Specialist Pension Funds
Suitable for: Experienced investors seeking focused exposure to a specific theme or sector.
Specialist funds target specific sectors (e.g., technology, healthcare, infrastructure), geographic regions, or investment themes such as ESG and sustainable investing.
25
Funds tracked7
Providers+13.1%
Avg. 1yrSelect funds below to compare performance over time
| Fund | Risk | Provider | Subcategory | 1Y | 5Y | 10Y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich Life Gold | 5 | Zurich Life | Specialist Funds | +36.30% | +148.84% | +226.88% | |
| Aviva Physical Gold | 6 | Aviva | Specialist Funds | +36.05% | +144.15% | +215.37% | |
| Irish Life Indexed Commodities | 6 | Irish Life | Specialist Funds | +28.43% | +69.66% | +82.57% | |
| Standard Life Global Index 100 | 5 | Standard Life | Specialist Funds | +22.59% | - | - | |
| New Ireland iFunds Equities | 6 | New Ireland | Specialist Funds | +22.13% | +72.45% | +196.02% | |
| Standard Life Vanguard US 500 Stock Index Fund | 6 | Standard Life | Specialist Funds | +20.37% | +86.92% | - | |
| Standard Life Global Index 80 | 5 | Standard Life | Specialist Funds | +17.93% | - | - | |
| Aviva L&G Multi-Index V Fund | 5 | Aviva | Specialist Funds | +17.59% | +43.48% | - | |
| Aviva Multi-Asset ESG Active 5 | 5 | Aviva | Specialist Funds | +15.65% | +45.38% | +92.83% | |
| Standard Life Global Index 60 | 4 | Standard Life | Specialist Funds | +13.40% | - | - | |
| AIB Life Defensive Equity Collar | 4 | AIB Life | Specialist Funds | +13.21% | - | - | |
| Standard Life Vanguard Eurozone Stock Index Fund | 6 | Standard Life | Specialist Funds | +12.94% | +55.77% | - | |
| Aviva Multi-Asset ESG Active 4 | 4 | Aviva | Specialist Funds | +12.13% | +28.89% | +56.80% | |
| Aviva L&G Multi-Index IV Fund | 4 | Aviva | Specialist Funds | +11.75% | +24.61% | - | |
| Aviva Cantor Fitzgerald Multi-Asset 50 Fund | 5 | Aviva | Specialist Funds | +9.12% | +37.12% | - |
25 funds
Funds in this category by provider
Number of funds each provider offers in this category. Click a row to view that provider's full fund range.
About Specialist
Key Points
Specialist funds serve investors with specific objectives beyond simply maximising risk-adjusted returns
The distinction between Article 8 (promotes characteristics) and Article 9 (sustainable investment objective) matters here - Article 9 funds have sustainability as their primary purpose
Ethical exclusions vary widely - check the specific exclusion list rather than assuming "ethical" means the same thing across providers
Specialist funds are typically used as a complement to a core multi-asset or equity allocation, not as an entire portfolio
Availability varies by provider - check each provider's fund range for specialist options
What are Specialist Funds?
Specialist funds don't fit neatly into a single traditional asset class. They may focus on a specific theme, strategy, or objective that cuts across asset classes. In the Irish pension market, this typically includes:
Impact/Article 9 funds - sustainability as the primary objective
Ethical/exclusion-based funds - values-driven screening
Thematic funds - concentrated on specific trends (climate, technology, megatrends)
Defensive/structured strategies - downside protection mechanisms
Types of Specialist Funds
Impact Funds (SFDR Article 9)
Seek measurable positive environmental or social outcomes alongside financial returns. Invest in companies whose products and services directly address challenges like climate change, rising inequalities, or unsustainable consumption.
Examples:
Standard Life Global Equity Impact Fund (abrdn) - Article 9, actively managed, targets companies addressing planetary challenges
AIB Life Climate Impact Equity Fund - Article 9, Risk Rating 7, sustainable investment as objective
Ethical / Values-Based Funds
Apply negative screening to exclude entire sectors based on ethical criteria, rather than just ESG risk management.
Examples:
New Ireland Ethical Managed Fund - Article 8, excludes: defence, human rights violators, tobacco, pornography, fossil fuels, animal testing for cosmetics, contraceptives/abortifacients, stem cell research
Aviva Stewardship Ethical Equity Fund - ethical equity fund
Thematic Funds
Concentrate on companies benefiting from specific long-term themes rather than diversifying broadly.
Examples:
AIB Life Megatrend Equity Fund - Risk Rating 6, Article 8, focused on megatrend themes
Defensive Strategy Funds
Use structured approaches to provide downside protection while maintaining equity-like upside.
Examples:
AIB Life Defensive Equity Collar Fund - Risk Rating 4, Article 8, equity fund with downside protection strategy
Key Considerations
Concentration: Thematic and impact funds may hold fewer companies, increasing stock-specific risk
Exclusions reduce diversification: Ethical funds exclude entire sectors, which can create tracking difference vs. broad markets
Values alignment: These funds let investors align their pension with their values - but check what "ethical" or "sustainable" actually means for each specific fund
Article 9 ≠ lower returns: Impact funds aim for competitive financial returns alongside positive outcomes - they're not charity
Defensive funds trade off upside: Protection mechanisms limit losses but also cap potential gains
Frequently asked questions about Specialist funds
Specialist funds don't fit neatly into a single traditional asset class. They include impact funds (Article 9 with sustainability as primary objective), ethical funds (values-driven screening), thematic funds (concentrated on specific trends), and defensive strategy funds (downside protection mechanisms).
Article 8 funds promote environmental or social characteristics alongside financial objectives. Article 9 funds have sustainable investment as their primary objective - sustainability isn't just promoted, it's the core purpose. Examples of Article 9 funds include Standard Life Global Equity Impact Fund and AIB Life Climate Impact Equity.
Options include New Ireland Ethical Managed Fund (excludes defence, tobacco, fossil fuels, and other sectors), Aviva Stewardship Ethical Equity Fund, and various ESG-screened funds across providers. Ethical exclusions vary widely between funds - always check the specific exclusion list rather than assuming "ethical" means the same thing across providers.
Not necessarily. Impact funds (Article 9) aim for competitive financial returns alongside positive outcomes - they are not charity. However, concentration risk exists: thematic and impact funds may hold fewer companies than broad market funds, which can lead to higher volatility. Defensive funds deliberately trade some upside for downside protection.
The AIB Life Defensive Equity Collar Fund uses a structured approach to provide downside protection while maintaining equity-like upside. It applies a collar strategy - buying protective puts while selling covered calls - to limit potential losses. It's rated Risk Rating 4, making it lower risk than a standard equity fund.
Specialist funds are typically used as a complement to a core multi-asset or equity allocation, not as an entire portfolio. They serve investors with specific objectives: aligning investments with values (ethical), targeting positive environmental impact (Article 9), concentrating on a high-conviction theme, or reducing downside risk.
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