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Home / Super funds / Super fund fees

Super fund fees

Super fund fees

Super fund fees and charges can have a significant impact on your retirement savings over time. Each super fund can set their own different fees and charges, and according to a recent Productivity Commission Report, “an increase in fees of just 0.5% can cost a typical full-time worker about 12% of their balance (or $100,000) by the time they reach retirement”.

Common fees that super funds charge include:

  • account management fees,
  • investment fees (including buying, selling and switching charges),
  • withdrawal or exit fees,
  • financial advice fees,
  • and premiums for life, total and permanent disablement, and income protection insurance.

Self-managed super funds also incur a range of fees and charges, including both set-up and wind-up costs, as well as ongoing costs to fulfil legal compliance obligations. Many of these fees and charges are tax-deductible from the fund’s earnings.

Learn more about the key aspects of super fees and charges in the following SuperGuide articles:

Premium Super fund fees and charges you need to know about

Super fund fees and charges you need to know about

Premium Super fees and returns calculator

Super fees and returns calculator

Premium Super funds with the lowest fees

Super funds with the lowest fees

Premium What are average super fund fees?

What are average super fund fees?

Premium Super fund fees: Do lower fees mean better net returns?

Super fund fees: Do lower fees mean better net returns?

Premium Super funds with the lowest fees for life and TPD insurance

Super funds with the lowest fees for life and TPD insurance

Premium Super funds with the lowest fees for income protection insurance

Super funds with the lowest fees for income protection insurance

What does it cost to run an SMSF?

What does it cost to run an SMSF?

Set out below are the latest articles that relate to super fund fees.

PremiumSuper fund fees and charges you need to know about

Super fund fees and charges you need to know about

March 15, 2022

Super fund fees are complex and vary widely between funds and even between members of the same fund, so it’s worth learning what you’re paying for.

PremiumSuper fees and returns calculator

Super fees and returns calculator

January 7, 2022

When comparing super fund performance, the important figure is returns net of fees over the long term. Our calculator allows you to work this out and more.

PremiumSuper funds with the lowest fees

Super funds with the lowest fees

January 2, 2022

Discover the cheapest super funds overall, funds with the lowest fees for each investment category, as well the most expensive super funds.

PremiumWhat are average super fund fees?

What are average super fund fees?

January 2, 2022

An easy way to determine if you believe your super fund is good value, is to assess the cost of your super fund against the average costs for the different types of super funds available.

PremiumSuper fund fees: Do lower fees mean better net returns?

Super fund fees: Do lower fees mean better net returns?

February 19, 2021

Fees are important, but they are not the only thing driving superannuation’s investment returns.

PremiumWhat are the buy/sell spreads charged by my super fund?

What are the buy/sell spreads charged by my super fund?

January 1, 2020

Buy/sell spread fees are something we’re all likely to see a lot more of thanks to ASIC’s new disclosure rules for annual fund member statements. So just what are these mysterious charges and how do they work?

PremiumWhat are unit pricing and crediting rates and why do they matter?

What are unit pricing and crediting rates and why do they matter?

December 1, 2019

Understanding your super balance and comparing the performance of your super fund with other funds involves more than just checking fees, super contributions and insurance premiums. It’s also knowing how – and when – your super fund calculates and applies investment earnings to the balance of your super account.

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