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AustralianSuper vs Perpetual WealthFocus

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.

Perpetual WealthFocus

Retail fund

WealthFocus Super is a personal super product offering managed investments from Perpetual and other investment managers.

Membership

Designed for employees and self-employed people, with regular or one-off contributions subject to contribution rules.

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 Perpetual WealthFocus: product features and conditions
What to compareAustralianSuperPerpetual WealthFocus
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

Designed for employees and self-employed people, with regular or one-off contributions subject to contribution rules.

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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

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WealthFocus Super Plan and pension products.

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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

Members can select managed funds across different asset classes and managers. Use the super investment menu because other WealthFocus investment products have different tax and product structures.

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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.

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Optional insurance is available within super. The current insurance disclosure sets eligibility, cover and cost.

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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.

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A pension account allows members to choose the amount and frequency of payments within the account rules.

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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.

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Consider the product with an adviser if selecting and maintaining several managed funds; clarify any advice fee separately.

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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.

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Use the WealthFocus Super PDS and investment menu. Include administration and underlying manager charges, plus any advice and insurance costs.

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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.

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Compare the exact super option and its fee basis. Returns from a WealthFocus investment fund outside super may have different tax treatment.

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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 Perpetual WealthFocus

Editorial assessment

A candidate for members who want to select managed investments and have a clear reason for the managers they choose.

What deserves a closer look

  • WealthFocus is a family of products; tax features on investment accounts do not automatically apply to super.
  • Several funds holding similar assets may provide less diversification than their number suggests.

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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 AustralianSuper and Perpetual WealthFocus

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 Perpetual WealthFocus profile · Choose another comparison