Fees and returns biggest bugbears for KiwiSaver

Financial rating agency Canstar is predicting increased competition over fees for KiwiSaver funds this year. Photo / Thinkstock

Less than half of Kiwis are very satisfied with their KiwiSaver provider and it is fees and investment returns that bug people the most.

Research by Consumer NZ has found the average rating across all KiwiSaver providers was 48 per cent for those that felt very satisfied.

A further third felt somewhat satisfied.

Fisher Funds received the highest satisfaction rating at 67 per cent followed by the BNZ at 63 per cent and KiwiWealth - a sister company of Kiwibank - rated 60 per cent.

But regardless of provider, fees and investment returns had the lowest levels of satisfaction.

The survey found 20 per cent of people were dissatisfied with the fees their provider was charging.

When asked what their provider could do to improve satisfaction ratings 26 per cent wanted lower fees while 39 per cent wanted better returns on their investment.

But despite fees and investment returns being the biggest cause of annoyance they were not the main reasons people switched KiwiSaver providers.

A quarter of people surveyed had switched but the most common reason was to join their bank scheme, followed by moving away from a default scheme.

The third most common reason people moved was because their bank had recommended its scheme.

The research also found people don't feel they have access to independent advice when it comes to KiwiSaver.

Just 54 felt they had access to sufficient independent information for making investment decisions.

A further 19 per cent didn't feel advice was available and just over a quarter were unsure.

The survey also found choosing and comparing schemes isn't seen as easy with just 40 per cent finding it easy to compare KiwiSaver options.

The online survey of 1020 New Zealanders aged 18 years and over was carried out in March.