Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Restricted public sector fund
ADF Super holds retirement savings for eligible current and former Australian Defence Force members.
Entry is tied to ADF service. Members who meet the continuous-service rules can keep contributing after leaving Defence.
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.
Check the current super PDS and target market determination for joining conditions. Pension eligibility and investment choices are covered separately.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
| Measure | ADF MySuper | Australian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund MySuper |
|---|---|---|
| Return basis | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member |
| 3-year return, per year | 9.65% | 7.68% |
| 5-year return, per year | 6.68% | 5.00% |
| 7-year return, per year | 6.99% | 6.21% |
| 10-year return, per year | Not reported | 6.99% |
| APRA strategic growth allocation | 69.06% | 72.25% |
| Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000 | $455 a year (0.91%) | $595 a year (1.19%) |
| Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total) | $75 a year | $160 a year |
| 2026 performance test | Pass | Pass |
| New-member status at reporting date | Check the current product eligibility rules | Check the current product eligibility rules |
At $50,000, the reported annual total-cost difference is $140. ADF Super's selected reporting pathway has the lower reported cost on this measure. The figures cover the year to June 2026; current prices, insurance and separately charged advice can change the comparison.
The growth allocations are 69.06% and 72.25%. A return gap can reflect different exposure to growth assets, and similar headline allocations can still contain different investments.
A performance-test pass is a benchmark result for the tested product or pathway. It is not an endorsement or a guarantee of future performance.
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.
| What to compare | ADF Super | Australian Ethical |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Entry is tied to ADF service. Members who meet the continuous-service rules can keep contributing after leaving Defence. Sources123 | Check the current super PDS and target market determination for joining conditions. Pension eligibility and investment choices are covered separately. Sources7 |
| Accounts and products | Accumulation super for eligible Defence personnel; ADF Cover is a separate death and invalidity arrangement. ADF Super ADF Cover lifePLUS Protect after service Sources123 | Australian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund's super and pension products. Australian Ethical Super Australian Ethical account-based pension Sources3 |
| Investment choices | MySuper Balanced The four options are MySuper Balanced, Cash, Income Focused and Aggressive. Sources123 | 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 | Eligible serving personnel receive ADF Cover death and invalidity benefits at no extra cost. Eligible former members may obtain lifePLUS Protect, including automatic death and TPD cover or cover applied for separately. Sources123 | 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 |
| Comparing investment performance | Compare the selected investment option separately from ADF Cover and any civilian insurance premiums. Sources123 | 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 |
| Retirement income | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | 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 | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | 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 | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | 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 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
A useful comparison for Defence members starts with service status. The retirement account, serving-member cover and insurance after discharge have different rules. Treating them as one ordinary retail insurance package can obscure what changes when you leave.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
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.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
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 ADF Super profile · Read the full Australian Ethical profile · Choose another comparison
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.