High growth super funds — more risk, more growth

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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.)
Hostplus Australian Shares Industry fund Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.58%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.97%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.5%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.3%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $350	Go to site More info Compare	This is a high-risk, high-growth investment option that invests entirely in Australian shares and aims for strong returns over the long term.
Australian Ethical Super - High Growth Green Company Ethical Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +15.37%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +4.84%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.44%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.52%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $728	Go to site More info Compare	This is a high-risk, high-growth option that invests in Australian and international shares, property and alternatives to provide long term growth.
Vanguard Super SaveSmart - High Growth Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +16.32%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $270	Go to site More info Compare	This is a high-risk, high-growth option that invests in a range of different asset classes, with a strong focus on Australian and international shares.
UniSuper - High Growth Best Rated Brand Industry fundHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +16.34%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.2%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +9.09%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +10.04%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $451	Go to site More info Compare	This fund targets high growth over a long term horizon by investing in higher growth, higher risk assets such as Australian and international shares.
Australian Retirement Trust - High Growth Industry fundHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.73%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +7.51%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +9.19%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.58%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $507	Go to site More info Compare
Aware Super Future Saver - MySuper Lifecycle High Growth Industry fundLifestageHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.16%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.84%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.4%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.98%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $457	Go to site More info Compare	A lifecycle super fund weighted heavily towards high growth assets, targeted to people 55 and under.
Virgin Money Super Indexed Australian Shares Indexed investmentHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +10.91%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +7.71%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.16%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $385	Go to site More info Compare
Spaceship - GrowthX Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +25.13%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +8.87%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.83%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $572	Go to site More info Compare
Superhero Super - High Growth Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +15.31%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +7.22%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.69%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $397	Go to site More info Compare
Australian Ethical Super Australian Shares Green Company EthicalHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +15.13%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +2.44%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.98%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +10.1%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $778	Go to site More info Compare
Superhero Super - Australian Shares Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.04%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +7.62%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.13%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +7.95%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $387	Go to site More info Compare
Australian Ethical Super Growth Green Company EthicalHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.12%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +4.47%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.21%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +7.64%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $718	Go to site More info Compare
Superhero Super - International Shares Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +27.19%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.68%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +12.78%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +11.68%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $382	Go to site More info Compare
Vanguard Super SaveSmart - International Shares Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +28.23%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $280	Go to site More info Compare
Hostplus International Shares Industry fundHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +20.98%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.98%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.97%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.92%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $385	Go to site More info Compare
UniSuper - Sustainable High Growth Finder Award Best Rated Brand Industry fundEthicalHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +19.04%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.14%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +9.23%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.81%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $326	Go to site More info Compare
Australian Ethical Super International Shares Green Company EthicalHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +25.24%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +9.27%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.38%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +10.35%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $648	Go to site More info Compare
Australian Retirement Trust - International Shares Index (unhedged) Finder Award Industry fundIndexed investmentHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +26.07%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.34%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +12.28%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +11.92%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $192	Go to site More info Compare
Vanguard Super SaveSmart - International Shares (Hedged) Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +18.92%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $280	Go to site More info Compare
Hostplus - International Shares - Indexed Industry fundHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +28.59%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +11.35%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +12.97%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $155	Go to site More info Compare

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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 December 2024

High growth super funds target higher returns by investing in riskier, growth-oriented assets like stocks.
A super fund is normally considered "high growth" if it has at least 80% of its funds allocated to growth assets.
Given their higher volatility, high growth super funds are better suited to younger workers.

What is a high growth super fund?

A high growth super fund has more money invested in growth assets such as shares and property, and less invested in lower risk assets like cash and bonds.

A high growth fund aims to achieve higher investment returns for members over the long term. However, with higher returns can also come increased risk and volatility in the short term.

There's no exact industry standard around what is classed as a high growth super fund. Finder classifies growth super funds as those with more than 80% of their asset allocation in growth assets like shares.

What are the best high growth super funds?

This is a list of the best-performing high growth super funds based on average annualised return over the last 10 years:

Fund	10-year performance
HESTA High Growth	9.19
MLC MK Super Fundamentals - MLC High Growth	9.24
Media Super High Growth	9.26
Cbus High Growth	9.26
Australian Retirement Trust - High Growth	9.40
Equip Growth Plus	9.49
Catholic Super - Growth Plus	9.49
Aware Super Retirement Income - High Growth	9.52
UniSuper - High Growth	9.95
UniSuper - Sustainable High Growth	10.01

This data is based on the 10-year period to October 2024.

Compare a wider range of the best-performing super funds.

Types of high growth super fund options

Most super funds offer multiple investment options targeting different risk levels and growth rates. Here are 3 different ways you could choose a high growth super option.

Choose a diversified high growth investment option. Most super funds offer a balanced option, but give you the option of switching to a diversified high growth option. A diversified high growth fund invests mainly in growth options, but spreads the investments across a mix of asset classes and industries.
Choose a high growth single section investment option. Unlike diversified investment options, single sector investment options only invest in the one asset class. Because they're not diversified, some single sector investment options are very high growth options (diversification works to reduce your investment risk by not keeping all your eggs in the one basket).
Choose a super fund that only has high growth options. This is less common, but some super funds only have growth options. Spaceship Super, for example, only has 2 fund options. Both allocate more than 90% of their investments to growth assets like international shares.

What if I have a MySuper fund?

Most Australians have their super invested in a MySuper or lifestage fund. These are the default, low-fee super products you get if you don't choose a specific option.

It's difficult to compare MySuper products because the investment allocations differ by fund, and some of them change your investment mix as you get older.

If you have a MySuper product, check the asset allocation (the percentage invested in growth or defensive assets). Compare the fund's performance to the performance of the growth option if you're interested in switching to a higher risk, higher growth fund.

High growth vs balanced performance super fund performance

Looking at some of the biggest super funds, this table shows the average annual returns over the past 10 years for both the fund's balanced and high growth options.

Data is from October 2024.

Who is a high growth super fund most suitable for?

High growth super fund options are higher risk. They are designed primarily for people with longer term plans (7 years or more).

A high growth super find might work for you if:

You have a higher risk appetite

Because high growth funds have more exposure to shares, they can be more volatile in the short term (1–3 years). This is because the price of shares fluctuates a lot from day to day and the share market is very sensitive and quick to react to global news (as we saw during COVID-19 when the stock market crashed more than 30%). However, while there may be more volatility in the short term, shares continue to be one of the best investments over the long term (5–10 years).

You're young

It's generally recommended that you invest in a high growth fund in your 20s, 30s and even 40s, then change this to a balanced fund when you get older. This is because when you're young, you have plenty of time to ride out any short-term market volatility.

If you're only a couple of years away from retirement you have much less time for your super to recover if there was a market crash.

You're seeking better returns

If you're not happy with how your super fund is performing, or believe you need higher growth to build your retirement worth, then a high growth super fund might be a good option. to achieve better returns. Just remember there may be a bit more volatility along the way.

Pros and cons of high growth super funds

Pros

High growth super funds often achieve better returns over the long term.
High growth super funds are readily available and most major super funds already offer a high growth option.
The fees are often quite similar between high growth super funds and balanced super funds.

Cons

High growth super funds aren't the default investment option, so you'll need to proactively opt for this option when joining your fund.
High growth super funds can come with more investment risk and increased volatility, especially in the short term.

How to switch to a high growth super fund

If you want to switch to the high growth investment option offered by your current super fund, you can easily do this via the fund's mobile app or the online member portal.

You can switch investment options at any time and you may even have the choice to split your super up between different options if you don't want it all in the high growth fund.

Thank you for your feedback!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten and reviewed by Ryan Watson, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.

Written by

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards. See full bio

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Alison has written 638 Finder guides across topics including:

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High growth super funds — more risk, more growth

A high growth super fund invests more of your super into growth assets like shares, aiming for higher returns over the long term. The catch? In the short term, there's more volatility.