superguru
MenuClose menu

Acclaim Super vs Australian Ethical

Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.

By SuperGuru Group · Research checked 11 September 2026 · Historical APRA figures to 30 June 2026

Acclaim Super

Retail fund brand

Acclaim offers a direct-investment super account and a separate Core product built around managed investment options.

Membership

Applications are available for current Acclaim products. AMG Personal Super is a separate legacy product closed to new members.

Australian Ethical

Retail fund

Australian Ethical applies its ethical screening approach across its investment range. The main comparison is how its published criteria, portfolio and cost fit what you want your super to do.

Membership

Check the current super PDS and target market determination for joining conditions. Pension eligibility and investment choices are covered separately.

Compare fees and investment returns

Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.

APRA product data to 30 June 2026
MeasureChoose an investment optionAustralian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund MySuper
Return basisChoose an optionMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member
3-year return, per yearChoose an option7.68%
5-year return, per yearChoose an option5.00%
7-year return, per yearChoose an option6.21%
10-year return, per yearChoose an option6.99%
APRA strategic growth allocationChoose an option72.25%
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000Choose an option$595 a year (1.19%)
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)Choose an option$160 a year
2026 performance testChoose an optionPass
New-member status at reporting dateCheck the current product eligibility rulesCheck the current product eligibility rules

Source: APRA Comprehensive Product Performance Package 2026, published 28 August 2026. Fees reflect the reporting year to 30 June 2026, are net of tax, use standard arrangements and exclude member-activity fees. Dollar figures are rounded. They are not a current quote. Check the latest PDS for changes, insurance premiums and any separately charged advice.

Returns are annualised historical results. Different return bases, risk levels and periods cannot be treated as interchangeable. MySuper net returns use a $50,000 representative balance even when you change the fee balance. A lifecycle stage return does not track a person moving between stages. Missing figures mean not reported, not zero. Past returns do not predict future returns. Read our method and APRA's definitions.

How the products differ

Acclaim Super and Australian Ethical: product features and conditions
What to compareAcclaim SuperAustralian Ethical
Membership and access

Applications are available for current Acclaim products. AMG Personal Super is a separate legacy product closed to new members.

Sources1234

Check the current super PDS and target market determination for joining conditions. Pension eligibility and investment choices are covered separately.

Sources7
Accounts and products

Acclaim Super and Pension; Acclaim Core Super and Pension.

Sources1234

Australian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund's super and pension products.

Australian Ethical Super

Australian Ethical account-based pension

Sources3
Investment choices

Acclaim Super supports listed securities and term deposits, with individual share-trading arrangements. Core offers diversified and sector index managed funds.

Sources1234

Balanced

The range includes diversified options and share-focused choices with different risk levels. All are subject to Australian Ethical's screening process. Its exclusions and positive investment choices use detailed criteria and revenue thresholds, so 'ethical' should not be read as an absolute ban on every indirect connection to a sector.

Sources127
Insurance

Insurance applications and employer-plan guides are available. Occupation ratings and the precise product determine the relevant terms.

Sources1234

Eligible members can receive default death and TPD cover, with income protection available by application. The amount and cost depend on the insurance terms. Members and eligible family members can access MetLife 360Health support services, subject to the service conditions.

Sources45
Retirement income

Both product families have pension arrangements with their own disclosure.

Sources1234

Australian Ethical offers an account-based pension with its own investment options, fees and payment choices. Check that the pension option's asset mix is comparable with the accumulation holding you are considering moving.

Sources56
Advice and support

The service is built around adviser-managed portfolios and reporting. Establish the cost of any advice arrangement separately.

Sources1234

The fund provides information, calculators and a direction to seek licensed advice before investment decisions. This research has not verified a universal included personal-advice service, so confirm available assistance and fees directly.

Sources3
Fee details to check

Use the PDS for either Acclaim or Core and read the July 2026 product and administrator updates. Direct share costs differ from Core's managed-option costs.

Sources1234

Compare administration, investment and transaction charges for the chosen option, plus insurance and other applicable costs. Australian Ethical's published performance can exclude a fixed dollar member fee even when percentage administration fees are reflected; the return figure and total account cost are different measures.

Sources6
Comparing investment performance

Core options have their own investment histories. A direct-investment Acclaim account has no single return that represents all members.

Sources1234

The fund describes the fee basis of its published returns. Comparisons should use the same period, risk profile and account type and explain which administration fees are excluded. Screening can change sector exposures, so a broad-market index is a useful reference but not an identical portfolio.

Compare ethical methodologies and actual holdings rather than awarding an unexplained ethical score.

State fixed-fee exclusions alongside any net-return figure.

Sources1

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Acclaim Super

Editorial assessment

Acclaim may suit an advised member with a defined direct-investment strategy; Core is a different proposition for someone choosing managed options.

What deserves a closer look

  • AMG MySuper has been terminated. Check that any default-option information refers to a current product.
  • AMG, Acclaim, Raiz and Hejaz reporting can share the same legal fund ABN but have different terms.

Sources1234

Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Australian Ethical

Editorial assessment

Australian Ethical is worth examining if investment exclusions are a deciding factor. Its advantage for a researcher is the published ethical framework across the range. The next step is to read that framework against your own priorities, then assess the asset mix and cost with the same care you would apply to any other fund.

Who might put it on their shortlist

  • People who want ethical screening across their selected super options.
  • Members prepared to inspect sector thresholds and holdings rather than rely on a sustainable label.
  • Retirees who want to retain a screened investment approach in a pension account.

What deserves a closer look

  • Ethical criteria involve thresholds and judgments; they may not match every member's personal definition.
  • Screened portfolios can perform differently from the broader market when excluded sectors lead or lag.
  • Compare total dollar fees at your balance, especially where a fixed member fee is material.
  • Insurance remains subject to eligibility and policy definitions even where the investment approach suits your values.

Sources1234567

Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

Before choosing between Acclaim Super and Australian Ethical

Use the membership rules to establish which accounts are available to you. Then compare the total price of the investment option and cover you need. A lower fee or higher historical return alone does not tell you which fund is suitable.

Ask both funds to confirm insurance acceptance, exclusions, waiting periods and whether cover would change when you leave your employer. Obtain advice before giving up a defined benefit or an insurance policy you may not be able to replace. ASIC Moneysmart explains the comparison checks.

Read the full Acclaim Super profile · Read the full Australian Ethical profile · Choose another comparison