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.
Industry fund
Aware Super uses a Lifecycle default in its Future Saver account and offers retirement income accounts, investment choice and several levels of advice.
Public membership is available. Some former scheme members, including defined-benefit and employer groups, need the documents for their own plan.
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 | Choose an investment option |
|---|---|---|
| Return basis | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member | Choose an option |
| 3-year return, per year | 9.65% | Choose an option |
| 5-year return, per year | 6.68% | Choose an option |
| 7-year return, per year | 6.99% | Choose an option |
| 10-year return, per year | Not reported | Choose an option |
| APRA strategic growth allocation | 69.06% | Choose an option |
| Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000 | $455 a year (0.91%) | Choose an option |
| Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total) | $75 a year | Choose an option |
| 2026 performance test | Pass | Choose an option |
| New-member status at reporting date | Check the current product eligibility rules | Check 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.
| What to compare | ADF Super | Aware Super |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Entry is tied to ADF service. Members who meet the continuous-service rules can keep contributing after leaving Defence. Sources123 | Public membership is available. Some former scheme members, including defined-benefit and employer groups, need the documents for their own plan. Sources1 |
| 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 | Future Saver public accumulation account; restricted legacy and employer arrangements are separate. Future Saver Retirement Income Retirement Transition Legacy defined-benefit arrangements Sources12345678 |
| Investment choices | MySuper Balanced The four options are MySuper Balanced, Cash, Income Focused and Aggressive. Sources123 | MySuper Lifecycle Future Saver members who do not choose an investment option use MySuper Lifecycle, which changes the mix with age. Members can choose diversified or single-asset-class investments instead. The retirement-account default is Conservative Balanced, rather than the accumulation Lifecycle approach. Sources23 |
| 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 | Death, TPD and income protection cover are available through TAL policies, subject to eligibility. Basic Cover comprises death and TPD; other cover can require an application. NSW Police and Ambulance officers have special arrangements and should use their own insurance handbooks. Sources56 |
| Comparing investment performance | Compare the selected investment option separately from ADF Cover and any civilian insurance premiums. Sources123 | A Lifecycle comparison must match the member's age and the relevant investment mix. Conservative Balanced pension results and Future Saver results differ in investment strategy and tax treatment; a single brand-level return would obscure those differences. Compare Future Saver's Lifecycle for the same age, and compare retirement accounts separately. Check whether advice being compared is general guidance, personal advice about the fund, or broader financial planning. Sources3 |
| Retirement income | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Retirement Income is the account-based pension product. Retirement Transition is for eligible members accessing super while working and automatically becomes Retirement Income at age 65. Members can keep the Conservative Balanced default or choose their own investment mix. Sources34 |
| Advice and support | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Aware offers help about its accounts, personal retirement advice and broader financial advice. Advice about Aware accounts can be available at no extra cost, while broader advice has a fee. Confirm what the service covers before relying on it for decisions involving other assets or another fund. Sources48 |
| Fee details to check | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Compare the fee for the actual Lifecycle age allocation or chosen option. A retirement account and Future Saver can have different administration and investment costs, so the accumulation total should not be carried into a pension comparison. Sources12345678 |
| Former names and account history | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | First State Super: Renamed Aware Super in September 2020. StatePlus: Former advice and retirement brand, acquired by First State Super in 2016 and rebranded in 2020; do not confuse with State Super NSW defined benefit schemes. TelstraSuper: Heritage TelstraSuper accounts moved to Aware Super, with new arrangements from 1 May 2026; heritage insurance terms remain account-specific. Sources91011 |
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
Aware is worth examining if you want investment management and help with retirement decisions in the same place. The change from an accumulation Lifecycle default to a Conservative Balanced retirement default deserves a close look: it is a meaningful change in how your money is invested, not just a new account name.
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 Aware Super 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.