AustralianSuper Review | Performance, features and fees

AustralianSuper has a large range of investment options to choose from, including its award-winning Balanced option and a sustainable option. AustralianSuper products are well-known for their high returns over the long term.

AustralianSuper

AustralianSuper investment options

You can choose any of the following ready-made or sector-specific investment options when joining AustralianSuper. If you don't want to choose you'll be placed in the default Balanced option, which is a top-performing MySuper fund.

1 - 10 of 10
Name Last 1 year performance (p.a.) Last 3 year performance (p.a.) Last 5 year performance (p.a.) Last 10 year performance (p.a.) Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
AustralianSuper Conservative Balanced
AustralianSuper logo
Finder Award
Industry fund
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+9.62%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+3.49%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+4.94%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+6.38%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$367
More Info
AustralianSuper - Balanced
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fund
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+11.91%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+4.97%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+6.85%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.19%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$387
More Info
AustralianSuper Stable
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fund
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+7.36%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+2.35%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+3.23%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+4.83%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$322
More Info
AustralianSuper High Growth
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fundHigher risk
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+13.88%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.88%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+8.08%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+9.12%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$377
More Info
AustralianSuper Diversified Fixed Interest
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fund
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+4.79%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
-0.04%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+0.49%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+2.34%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$242
More Info
AustralianSuper Australian Shares
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fundHigher risk
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+19.58%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+9.88%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+9.73%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+10.01%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$217
More Info
AustralianSuper International Shares
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fundHigher risk
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+18.94%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.08%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+10.79%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+11.32%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$297
More Info
AustralianSuper - Cash
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fund
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+4.13%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+2.6%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+1.74%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+1.89%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$142
More Info
AustralianSuper - Indexed Diversified
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fundIndexed investment
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+16.46%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.19%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7.33%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+7.53%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$142
More Info
AustralianSuper - MySuper Balanced
AustralianSuper logo
Industry fund
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+11.91%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+4.97%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+6.85%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.19%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$387
More Info
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Showing 10 of 10 results

The information in this table is based on data provided by SuperRatings Pty Limited ABN 95 100 192 283, a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No.1309956) of Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561, Australian Financial Services Licence No. 421445. In limited instances, where data is not available from SuperRatings for a product, the data is provided directly by the superannuation fund.

*Past performance data and fee data is for the period ending September 2024

What do Australians think of AustralianSuper super fund?

  • 4.14/5 overall for Customer Satisfaction — higher than the average of 4.06
  • 4.26/5 for Trust — lower than the average of 4.45
  • 4.11/5 for Customer Service — higher than the average of 4.07

Based on AustralianSuper super fund scores in Finder's 2024 Customer Satisfaction Awards.

Finder Best Balanced Super Fund 2024 Highly commended

AustralianSuper - Balanced

AustralianSuper - Balanced ranked in highly commended for best balanced super fund.

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What are the key features of AustralianSuper?

  • Wide range of investment options. AustralianSuper offers a broad range of investment options so you can tailor your super in line with your risk tolerance and investing preference.
  • Socially responsible investment option. There's a socially responsible pre-mixed, diversified investment option available for members looking for more ethical investments.
  • Strong investment performance. AustralianSuper's investment options have regularly outperformed the relevant benchmarks over the past 10 years, and are often among the top-performing funds.
  • Mobile app. The AustralianSuper mobile app makes it easy to access your super on the go. You can use the app to check your balance, change the way your super is invested, update your details and more.
  • Educational tools. AustralianSuper members can access a variety of seminars and educational programs to help you understand how super works and better manage your investments.
  • Financial advice. Members can also access a wealth of online financial advice and planning tools to help you take control of your finances. Fee-for-service financial planning is offered as well.
  • Easy fee structure. The fee structure is easy to understand.
Joe Waller's headshot

"AustralianSuper made it very easy for me to move to them as a Super provider. Its website and app are modern, easy to use and have a very good design. This leads to an excellent user experience. I can see my Super contributions and amount over the years. My investments are clearly and cleanly called out, and I can go into those to change my investment options. I can see my returns, and change settings such as insurance cover, beneficiaries and more. It's the best Super app that I've used, and my Super has low fees and solid returns. "

Joe Waller
Finder crew member

AustralianSuper investment options explained

AustralianSuper offers 3 types of investment options for you to choose from: Pre-mixed, DIY Mix and Member Direct. If you don't want to choose an option, your super will be invested in the Balanced investment option which is a MySuper-authorised fund.

Pre-mixed investment options

AustralianSuper Pre-mixed options are diversified portfolios that invest in a mix of different asset classes including shares, property, fixed interest and cash. They're designed for investors who only want a minimal amount of hands-on involvement with their super.

Pre-mixed investment optionsRisk levelAsset allocation
High Growth

This option is the highest risk level of all the ready-made options, with around 60% allocation to local and international shares. It's designed for higher growth over the long term and is suited for investors with a longer investment timeframe.

  • < 5 years: High
  • 5-20 years: Medium
  • > 20 years: Low
  • Growth: 76.9%
  • Defensive: 23.1%
Balanced (MySuper option)

This is the default investment option which all members will be placed in if they don't choose a different option after joining. It's designed for growth over the medium to long term. It has around 70% allocation to growth assets including local and international shares, private equity and property. This option is regularly one of the top performing growth super funds in the market.

  • < 5 years: High
  • 5-20 years: Medium
  • > 20 years: Low
  • Growth: 66.3%
  • Defensive: 33.7%
Socially Aware

The Socially Aware option has a very similar level of investment risk to the Balanced option; however, it doesn't invest in Australian or international companies that directly own coal and fossil fuel reserves, produce tobacco or those which have single-gender boards.

  • < 5 years: High
  • 5-20 years: Medium
  • > 20 years: Low
  • Growth: 66.5%
  • Defensive: 33.5%
Indexed Diversified

This option is designed to achieve growth over the medium to long term while lowering the costs of investing, as it uses index investing instead of active fund management. It has around 70% allocation to growth assets, designed to match index returns. Because it uses index investing the costs of this product are lower for members.

  • < 5 years: High
  • 5-20 years: Medium
  • > 20 years: Low to medium
  • Growth: 70.3%
  • Defensive: 29.7%
Conservative Balanced

This option has less exposure to growth assets than the Balanced, Socially Aware and High Growth options, but more exposure to growth assets than the Stable option. It's designed to have both medium-term growth while protecting your investment balance.

  • < 5 years: Medium to high
  • 5-20 years: Medium
  • > 20 years: Low
  • Growth: 49.7%
  • Defensive: 50.3%
Stable

This option has the lowest risk level of all the ready-made options, with around 61% allocation to defensive assets including cash and bonds. It's designed for investors with a shorter investment timeframe (e.g. if you're closer to retirement) or those with a low risk tolerance.

  • < 5 years: Medium
  • 5-20 years: Low to medium
  • >20 years: Low to medium
  • Growth: 31.8%
  • Defensive: 68.2%

*Asset allocation between growth and defensive assets correct as of June 2023, and may shift slightly from time to time depending on market conditions and investment decisions.

DIY Mix investment options (single-sector options)

These do-it-yourself options are single asset class portfolios that are managed by AustralianSuper. You decide how much you want to invest in each of the options listed below.

  • Australian Shares
  • International Shares
  • Diversified Fixed Interest
  • Cash

Member Direct investment options

This is AustralianSuper's self-managed investment option. Designed for those who want a high level of control over where their super is invested, Member Direct allows you to invest in:

  • The S&P/ASX 300 Index
  • Exchange traded funds (ETFs)
  • Listed Investment Companies (LICs)
  • Term deposits

You can manage your investments from an online platform, and super members need at least $10,000 to open an account. If you're a retirement income member, the minimum account balance is $50,000.

What insurance does AustralianSuper offer?

As part of being a member of AustralianSuper, you can access the following types of insurance cover through your super:

  • Income protection cover. This pays a monthly benefit for up to 2 years if you're unable to work due to illness or injury, while you can also apply for extended cover up to the age of 65. You can read more about AustralianSuper income protection in our separate review here.
  • Total and permanent disablement cover. This type of cover provides a lump sum payment if you become totally and permanently disabled and can no longer work. You can read more details of this cover here.
  • Death cover. This policy provides a lump sum payment when you die, allowing you to provide for your loved ones and help them repay debts.

How do I join AustralianSuper?

If you'd like to join AustralianSuper, click the green "Go to Site" button on this page. You'll be taken to the AustralianSuper website where you can complete an online application in around 15 minutes. You'll need to provide:

  • Your personal details, including your name, address, date of birth and contact information
  • Your Tax File Number (you do not have to give your super fund your TFN but if your fund doesn't have your TFN it won't be able to accept certain types of contributions from you and your benefit payments may be taxed at a higher rate than would otherwise apply)
  • Details of your employer

Once you've completed the application you will immediately receive your member number. A confirmation email will also be sent to you, and your membership application will be processed once you make the first contribution into your account. Your account and any insurance you have chosen will also become active once this first contribution has been received.

A welcome pack, which includes your AustralianSuper online account details, will then be mailed to you.

DISCLAIMER: This article may contain general advice. You should consider your own personal circumstances before deciding if a superannuation product is right for you. Superannuation is a long term investment and past performance is not indicative of future performance.
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Editor

Alison Banney is the money editorial manager at Finder. She covers all areas of personal finance, and her areas of expertise are superannuation, banking and saving. She has written about finance for 10 years, having previously worked at Westpac and written for several other major banks and super funds. See full bio

Alison's expertise
Alison has written 626 Finder guides across topics including:
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9 Responses

    AvatarFinder
    AngusSeptember 23, 2024Finder

    Hi Kim, You can compare super products using our main super comparison. As you’re self-employed, you’ll need to ensure you’re making suitable payments, as well as whatever your employer is contributing.

    Default Gravatar
    CuriousMay 14, 2024

    Hello Finder,
    Is it possible to find out what the 15 year performance return for the Australian Super Balanced portfolio was? Thanking you.

    Default Gravatar
    triumphApril 18, 2023

    I am with Australian Super and looing to retire in the next 2 years and take my super as a fortnightly payment, what fees do I pay to the fund for administering this for me, I assume its not the $422 I pay whilst I add to the fund.

      AvatarFinder
      SarahApril 25, 2023Finder

      Hi there,

      We’re not licenced to provide personal advice, so you’ll need to contact your super fund directly for advice on your situation.

      You can call Australian Super on 1300 300 273.

      Best of luck!

    Default Gravatar
    StarMarch 18, 2023

    Hi,
    I am a member of Australian Super. I
    am a 37 year old woman and currently working through personal finances carefully for the first time in my life and working on understanding my super better at the moment.

    My super is currently in your Australian Super – balanced option. My balance is currently around $50 000.

    I wonder if you can help me understand the fees I’m paying. I have downloaded the Australian Super PDS, but I don’t understand all the details in the fees section.

    I have read info on finder.com.au, comparing super funds. That website says the Australian Super pre-mixed balanced option fees on $50k balance (p.a.) are
    $447.

    However, I’ve downloaded my Australian Super statement for the 2021-22 year and I paid total fees of $896 that year. I see I paid admin and insurance fees of $532, and in addition I paid ‘Investment fees’ of $364.

    I don’t understand what the different fees I am paying are, and I don’t understand why I paid nearly $900 in fees last financial year, while finder.com.au says my fund option costs $500 annually on a $50 000, like my balance.

    Can you please help me understand the fees I’m paying in simple English, and also clarify why finder.com.au says my fees should be $400 less annually than they are? Below, I’ve pasted information from my super 2021-22 statement regarding the investment fees I paying.

    Thanks
    Star

    “Investment fees.
    Total fees and costs deducted from your investment: -$364.35
    This approximate amount has been deducted from your investment and covers amounts
    that have reduced the return on your investment and that are not reflected as transactions
    listed on this statement. This includes:
    Administration fees deducted from returns: -$18.08
    This amount is the component of the administration fee that has been deducted from your
    investment returns before returns are added to your account. This fee is applied as a
    percentage of the money you have in your super account and is shown here as a dollar value. Tax benefit on administration fees: -$20.65
    The tax benefit the Fund claims on its administration fee in the form of a reduced
    Administration fee.
    Investment fees and costs: -$325.62
    The Investment fees and costs represents the cost to us of managing your money and
    was deducted from before-tax investment returns before the returns were applied to your
    account. These costs include external investment management fees, performance related
    fees, and transactional and operational costs. The Investment fees and costs is expressed
    as a percentage of the money you have invested in each investment option and is shown
    here as an approximate dollar amount to help you understand the effect investment fees”

      AvatarFinder
      AlisonMarch 20, 2023Finder

      Hi Star,
      You’ve reached Finder. We receive our super fund fee data from a third-party super research firm, which sources the data directly from the funds themselves.
      For more help understanding your personal super account fees and details we suggest you contact AustralianSuper directly who can look at your account and give you specific, personal support.
      Thanks,
      Alison

    Default Gravatar
    JOHNJanuary 19, 2018

    When you retire does your holiday & long service leave effect your
    application for pension at the moment I have 36 weeks.

      AvatarFinder
      JonathanFebruary 22, 2018Finder

      Hi John, thanks for your inquiry.

      According to 4.3.3.30 Employment Income for Pensioners of Age Pension Age pre-20/09/2009
      Summary, “If a pensioner receives paid leave, the money received IS assessed as income under the normal income test.” Therefore holidays/ long service leave should not affect your pension.

      Thanks.

      Jonathan

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