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Bendigo SmartStart Super vs Netwealth

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

Bendigo SmartStart Super

Retail fund

Bendigo SmartStart Super continues under Betashares ownership. Existing product terms should be assessed separately from any proposed future Betashares super product.

Membership

Check current availability for the specific product and option. Certain failed investment options are closed to new members.

Netwealth

Retail platform

Netwealth Super Accelerator is a platform for building and administering a selected investment portfolio. Core and Plus have different investment menus.

Membership

Check the product's application requirements and whether a financial adviser will manage the account.

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

Bendigo SmartStart Super and Netwealth: product features and conditions
What to compareBendigo SmartStart SuperNetwealth
Membership and access

Check current availability for the specific product and option. Certain failed investment options are closed to new members.

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Check the product's application requirements and whether a financial adviser will manage the account.

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Accounts and products

Bendigo SmartStart Super and SmartStart Pension.

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Super Accelerator Core and Super Accelerator Plus, with pension account options.

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Investment choices

MySuper is an age-based strategy using Growth Index, Balanced Index and Conservative Index at different ages, with a separate choice menu.

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Core has a narrower menu of funds, models and income investments. Plus has broader managed-fund and listed-investment access.

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Insurance

Insurance is available under the SmartStart policy and guide.

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Personal Super members can apply for group cover or eligible individual LifeWRAP policies, including death, TPD and income protection.

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Retirement income

SmartStart Pension has its own product documentation.

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Pension functionality is part of Super Accelerator; available investments and cash needs should be reviewed for the drawdown period.

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Advice and support

Use the current support and advice documents to establish services and charges.

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The platform supports a nominated financial adviser, with agreed advice fees separate from investment and platform costs.

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Fee details to check

Use the current PDS and updates; ownership change alone does not establish a fee reduction.

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Include fixed and balance-based administration charges, underlying fund or model costs, trading costs and advice. A quoted Core administration percentage excludes additional fixed or minimum fees.

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Comparing investment performance

The current site reports that Bendigo Balanced Wholesale and Bendigo High Growth Index did not pass the 2026 APRA performance test. This finding is option-specific, not a claim about every SmartStart option.

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Performance belongs to the selected investments and the member's allocation, not the Netwealth brand.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Bendigo SmartStart Super

Editorial assessment

Most useful for an existing member reviewing their exact option and current alternatives.

What deserves a closer look

  • Balanced Wholesale and High Growth Index closed to new members on 1 August and 26 August 2025 respectively, according to the current notice.
  • Do not confuse High Growth Index with the Growth Index option in the MySuper lifecycle.

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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 Netwealth

Editorial assessment

Best researched when an advised or self-selected portfolio needs the investments and reporting functions the platform provides.

What deserves a closer look

  • Do not assume a zero platform investment-fee line means the underlying investments are free.
  • An SMSF service is a different product and responsibility structure.

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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 Bendigo SmartStart Super and Netwealth

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 Bendigo SmartStart Super profile · Read the full Netwealth profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Bendigo SmartStart Super

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

  1. Current options and 2026 test notice
  2. Ownership FAQs
  3. Insurance guide

Sources for Netwealth

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

  1. Compare super options
  2. Core investment range
  3. Super Accelerator PDS