive fees and an array of product features. 

Find out more

Retirement

  • Retirement

  • Why retire with Hostplus?
  • Epic Retirement Tick
  • Retirement Bonus
  • Plan and prepare for retirement

  • Access your super
  • How much super do you need?
  • Age pension and super
  • Aged care services
  • Retirement income

  • Open a retirement account
  • Pension account
  • Pension investment options
  • Transition to retirement account
  • TTR investment options
  • Choiceplus direct investment option
  • CPIplus
  • Forms and resources

  • Retirement calculator
  • Retirement learning hub
  • Webinars
  • Retirement income strategy

Retirement ready. Tick.

The Epic Retirement Tick is a new recognition from Chant West for super funds that meet a high standard across key retirement criteria. 

Hostplus is proud to be among the first of only six funds to earn the Tick - helping members feel confident about their retirement today and into the future.

Learn more

Forms and resources

  • Forms and resources
  • Retirement calculator
  • SuperSmart learning and advice
  • Supporting our members
  • First Nations peoples and Hostplus
  • 360Health
  • Security and scams protection
  • Other languages

Reminder: EOFY Claiming a tax deduction on a prior year

To claim a tax deduction for a personal contribution made last financial year, Hostplus must receive your Notice of Intent to Claim a Tax deduction by 30 June this financial year.
Submit online via Member Online for immediate receipt. Please allow extra time if posting.

Log in to Member Online
  • Member Online

    Enter your Member Number and Password to access your account anytime.

  • Pension Online

    Log in to manage your Pension account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • QuickSuper

    Pay your employees super contributions across multiple super funds.

  • Self-Managed Invest (SMI) for SMSF

    Enter your Username and Password to access your account and start managing your investments.

Manage your super on the go with the Hostplus Members app

Learn more
Download the Hostplus App
  • Member Join

    Everyone is welcome to join us as a member of our personal super plans.

  • Pension Join

    Starting a Hostplus Pension or joining Hostplus if you’re not already a member is easy.

  • Employer Join

    No fees. Easy payments. Become a registered Hostplus employer in less than 10 minutes.

  • SMI Join

    It only takes a few minutes to register to invest with Hostplus Self-Managed Invest.

Why choose Hostplus

  • Why choose Hostplus

  • Make Hostplus your default fund
  • Super for employers
  • Super for franchises
  • Super for small businesses
  • Super for self-employed and sole traders
  • Super for accountants and bookkeepers
  • Meet the Employer Support Team
Canstar: 2018 - 2015 Outstanding Value Superannuation

Hostplus Outstanding Value Super

8 years in a row

We’re proud to have won Canstar’s Outstanding Value Super Award for the eighth year in a row. The award recognises our strong long-term performance, competitive fees and an array of product features. 

Find out more

Your responsibilities

  • Your responsibilities

  • Understanding Your Future, Your Super
  • Payday super
Canstar: 2018 - 2015 Outstanding Value Superannuation

Hostplus Outstanding Value Super

8 years in a row

We’re proud to have won Canstar’s Outstanding Value Super Award for the eighth year in a row. The award recognises our strong long-term performance, competitive fees and an array of product features. 

Find out more

How to make payments

  • How to make payments

  • Register for QuickSuper

Tools and resources

  • Tools and resources

  • FAQs

News and Insights

  • Member Online

    Enter your Member Number and Password to access your account anytime.

  • Pension Online

    Log in to manage your Pension account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • QuickSuper

    Pay your employees super contributions across multiple super funds.

  • Self-Managed Invest (SMI) for SMSF

    Enter your Username and Password to access your account and start managing your investments.

Manage your super on the go with the Hostplus Members app

Learn more
Download the Hostplus App
  • Member Join

    Everyone is welcome to join us as a member of our personal super plans.

  • Pension Join

    Starting a Hostplus Pension or joining Hostplus if you’re not already a member is easy.

  • Employer Join

    No fees. Easy payments. Become a registered Hostplus employer in less than 10 minutes.

  • SMI Join

    It only takes a few minutes to register to invest with Hostplus Self-Managed Invest.

Why Hostplus

  • Why Hostplus

  • Register with Hostplus
CPI + 2.5%

Retired and looking for more certainty over your returns?

Introducing CPIplus, a Pension investment option that aims to deliver a consistent and predetermined return above inflation each year.

Learn more

Not available for Transition to Retirement Pensions. Though returns above inflation are predetermined annually, Hostplus can shorten the return period. Hostplus may also adjust the rate of return with at least 30 days’ notice.

Product and fee information for advisers

  • Product and fee information for advisers

  • Retirement
  • Self-Managed Invest (SMI)
  • Insurance
  • Pricing and performance
  • Lonsec ratings | Hostplus investment options recognised by experts
CPI + 2.5%

Retired and looking for more certainty over your returns?

Introducing CPIplus, a Pension investment option that aims to deliver a consistent and predetermined return above inflation each year.

Learn more

Not available for Transition to Retirement Pensions. Though returns above inflation are predetermined annually, Hostplus can shorten the return period. Hostplus may also adjust the rate of return with at least 30 days’ notice.

Tools and resources

  • Tools and resources

  • Information for advisers
  • Adviser support
  • Adviser webinars
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Adviser Online Tech Support

News and insights

  • News and insights
  • Log into Adviser Online

    Your access to authorised member, adviser details and resources

  • Create SMI client applications

    Create and manage SMI applications for your clients

  • Manage existing SMI clients

    View and transact on your clients’ SMI accounts

Download the Hostplus App
  • Adviser Online

    Register as an adviser for Hostplus.

  • SMI Adviser Portal

    Register as an adviser for Hostplus SMI.

Investment options

  • Investment options

Pricing and performance

  • Pricing and performance

News, resources & insights

  • News, resources & insights
  • FAQs
  • SMI enquiries
  • Is an SMSF right for you?
  • Member Online

    Enter your Member Number and Password to access your account anytime.

  • Pension Online

    Log in to manage your Pension account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • QuickSuper

    Pay your employees super contributions across multiple super funds.

  • Self-Managed Invest (SMI) for SMSF

    Enter your Username and Password to access your account and start managing your investments.

Manage your super on the go with the Hostplus Members app

Learn more
Download the Hostplus App
  • Member Join

    Everyone is welcome to join us as a member of our personal super plans.

  • Pension Join

    Starting a Hostplus Pension or joining Hostplus if you’re not already a member is easy.

  • Employer Join

    No fees. Easy payments. Become a registered Hostplus employer in less than 10 minutes.

  • SMI Join

    It only takes a few minutes to register to invest with Hostplus Self-Managed Invest.

Our company

Careers

  • Member Online

    Enter your Member Number and Password to access your account anytime.

  • Pension Online

    Log in to manage your Pension account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • QuickSuper

    Pay your employees super contributions across multiple super funds.

  • Self-Managed Invest (SMI) for SMSF

    Enter your Username and Password to access your account and start managing your investments.

Manage your super on the go with the Hostplus Members app

Learn more
Download the Hostplus App
  • Member Join

    Everyone is welcome to join us as a member of our personal super plans.

  • Pension Join

    Starting a Hostplus Pension or joining Hostplus if you’re not already a member is easy.

  • Employer Join

    No fees. Easy payments. Become a registered Hostplus employer in less than 10 minutes.

  • SMI Join

    It only takes a few minutes to register to invest with Hostplus Self-Managed Invest.

  • Member Online

    Enter your Member Number and Password to access your account anytime.

  • Pension Online

    Log in to manage your Pension account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • QuickSuper

    Pay your employees super contributions across multiple super funds.

  • Self-Managed Invest (SMI) for SMSF

    Enter your Username and Password to access your account and start managing your investments.

Manage your super on the go with the Hostplus Members app

Learn more
Download the Hostplus App
  • Member Join

    Everyone is welcome to join us as a member of our personal super plans.

  • Pension Join

    Starting a Hostplus Pension or joining Hostplus if you’re not already a member is easy.

  • Employer Join

    No fees. Easy payments. Become a registered Hostplus employer in less than 10 minutes.

  • SMI Join

    It only takes a few minutes to register to invest with Hostplus Self-Managed Invest.

Login
Join
  1. Home
  2. Members
  3. Learning Hub
  4. Know your investments
  5. What is investing?

What is investing?

Published August 2025

Hostplus
Content Team
2 min read
Updated 29 Apr 2026
  • Super 101
  • Know your investments

Investing might seem complicated, but it’s really just about making your money work harder, especially when it comes to your super.

We’ve put together this simple guide to investing: what it is, how it works, and why it matters for your retirement savings.

Investing 101: the basics

Investing is about putting your money into different items – called ‘assets’ – with the aim of making you more money (known as your ‘return’).

In general, there are two main ways you can invest:

  • buying assets that increase in value over time, like shares or property that you then sell for more than you paid (this is called a capital gain)
  • buying assets that pay you an income, like property that earns rent or shares that pay dividends.

There are lots of different assets you can invest in, each with its own risks and rewards.

Risk vs reward

Investment returns aren’t guaranteed, and all investments carry some level of risk. This could mean short-term ups and downs or longer-term changes in value. Typically, investments that aim for higher returns also come with higher risks. Lower-risk investments offer more stability, but usually with lower returns.

Why invest when you can save?

Bank savings accounts are low risk, but the interest they earn often doesn’t keep up with rising costs of living. As prices rise, your money buys less – that’s  inflation. If your returns grow slower than prices increase, the total amount you can purchase will actually decrease!

Because investing gives you a greater earnings potential, you’re less likely to find your finances going backwards due to inflation. But this comes with more risk. 

How can investing your super help you reach your financial goals?

Because investing typically delivers better returns than your bank account, you could reach your goals sooner. 

And since your super’s invested over a much longer time frame, you can benefit from the power of compound returns. This means any positive returns earned in one year will grow your balance – giving you more money to invest and more potential to compound the following year. Over time, this can make a big difference to your super balance.

The more you understand how your super is invested, the better equipped you’ll be to make decisions supporting your retirement.

How is your super invested?

If you’re a Hostplus member and you haven’t chosen where your super’s invested, your money’s automatically invested in our Balanced (MySuper) option. If you have a Hostplus Pension account, your money’s automatically invested in our Cash option.

But, if you’d like to be more hands-on, you can choose where your super is invested based on things like your risk appetite and your age.

Assets are categorised into groups known as asset classes, which each behave differently. Examples include:

  • shares – owning part of a company, with potential for capital growth and dividends (payments made by the company, usually from profits)
  • bonds – loans to companies and governments that pay interest
  • infrastructure – like airports, railways, and water supply systems
  • property – like shopping centres and office buildings 
  • cash and term deposits.

Diversification simply means spreading your super across different asset classes instead of putting it all in one place. Because asset classes group investments with similar characteristics, they help us diversify more easily.

Diversification is a good way to manage risk – if one investment performs poorly, it’s less likely to drag down your entire balance because other investments may do well at the same time. This helps smooth out returns over time.

The longer your money stays invested, the more time it has to grow. Your super’s designed to fund your retirement, so it’s usually invested for a long time. The average Hostplus member has around 30 years until retirement, and may also remain invested once retired.

This long-term horizon means your super can be invested in assets like emerging technologies and infrastructure. Emerging technologies may take years to reach their full potential, but the payoffs can be significant. Infrastructure, on the other hand, aims to deliver steady growth over time.

Investing over a longer time frame also helps smooth out short-term market  fluctuations, leading to more consistent returns.

You can take charge of your super by choosing the way it’s invested. We offer multiple investment options because we know everyone’s different. So, if you’re a Hostplus member, the choice is yours.

  • Leave it to the experts. If you want a hands-off approach, our award-winning Balanced (MySuper) option offers a mix of growth assets (like shares) and defensive assets (like cash), and is a consistent long-term performer.         
  • Choose a low-cost option. Our indexed options – such as Indexed Balanced, Indexed Growth and Indexed High Growth – focus on keeping investment fees and costs low while investing your money in a broad range of assets.
  • Invest in line with your values. You’re able to choose an option that is focused on values-based investing, like our Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) - Balanced, SRI – High Growth and SRI – Defensive options.
  • Do it yourself. Want more control? Choiceplus lets you invest directly in Australian shares, exchange-traded funds, listed investment companies, or term deposits.

When choosing your investments, think about what matters to you most – growth, stability, control, or your personal values – as well as your age, investment time frame and your risk appetite. You can also read our handy guide to learn more about choosing your investments.

We're here to help

We offer financial advice online, over the phone or face to face that can explain how our investment options work and which one may be right for you. You can also try SuperSmart for interactive financial education, money tips and tailored advice online. 

Contact us on 1300 303 188, email us or book a callback today.

Hostplus has engaged Industry Fund Services Limited ABN 54 007 016 195, AFSL 232514 to make SuperSmart available to Hostplus members

Need help?

Contact us via phone, chat or email

  • About us
  • Careers
  • News
  • Feedback
  • Forms and resources
  • Other languages
  • FAQs
A future full
Of positivity
That’s a plus

© 2026 Hostplus. All rights reserved.

Hostplus won awards
  • Privacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Financial Services Guide
  • Transparency Information
  • Design and Distribution Obligations

This website is provided by Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL 244392 as trustee of the Hostplus Superannuation Fund ABN 68 657 495 890 and the Hostplus Pooled Superannuation Trust ABN 13 140 019 340.  This website contains general information only. We have not taken into consideration any of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider your own financial situation and read the relevant Hostplus Product Disclosure Statement or Hostplus Self-Managed Invest PDS and Target Market Determination before making a decision about the products on this website.  Hostplus has engaged Industry Fund Services Limited ABN 54 007 016 195, AFSL 232514 and MUFG Retire360 Pty Limited ABN 36 105 811 836, AFSL 258145 to provide advice services to members. Refer to the Financial Services Guide for details. Awards and ratings are only one factor to consider when choosing a super fund. Read more information about our awards and ratings. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. You can view detailed disclaimers here. 

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC. 

The Zenith CW Pty Ltd ABN 20 639 121 403 AFSL 226872/AFS Rep No. 1280401 (Chant West) Epic Retirement Tick issued October 2025 is solely a statement of opinion and not a recommendation in relation to making any investment decisions. The Tick is current for 12 months and subject to change at any time without notice. Ticks from previous years are for historical purposes only. Liability is not accepted, whether direct or indirect, from use of the Tick. Full details on the Tick at www.chantwest.com.au/solutions/epic-retirement-tick