What are superannuation companies?
Superannuation companies, more commonly referred to as superannuation funds, provide products to help invest and grow your retirement savings while you're still working. According to Finder research, there are 23.2 million superannuation accounts in Australia from a total of 145 fund providers.
Superannuation is compulsory for Australian employees, and you need a dedicated superannuation fund to put the money into (it can't just go into your standard bank account). Super companies offer these dedicated products. As of March 2023, the money held in Australian super funds totaled $3.5 trillion, according to the ASFA.
What are industry super funds?
Industry super funds are not-for-profit funds that were originally reserved for workers in a particular industry, but are now open to all Australians. These funds are owned and run by members, with profits going back into the fund to benefit members. They usually only exist to provide superannuation products.
What are retail super funds?
Retail funds are often owned by a bank, insurance provider or another type of large financial institution. As well as superannuation products, they often offer other financial products and services such as bank accounts, mortgage products and insurance. Profits are distributed among shareholders as well as put back into the fund.
What is a self managed super fund?
A self managed super fund (SMSF) is an option for people who want to manage their superannuation themselves, instead of putting it into a superannuation fund. You can create your own SMSF with up to 4 members (usually family members) and invest your retirement savings how you want to. However, SMSFs are expensive, tricky and time-consuming to run.
List of super companies and super fund products
List of superannuation funds
Use our comparison table to compare super funds based on performance, fees and insurance options.
Unless indicated otherwise, the information in the 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.
*Past performance data and fee data is for the period ending Apr 2024
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Frequently asked questions
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Ask a question
I’m 67 but not ready to retire. I’m currently with a retail super fund and thinking of moving to a better fund. Is this wise at my age or should I stay put?
Hi Eva,
It’s great that you’re actively considering your superannuation options. Whether or not to switch funds depends on various factors, and it’s a decision that should align with your financial goals and needs. To help you navigate this, Finder has insightful resources on super funds and switching options.
Best regards.
fudician is a super I am currently with. Is this one of the top performing super funds is it wise to have more than one super
Hi Heather,
Each fund you have charges fees so consolidating your super funds to one accounts means less fees and more money for you.
Think of it like savings: if you had $10,000 in savings and you deposited it into 3 different savings accounts with 3 different banks, and each one charged you a monthly fee of $10, you’d spend $30 a month in fees. If you consolidated them all to one savings account, you’d only spend $10 a month on fees.
As for deciding on the best fund for you, it’s a good idea to look at fund performance and fees and charges to decide which one is right for you.
Best of luck!
If super funds are charging fees based on super balances in multiples of 50k, then having 100k in one super fund or having 50k in 2 different funds should not make a big difference with respect to super fees, right?
While many fees charged for super are as a percentage of the sum invested, some can be fixed (e.g. administration fees). So if you have multiple accounts, you likely will end up paying more than in using just a single fund.
Who is the best performing Super fund At the moment?
Hi Andrew, this would depend on a whole range of factors such as which investment option you’re looking at and which investment time period. You can see the latest performance figures for funds in our comparison table: https://www.finder.com.au/super-funds
My super was recently transferred to Mercer.
First I knew about it was when my employer was unable to make a deposit into it.
I’m concerned as this is not a company I chose to be with, but have no idea who would be better.
I’m still five yrs from retirement and want my money in safe hands.
Hi Sally, we’re a comparison site and aren’t able to offer you any personal financial advice. We’d strongly suggest speaking with a financial advisor or accountant who can offer you personal advice on your super and retirement planning.