superguru
MenuClose menu

Aware Super vs Vision Super

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

Aware Super

Industry fund

Aware Super uses a Lifecycle default in its Future Saver account and offers retirement income accounts, investment choice and several levels of advice.

Membership

Public membership is available. Some former scheme members, including defined-benefit and employer groups, need the documents for their own plan.

Vision Super

Industry fund

Vision Super now includes the former Active Super membership. Its current products need to be read alongside the transfer notices, because the merger did not make every historical option or insurance arrangement identical.

Membership

The fund has Super Saver and Personal products, plus existing defined benefit and retirement arrangements. Eligibility and insurance can differ by product.

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
MeasureChoose an investment optionVision MySuper
Return basisChoose an optionMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member
3-year return, per yearChoose an option9.16%
5-year return, per yearChoose an option6.69%
7-year return, per yearChoose an option7.59%
10-year return, per yearChoose an option8.14%
APRA strategic growth allocationChoose an option76.58%
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000Choose an option$305 a year (0.61%)
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)Choose an option$115 a year
2026 performance testChoose an optionPass
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

Aware Super and Vision Super: product features and conditions
What to compareAware SuperVision Super
Membership and access

Public membership is available. Some former scheme members, including defined-benefit and employer groups, need the documents for their own plan.

Sources1

The fund has Super Saver and Personal products, plus existing defined benefit and retirement arrangements. Eligibility and insurance can differ by product.

Sources12345
Accounts and products

Future Saver public accumulation account; restricted legacy and employer arrangements are separate.

Future Saver

Retirement Income

Retirement Transition

Legacy defined-benefit arrangements

Sources12345678

Super Saver, Personal, pension and transition-to-retirement products, with existing defined benefit arrangements.

Sources12345
Investment choices

MySuper Lifecycle

Future Saver members who do not choose an investment option use MySuper Lifecycle, which changes the mix with age. Members can choose diversified or single-asset-class investments instead. The retirement-account default is Conservative Balanced, rather than the accumulation Lifecycle approach.

Sources23

A range of diversified and single-asset choices. Some former Active products retain their own history and disclosures. Vision's Diversified Bonds option closed in June 2026, while the former Active Managed Cash option was consolidated in October 2025.

Sources12345
Insurance

Death, TPD and income protection cover are available through TAL policies, subject to eligibility. Basic Cover comprises death and TPD; other cover can require an application. NSW Police and Ambulance officers have special arrangements and should use their own insurance handbooks.

Sources56

The fund publishes separate insurance documents for Super Saver and Personal. Employment type, including casual employment, can affect the application process.

Sources12345
Retirement income

Retirement Income is the account-based pension product. Retirement Transition is for eligible members accessing super while working and automatically becomes Retirement Income at age 65. Members can keep the Conservative Balanced default or choose their own investment mix.

Sources34

Pension and transition-to-retirement accounts are available. Existing lifetime or defined benefit pensions require their own scheme information.

Sources12345
Advice and support

Aware offers help about its accounts, personal retirement advice and broader financial advice. Advice about Aware accounts can be available at no extra cost, while broader advice has a fee. Confirm what the service covers before relying on it for decisions involving other assets or another fund.

Sources48

Vision Super Financial Planners can help with super and pension questions. The tailored-advice schedule sets out which services carry a fee.

Sources12345
Fee details to check

Compare the fee for the actual Lifecycle age allocation or chosen option. A retirement account and Future Saver can have different administration and investment costs, so the accumulation total should not be carried into a pension comparison.

Sources12345678

Use the current PDS for your product, not an old Active Super cost estimate. Former Active members should check their transfer notice and current statement.

Sources12345
Comparing investment performance

A Lifecycle comparison must match the member's age and the relevant investment mix. Conservative Balanced pension results and Future Saver results differ in investment strategy and tax treatment; a single brand-level return would obscure those differences.

Compare Future Saver's Lifecycle for the same age, and compare retirement accounts separately.

Check whether advice being compared is general guidance, personal advice about the fund, or broader financial planning.

Sources3

Vision publishes separate performance information where needed for former Active options. Its notes distinguish super, transition-to-retirement and retirement pension returns because their tax treatment differs.

Sources12345
Former names and account history

First State Super: Renamed Aware Super in September 2020.

StatePlus: Former advice and retirement brand, acquired by First State Super in 2016 and rebranded in 2020; do not confuse with State Super NSW defined benefit schemes.

TelstraSuper: Heritage TelstraSuper accounts moved to Aware Super, with new arrangements from 1 May 2026; heritage insurance terms remain account-specific.

Sources91011

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

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Aware Super

Editorial assessment

Aware is worth examining if you want investment management and help with retirement decisions in the same place. The change from an accumulation Lifecycle default to a Conservative Balanced retirement default deserves a close look: it is a meaningful change in how your money is invested, not just a new account name.

Who might put it on their shortlist

  • People who prefer an age-based default and want access to advice.
  • Members planning a gradual transition into retirement.
  • Former public-sector members who need help checking retained scheme or insurance terms.

What deserves a closer look

  • The default investment path is based on age rather than a complete view of your finances.
  • Police, Ambulance and legacy defined-benefit terms must be checked separately.
  • Transferring insurance requires acceptance. Aware says not to cancel existing cover until it confirms acceptance and the new start date.

Sources67

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 Vision Super

Editorial assessment

Especially relevant for existing Vision or former Active members assessing their current arrangements and comparing alternatives.

What deserves a closer look

  • A merged legal fund can still contain materially different product histories.
  • Check whether an old investment option still exists before building a comparison around it.

Sources12345

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

Before choosing between Aware Super and Vision Super

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 Aware Super profile · Read the full Vision Super profile · Choose another comparison