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Australian Expatriate Superannuation Fund vs smartMonday

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 Expatriate Superannuation Fund

Specialist retail fund

AESF is a specialist super fund for overseas pension transfers, Australian expatriates and Australian residents, with multi-currency investment choices.

Membership

The May 2026 PDS includes Australian residents, expatriates and people considering overseas pension transfers. UK tax-relieved transfers have additional eligibility conditions.

smartMonday

Retail fund brand

smartMonday PRIME has an age-based default and a choice menu, plus a pension product. Its MySuper design changed in August 2026.

Membership

Employer and personal membership depend on the relevant product and plan.

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.

Choose an investment option to see the figures

The costs and returns belong to the selected product, option or lifecycle stage.

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 Expatriate Superannuation Fund and smartMonday: product features and conditions
What to compareAustralian Expatriate Superannuation FundsmartMonday
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.

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Employer and personal membership depend on the relevant product and plan.

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Accounts and products

Personal Super and Personal Pension.

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PRIME super and PENSION.

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Investment choices

Members can access investment and cash choices in multiple currencies through the platform.

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LifeStage MySuper now uses four age bands. Members can also select pre-mixed and sector options.

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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.

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Insurance is available; advice about a member's smartMonday insurance is included without a separate advice charge.

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Retirement income

Personal Pension provides an income stream when the member meets the relevant access rules.

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A pension account is available under separate disclosure.

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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.

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smartCoach provides account-related advice. Check the scope before seeking broader planning.

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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.

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From 14 August 2026, the standard annual administration charge fell to $67.60 plus 0.16% of balance, with a $1,000 cap on that percentage component. Investment costs rose for most options; employer terms may differ.

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Comparing investment performance

Compare the selected investments, currencies and net costs. Currency movements can alter both investment results and tax calculations.

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Do not compare the new LifeStage strategy as though its allocation has remained unchanged throughout the historical LifeCycle record.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Australian Expatriate Superannuation Fund

Editorial assessment

Relevant for people investigating a cross-border pension transfer, rather than a routine domestic fund comparison.

What deserves a closer look

  • Check current HMRC eligibility and transfer rules at the time of any proposed transfer.
  • A move between countries can affect the transfer's tax treatment and reporting obligations.

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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 smartMonday

Editorial assessment

Worth comparing for members who prefer an age-based investment strategy or have a negotiated employer plan.

What deserves a closer look

  • Old pages still refer to LifeCycle; the August 2026 notice is the current guide.
  • The administration reduction does not mean every member's total fees fell.

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

Before choosing between Australian Expatriate Superannuation Fund and smartMonday

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 smartMonday profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Australian Expatriate Superannuation Fund

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. PDS dated 1 May 2026
  2. AESF product and current documents
  3. Member administration changes

Sources for smartMonday

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. August 2026 product changes
  2. Current disclosure documents
  3. FAQs and advice