01 Jul 2026
This article is for informational purposes only.
💭 What is a Multi-Asset Fund? 📊
A multi-asset fund is a “one-stop investment solution.” It is designed to diversify investments across various asset classes to manage risk, while aiming to achieve a balance of growth and income. Through a multi-asset fund, investors can capitalize on the opportunities of different asset classes with just a single portfolio.
🧺 What do multi-asset funds typically invest in?
Multi-asset funds allocate investments across various asset classes in different proportions, including:
• Equities 🏛️: Shares of companies that provide long-term growth potential
• Bonds 🏢: Such as government or corporate bonds, typically used to provide more stable income and reduce volatility
• Cash or Money Market Instruments: Offer liquidity and act as a buffer during market fluctuations
• Other Assets: Such as commodities, real estate-related assets, or alternative investments
👉 As different asset classes perform differently under various market conditions, diversification helps reduce the impact of the drop in one single asset class.
⚙️ How do multi-asset funds work?
Multi-asset funds are typically actively managed by fund managers, who adjust allocations based on market conditions and investment strategies:
• When the economic outlook is strong, the fund may increase its exposure to equities
• When market volatility rises, it may increase allocations to bonds or cash
👉 For investors seeking a more hands‑off approach, multi‑asset funds are managed by professional investment teams. This reduces the need to actively decide when to adjust exposure to equities or bonds, as these asset allocation decisions are made by the fund manager.
🎯 Common types of multi-asset funds
⚖️ By risk profile:
• Conservative 🛡️: Mainly invests in bonds and cash, aiming for lower volatility
• Balanced ⚖️: Maintain a relatively even mix of equities and bonds, balancing growth and stability
• Aggressive 🚀: Higher allocation to equities, targeting higher long-term returns while accepting greater volatility
🌍 By geography:
• Global Multi-Asset Funds 🌐: Invest in equities, bonds and other asset classes around the globe, offering broad diversification to manage risk
• Regional Multi-Asset Funds 🌏: Focus on a specific region (US, Asia or Emerging Markets), with concentrated exposure to specific region
👉 For investment beginners:
By diversifying across different asset classes, multi-asset funds help reduce the impact of fluctuations in any single market or asset class. As it is actively managed by professional fund manager, investors do not need to research the market by themselves.
💡 Ideas for you – Signature CIO Funds
💰 The Signature CIO Funds provide investors access to globally diversified multi-asset portfolios (including gold exposure); designed and continually rebalanced to meet your different needs.
💡 Looking to explore or invest in Multi-Asset funds?
Browse Multi-Asset Funds on our platform now. Standard Chartered combines comprehensive wealth solutions to make your financial management simple.