Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Specialist retail fund
AESF is a specialist super fund for overseas pension transfers, Australian expatriates and Australian residents, with multi-currency investment choices.
The May 2026 PDS includes Australian residents, expatriates and people considering overseas pension transfers. UK tax-relieved transfers have additional eligibility conditions.
Industry fund
CareSuper offers a Balanced default, other pooled investment options and a Direct Investment option. Its merger and recent insurance changes make the date of a comparison especially important.
Use the current CareSuper PDS and your member category. Continuing members may have legacy insurance arrangements that differ from cover offered to new members.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
| Measure | Choose an investment option | CareSuper - MySuper |
|---|---|---|
| Return basis | Choose an option | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member |
| 3-year return, per year | Choose an option | 7.72% |
| 5-year return, per year | Choose an option | 5.88% |
| 7-year return, per year | Choose an option | 6.53% |
| 10-year return, per year | Choose an option | 7.32% |
| APRA strategic growth allocation | Choose an option | 71.90% |
| Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000 | Choose an option | $470 a year (0.94%) |
| Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total) | Choose an option | $150 a year |
| 2026 performance test | Choose an option | Pass |
| 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 | Australian Expatriate Superannuation Fund | CareSuper |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | The May 2026 PDS includes Australian residents, expatriates and people considering overseas pension transfers. UK tax-relieved transfers have additional eligibility conditions. Sources123 | Use the current CareSuper PDS and your member category. Continuing members may have legacy insurance arrangements that differ from cover offered to new members. Sources5 |
| Accounts and products | Personal Super and Personal Pension. Sources123 | Current CareSuper following the November 2024 merger; historical CARE Super and Spirit Super are not separate current choices. CareSuper accumulation Retirement Income TTR Income Direct Investment option Sources2 |
| Investment choices | Members can access investment and cash choices in multiple currencies through the platform. Sources123 | Balanced The pooled menu includes Balanced, Growth, Alternative Growth, Sustainable Balanced and more defensive choices. Eligible members can use the Direct Investment option to choose selected ASX 300 shares, ETFs, listed investment companies and term deposits alongside CareSuper's other investments. Sources234 |
| Insurance | Existing insurance arrangements should be checked with the fund. Older application forms describe cover that should not be assumed to be available on the same terms today. Sources123 | CareSuper offers death, TPD and income protection, subject to its categories and eligibility rules. Its insurance changes took effect on 1 April 2026 and generally increased costs, changed some cover amounts, and altered terms and definitions. Income protection is unavailable for Category D. Sources5 |
| Retirement income | Personal Pension provides an income stream when the member meets the relevant access rules. Sources123 | CareSuper has retirement-income and TTR products with separate options and fees. The Direct Investment option is not available in TTR accounts. Former product names changed through the merger, so check the current account name when reading older material. Sources4 |
| Advice and support | Overseas pension transfers need advice that addresses both countries' rules and the member's residency. IVCM's product support does not decide whether a transfer is right for you. Sources123 | CareSuper includes some telephone advice about the account within membership. The scope of advice and any extra fee should be confirmed before asking for a broader financial plan. Sources6 |
| Fee details to check | The PDS example assumes no QROPS or foreign-currency holdings. Transfer, currency and specialist administration costs can therefore change the actual total. Sources123 | Use current CareSuper fees rather than an old Spirit Super or CARE Super fee table. Direct investing adds a separate administration fee, brokerage and any underlying ETF or listed-fund costs. Insurance premiums need a quote under the post-April 2026 terms. Sources13 |
| Comparing investment performance | Compare the selected investments, currencies and net costs. Currency movements can alter both investment results and tax calculations. Sources123 | CareSuper's current fee page expressly notes that the former CARE Super fund merged into Spirit Super and that the investment options were aligned. Long performance histories can contain predecessor-fund results; identify the basis before interpreting them as the experience of every continuing member. Use the current legal fund ABN and explain predecessor performance. Check the insurance category and whether cover is legacy, default or tailored. Sources1 |
| Former names and account history | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Spirit Super: Merged with CareSuper on 1 November 2024; the resulting legal fund retains former Spirit ABN 74559365913. Sources7 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Relevant for people investigating a cross-border pension transfer, rather than a routine domestic fund comparison.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
CareSuper is useful to compare if you want pooled investment management with an option to take more control later. Existing members have another reason to review their account: the merger history and insurance changes mean old documents may no longer describe what they hold.
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 Australian Expatriate Superannuation Fund profile · Read the full CareSuper 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.