CFS adds 17 new funds to its FirstChoice menu

Colonial First State has announced an expansion of its FirstChoice menu with the addition of 17 new funds offering exposure to exchange traded funds (ETFs), fixed interest, sustainability and other in-demand strategies.

The firms said the investment menu expansion was in response to adviser feedback, which included an analysis of 15,000 adviser interactions, and the move would bring the total number of strategies introduced over the past 12 months to 35.

The newest additions included exposure to a physical gold exchange traded fund (ETF), four fixed interest and cash funds, four sustainability and ESG-focused funds, among other strategies.

The addition of three ETF exposure funds, including exposure to Global X’s Physical Gold ETF (ASX:GOLD), was a first for the FirstChoice platform and represented an example of how CFS aimed to give investors access to some of the largest and most in-demand products in market, the firm said.

“We are constantly talking to our adviser network and industry partners to ensure we have our finger on the pulse of investor demand and that we can enable them to respond quickly in changing market conditions,” Bryce Quirk, CFS’ group executive of distribution, said.

“The addition of 17 new strategies to FirstChoice bolsters our offering, including our uncontested speed-to-market and flexibility that enables faster unit pricing through T+1settlements.”

The 17 additional funds available through FirstChoice are:

• CFS Thrive+ Sustainable Growth
• Janus Henderson Tactical Income
• Western Asset Australian Bond
• T.Rowe Price Dynamic Global Bond
• FirstRate Cash on FirstChoice Wholesale Investments
• AB Managed Volatility Equities
• DNR Capital Australian Equities High Conviction
• GQG Partners Global Equity
• Intermede Global Equities
• Quay Global Real Estate (Unhedged)
• Sage Capital Equity Plus
• Nanuk New World
• AXA IM Sustainable Equity
• Pendal Global Select
• CFS ETF Exposure Series: Physical Gold
• CFS ETF Exposure Series: US Shares
• CFS ETF Exposure Series: All-World ex-US Shares
• Stewart Investors Global Emerging Markets Sustainability (re-opened)