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AustralianSuper vs National Mutual Retirement Fund

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

AustralianSuper

Industry fund

AustralianSuper combines a conventional Balanced default with a choice of pooled investments and a Member Direct account for people who want to choose listed investments themselves.

Membership

Open to people working in Australia, subject to the product's eligibility rules. Employer arrangements can affect insurance, particularly AustralianSuper Select.

National Mutual Retirement Fund

Closed retail fund

National Mutual Retirement Fund holds a range of older superannuation and insurance policies administered by Resolution Life.

Membership

The trustee's March 2026 assessment describes the fund as closed to new members. Existing-member contributions and successor transfers are different from opening a new retail account; the rules depend on the policy.

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
MeasureAustralianSuper MySuperChoose an investment option
Return basisMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative memberChoose an option
3-year return, per year9.06%Choose an option
5-year return, per year6.34%Choose an option
7-year return, per year7.31%Choose an option
10-year return, per year8.27%Choose an option
APRA strategic growth allocation73.42%Choose an option
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000$345 a year (0.69%)Choose an option
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)$85 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

AustralianSuper and National Mutual Retirement Fund: product features and conditions
What to compareAustralianSuperNational Mutual Retirement Fund
Membership and access

Open to people working in Australia, subject to the product's eligibility rules. Employer arrangements can affect insurance, particularly AustralianSuper Select.

Sources1

The trustee's March 2026 assessment describes the fund as closed to new members. Existing-member contributions and successor transfers are different from opening a new retail account; the rules depend on the policy.

Sources1234
Accounts and products

Public accumulation accounts; Choice Income and TTR Income are separate products.

AustralianSuper accumulation

Choice Income account-based pension

TTR Income

Member Direct investment option

Sources1234567

Resolution Life legacy superannuation products, including the separate former Super Retirement Fund section from 1 July 2026.

Accelerator Personal Superannuation Plan

Investment Linked Personal Superannuation products

MultiFund Superannuation Bond

Resolution Life MyLife Super

Whole of Life and Endowment super policies

Former Super Retirement Fund section

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Investment choices

Balanced

The menu has three distinct approaches. PreMixed options put different asset classes into a single portfolio. DIY Mix lets you choose the proportions allocated to the fund's asset-class options. Member Direct provides access to eligible listed investments and term deposits within AustralianSuper, with its own costs and restrictions.

Sources23

Menus vary by policy. Some are unit-linked investment accounts; others combine insurance, guarantees or bonuses. The product and investment option on the member statement are essential identifiers.

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Insurance

Insurance cover can include death, total and permanent disablement and income protection. Cover and pricing depend on eligibility and work rating. Insurance is not available inside Choice Income or TTR Income accounts.

Sources47

Insurance and whole-of-life features belong to specific policies. The label National Mutual Retirement Fund does not establish a member's cover, premium or surrender value.

Sources1234
Retirement income

Choice Income provides retirement income, while TTR Income is for eligible people accessing part of their super before full retirement. Read the pension PDS separately because its fees and available features are not identical to an accumulation account.

Sources4

Pension and super policies have their own withdrawal, payment and maturity rules. Annual and terminal bonuses should be distinguished; terminal bonuses may depend on the eventual claim or withdrawal.

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Advice and support

Most telephone advice about an AustralianSuper account is included in the administration fee. Telephone advice about starting a pension or a transition to retirement strategy can cost extra; broader personal advice has an agreed fee.

Sources4

This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

Fee details to check

Compare administration, investment and transaction costs for your chosen option, then add insurance and any advice or Member Direct costs. AustralianSuper has announced an accumulation administration fee change for 31 October 2026: the asset-based rate will rise from 0.10% to 0.12% a year, and its cap from $350 to $600. The $1 weekly flat fee stays unchanged. These announced terms are not yet effective on the research date.

Sources45

This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

Comparing investment performance

Use the same investment option and end date on both sides of a comparison. AustralianSuper's crediting rates deduct investment fees, transaction costs and tax, but its treatment of the percentage administration fee changed historically. A Balanced return is not a return earned by every member.

Compare Balanced with a portfolio of similar risk, not automatically with every option called Balanced.

Separate the current fee schedule from the announced 31 October 2026 schedule.

Sources2

Compare the actual policy and option. Do not average different contracts into one fund return.

This is an explanatory profile for existing members, not a new-account recommendation.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on AustralianSuper

Editorial assessment

AustralianSuper is a useful starting point for comparing a broad-service fund. The menu accommodates people who want the fund to manage their investments and people who want more control. Size alone does not settle the choice: the announced fee change is particularly relevant at larger balances, and service history deserves attention alongside investment results.

Who might put it on their shortlist

  • People who want a broad investment menu and a pension pathway with the same provider.
  • Members considering direct shares or ETFs within a large super fund and prepared to compare the extra costs.

What deserves a closer look

  • Member Direct needs active investment decisions and has eligibility, investment and trading limits.
  • The coming administration fee increase means an older comparison can understate the cost after October 2026.
  • In February 2025, the Federal Court imposed a $27 million penalty for failures to merge duplicate member accounts. ASIC said affected members had been remediated. The finding makes administration and member service part of a fair assessment alongside investment returns.

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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 National Mutual Retirement Fund

Editorial assessment

The legal fund name is a starting point, not enough detail for a switch decision. With older policies, the useful questions are what you own, which benefits would survive a transfer and what would be paid if you left today.

Who this profile is for

  • Existing Resolution Life policyholders identifying their super fund.
  • Former Super Retirement Fund members checking the account and contribution details that changed in July 2026.

What deserves a closer look

  • Do not treat every legacy policy as a standard accumulation account.
  • June 2026 figures for Super Retirement Fund predate its transfer. They should not be presented as new July pricing for the receiving section.
  • An APRA public-offer classification does not override the trustee's notice that the fund is closed to new members.

Sources1234

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

Before choosing between AustralianSuper and National Mutual Retirement Fund

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 AustralianSuper profile · Read the full National Mutual Retirement Fund profile · Choose another comparison