What is MySuper?

What is MySuper?

MySuper is a type of superannuation account, and is usually the default option offered by Australian super funds. This means when you join a super fund you'll automatically be placed in the fund's MySuper investment option, unless you choose to be in a different option.

All Australian employers have a default super fund for employees who don't already have their own super fund, or who don't want to choose a super fund themselves. MySuper is a government initiative to provide simple super products for employers to choose as their default fund for employees. MySuper options have basic features and fee structures allowing members to compare funds easily based on cost, investment performance and insurance.

The idea of MySuper products is that they are low-cost, simple products without any confusing investment options or special features that are hard to understand. MySuper products are offered by both retail super funds and industry super funds as an investment option alongside their existing investment options.

The features of MySuper

MySuper typically have the following features:

• Low fees (although some are much higher than others, so you still need to compare)
• Simple features
• Simple, default insurance options which you can easily opt out of if you wish
• A single diversified investment option, or
• A lifecycle investment option based on your age
• Investment strategy that isn't too high-growth, or too conservative

Finder survey: What is the average age Australians set up an SMSF?

MySuper investment options

There are two main investment options offered by MySuper products; a diversified investment portfolio or a lifecycle strategy that invests based on your age.

Lifecycle investment option

With this option, your super is invested according to your age. For example when you're young your super will be invested in more high-risk growth assets like local and international shares, because you have more time to ride out any market volatility. If you're older (for example in your 50s) your super will be invested in more low-risk options like term deposits and bonds.

This is a good set-and-forget investment strategy because it will be adjusted for you as you get older, to make sure it's invested appropriately. This means you won't have to think about your super until you're looking to retire, which is appealing for a lot of people who don't want the stress of managing their super.

Single diversified investment option

This investment option offers one single diversified portfolio (diversified simply means it's got a mix of different assets, such as shares, property, infrastructure, fixed interest and cash). This option doesn't invest in line with your age, but is still managed on your behalf and continually adjusted. A lot of these investment options will allocate about 70% of your super balance to growth assets (higher risk, but higher return assets like shares) and about 30% to defensive assets (like cash products). They're usually called 'Growth' or 'Balanced' options.

MySuper options: Some popular examples

It's likely that the super fund you've currently got your super balance in is a MySuper fund, but just isn't named as such. Here are some examples of popular super funds and their default MySuper option.

Compare super funds

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1 - 10 of 432

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.)
Promoted Promoted Aware Super Future Saver - MySuper Lifecycle High Growth Industry fund Lifestage Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.92%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.03%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.56%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.85%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $497	Go to siteMore Info Compare	A lifecycle super fund weighted heavily towards high growth assets, targeted to people 55 and under.
Promoted Promoted Vanguard Super SaveSmart - High Growth Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.46%	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 siteMore Info Compare	This fund aims for higher growth over the long term. It invests heavily in Australian and international shares, including a small amount of exposure to emerging markets shares.
Promoted Promoted Hostplus Australian Shares Industry fund Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +12.45%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.66%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.96%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.92%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $368	Go to siteMore Info Compare	This is a high-growth product with low diversification that invests predominantly in Australian listed shares and aims for high returns over the long term.
Aware Super Future Saver - MySuper Lifecycle High Growth Industry fundLifestageHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.92%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.03%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.56%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.85%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $497	Go to siteMore Info Compare
Vanguard Super SaveSmart - High Growth Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.46%	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 siteMore Info Compare
Hostplus Australian Shares Industry fundHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +12.45%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.66%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.96%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.92%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $368	Go to siteMore Info Compare
Virgin Money Super - LifeStage Tracker Lifestage	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.38%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.84%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $363	Go to siteMore Info Compare
Hostplus Indexed Balanced Industry fund	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.75%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.75%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.66%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +7.77%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $153	Go to siteMore Info Compare
Australian Retirement Trust - High Growth Industry fundHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.81%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +7.17%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +9.19%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.28%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $517	Go to siteMore Info Compare
Spaceship - GrowthX Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +16.94%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +4.59%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +10.51%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $711	Go to siteMore Info Compare
AMP Super MySuper Lifestages 1970s Lifestage	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +12.35%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.17%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.22%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +7.6%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $506	Go to siteMore Info Compare
Australian Ethical Super International Shares Green CompanyEthicalHigher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +16.54%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.9%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +10.56%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +10.12%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $643	Go to siteMore Info Compare
Superhero Super - High Growth Higher risk	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +17.43%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.36%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.73%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $397	Go to siteMore 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 August 2024

Disclaimer: Performance, fees and insurance data is based on each fund's default MySuper product. Where the performance, fees and insurance data for the MySuper fund vary according to the member's age, results for individuals between 40-49 years of age have been shown. This article is 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.

The pros and cons of MySuper

Written by

Alison Banney

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

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