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.
We currently don't have a partnership for that product, but we have other similar offers to choose from (how we picked these ):
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 October 2024
Based on AustralianSuper super fund scores in Finder's 2024 Customer Satisfaction Awards.
AustralianSuper - Balanced ranked in highly commended for best balanced super fund.
"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. "
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.
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 options | Risk level | Asset allocation |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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*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.
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.
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:
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.
As part of being a member of AustralianSuper, you can access the following types of insurance cover through your super:
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:
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.
Compound growth allows your super returns to be reinvested and generate their own returns, helping your balance grow much faster over time. Here's how it works.
Superannuation is the main way of saving for your retirement in Australia. Your superannuation is one big investment portfolio in your name that's managed for you by your super fund.
Conservative super funds are designed to protect your superannuation savings. These funds have more money invested in low-risk, defensive assets like cash, fixed interest and bonds and less money invested in shares.
A high growth super fund invests more of your super into growth assets like shares, aiming for higher returns over the long term.
Trying to decide between AustralianSuper and Australian Ethical Super? We've compared their fees, performance and investments to help you choose.
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We've analysed Australian super funds to find the best-performing super funds, the best industry super funds and the best super fund for low fees. Find the right super fund for you.
Find out if you're eligible for the government's co-contribution scheme, potentially receiving up to $500 for making personal after-tax contributions.
If you're a temporary resident working in Australia, you could be entitled to superannuation payments. Here's how it works.
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.
Hello Finder,
Is it possible to find out what the 15 year performance return for the Australian Super Balanced portfolio was? Thanking you.
Hi Glenn,
Their 10-year performance for the balanced fund was 7.97%. You can access more info about their historical performance here: https://www.australiansuper.com/compare-us/our-performance
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.
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!
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”
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
When you retire does your holiday & long service leave effect your
application for pension at the moment I have 36 weeks.
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