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Australian Ethical vs Macquarie Wrap

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

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.

Macquarie Wrap

Retail platform

Macquarie Wrap provides Super and Pension Consolidator II and Manager II for advised portfolios.

Membership

Macquarie says its Wrap products are designed for people who have received personal advice to apply and to help manage the account.

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
MeasureAustralian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund MySuperChoose an investment option
Return basisMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative memberChoose an option
3-year return, per year7.68%Choose an option
5-year return, per year5.00%Choose an option
7-year return, per year6.21%Choose an option
10-year return, per year6.99%Choose an option
APRA strategic growth allocation72.25%Choose an option
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000$595 a year (1.19%)Choose an option
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)$160 a yearChoose an option
2026 performance testPassChoose an option
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

Australian Ethical and Macquarie Wrap: product features and conditions
What to compareAustralian EthicalMacquarie Wrap
Membership and access

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

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Macquarie says its Wrap products are designed for people who have received personal advice to apply and to help manage the account.

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Accounts and products

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

Australian Ethical Super

Australian Ethical account-based pension

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Super and Pension Consolidator II and Manager II, plus existing legacy products.

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Investment choices

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.

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Managed funds, separately managed accounts, listed investments and other assets permitted by the chosen menu.

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Insurance

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.

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Insurance can be accessed through selected providers under the relevant product documents.

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Retirement income

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.

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Super and pension accounts are available. The current II products do not accept conversion of an existing term allocated pension into that product type.

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Advice and support

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.

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A financial adviser is part of the intended product model.

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Fee details to check

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.

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Use the fees effective from 1 September 2026. Add investments, trading, advice and any cash-account economics; Macquarie published administration and ORFR changes for that date.

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Comparing investment performance

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.

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The member's portfolio and costs determine the result. An old Macquarie brand return is not a platform performance measure.

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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.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Macquarie Wrap

Editorial assessment

Worth comparing for an advised investor who needs the menu and account-management functions.

What deserves a closer look

  • The intended advice relationship creates a cost and service dependency.
  • Current fees changed in September 2026, so older comparison tables can be wrong.

Sources123

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

Before choosing between Australian Ethical and Macquarie Wrap

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 Australian Ethical profile · Read the full Macquarie Wrap profile · Choose another comparison