Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Industry fund
Cbus combines a construction-industry focus with public membership, a conventional investment menu and an optional direct investment service.
Anyone can join, subject to product eligibility. Certain Retirement Scheme members cannot use all the same investment features as ordinary accumulation members.
Retail fund brand
Nationwide Super offers an age-based default, a personalised GoalTracker Plus strategy and a menu for members who want to choose investments themselves.
Employer and personal membership terms differ, particularly for automatic insurance.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
| Measure | Growth (MySuper) | Choose an investment option |
|---|---|---|
| Return basis | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member | Choose an option |
| 3-year return, per year | 8.92% | Choose an option |
| 5-year return, per year | 6.09% | Choose an option |
| 7-year return, per year | 7.00% | Choose an option |
| 10-year return, per year | 7.82% | Choose an option |
| APRA strategic growth allocation | 76.08% | Choose an option |
| Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000 | $455 a year (0.91%) | Choose an option |
| Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total) | $180 a year | Choose an option |
| 2026 performance test | Pass | Choose an option |
| New-member status at reporting date | Check the current product eligibility rules | Check 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.
| What to compare | Cbus | Nationwide Super |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Anyone can join, subject to product eligibility. Certain Retirement Scheme members cannot use all the same investment features as ordinary accumulation members. Sources1 | Employer and personal membership terms differ, particularly for automatic insurance. Sources123 |
| Accounts and products | Cbus Industry Super and Super Income Stream. Retirement Scheme members have separate restrictions. Cbus Industry Super Super Income Stream Cbus Self Managed investment option Retirement Scheme arrangements Sources123456 | Nationwide Super products within Russell Investments Master Trust. Sources123 |
| Investment choices | Growth (MySuper) Members can choose pre-mixed and DIY asset-class options, including an Indexed Diversified option. Eligible members can use Cbus Self Managed for selected Australian shares, ETFs, term deposits and managed property and infrastructure investments. Despite its name, Cbus Self Managed is an option inside Cbus, not a separate SMSF. Sources23 | GoalTracker MySuper adjusts by age. GoalTracker Plus uses information the member supplies; members can instead choose diversified, low-carbon, sector or indexed options. Sources123 |
| Insurance | Cbus offers death and TPD cover tailored to building, construction and allied industries. It describes automatic cover for eligible younger or low-balance members in the manual occupation category, an exception that makes the occupation rules especially important to read. Sources4 | Eligible employer members receive automatic Death and TPD. Income Protection requires an application and insurer acceptance. Sources123 |
| Retirement income | Super Income Stream provides retirement and transition-to-retirement pathways. The Fully Retired account allows eligible members to receive regular payments and make withdrawals. New members can establish an income stream using money from another super fund. Sources15 | Check the current retirement product documents and advice service for the account you plan to use. Sources123 |
| Advice and support | Cbus has an advice team, retirement information sessions and member support. Confirm whether the proposed service is general help or personal advice and whether a fee applies. Sources1 | A Super Adviser service can help with investments and insurance. Ask what is included and what incurs a fee. Sources123 |
| Fee details to check | Use the fees for the chosen pooled option or Self Managed arrangement, including account administration, investment costs and any trading costs. Insurance needs its own occupation-based comparison. Do not compare only the cash transaction account's interest rate or the price of one ETF. Sources123456 | Use Nationwide's own insurance, fees and costs guide. A shared Russell APRA product label is not evidence that all brands have identical costs. Sources123 |
| Comparing investment performance | Cbus crediting rates deduct investment and transaction costs and investment tax, but exclude charges taken directly from member accounts. Its growth/defensive classification splits some property and infrastructure exposures between the two categories, so inspect the underlying allocation when comparing with another fund. Show the claims-handling finding as a dated court outcome, not as an allegation or an investment-performance measure. Compare asset allocation before comparing two funds' published growth-asset percentages. Sources2 | Published returns are net of investment fees, investment taxes where applicable and the trustee administration fee. GoalTracker Plus members should use their own statement for personalised returns. Sources123 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Cbus is a sensible fund to investigate when insuring manual work is part of the decision. Its direct property and infrastructure choices also distinguish the investment menu. The serious claims-handling failures recorded by ASIC need to sit alongside those features in a fair assessment.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Worth examining for someone who wants help setting an investment strategy but wants to retain the option to build their own mix.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
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 Cbus profile · Read the full Nationwide Super profile · Choose another comparison
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.