Super fund fees and charges you need to know about
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.
Home / Super funds / 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:
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.
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.
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.
Discover the cheapest super funds overall, funds with the lowest fees for each investment category, as well the most expensive super funds.
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.
Fees are important, but they are not the only thing driving superannuation’s investment returns.
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?
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.
SuperGuide is Australia’s leading superannuation and retirement planning website.
Superguide Pty Ltd ATF Superguide Unit Trust as a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Independent Financial Advisers Australia, AFSL 464629.
All information on SuperGuide is general in nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether any information on SuperGuide is appropriate to you before acting on it. If SuperGuide refers to a financial product you should obtain the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) or seek personal financial advice before making any investment decisions.
© Copyright SuperGuide 2009-22