Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Retail investment platform
Centric is an adviser-led super platform for members who want a portfolio built around selected investments.
Designed for members working with a financial adviser. Confirm the available service and minimum balance with the adviser.
Retail fund
Colonial First State's FirstChoice range lets members choose an age-based option or build a portfolio from a broad managed-fund menu. Employer and personal products have different terms.
FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super is open to the public. FirstChoice Employer Super is available through a participating employer; eligible spouses can also join and members can remain after changing jobs.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
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.
| What to compare | Centric Super | Colonial First State |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Designed for members working with a financial adviser. Confirm the available service and minimum balance with the adviser. Sources123 | FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super is open to the public. FirstChoice Employer Super is available through a participating employer; eligible spouses can also join and members can remain after changing jobs. Sources13 |
| Accounts and products | Centric Super accumulation and retirement accounts. Sources123 | FirstChoice products. Essential Super and CFS Edge are distinct product propositions. FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super FirstChoice Employer Super FirstChoice pension products CFS Lifestage Sources16 |
| Investment choices | Centric Choice provides a broad investment menu. Centric One centres on multi-asset model portfolios, with consolidated online reporting. Sources123 | CFS Lifestage in FirstChoice Employer Super; identify the chosen option in Personal Super. FirstChoice offers ready-made diversified portfolios and a broad selection of asset-class and manager options. CFS Lifestage adjusts the mix with a member's birth cohort. Sustainable choices include Thrive+ Sustainable Growth. Access to managed accounts can require a financial adviser. Sources12 |
| Insurance | Insurance arrangements should be checked in the current super disclosure and the proposal supplied by your adviser; investment-platform access alone does not establish your cover. Sources123 | FirstChoice Employer Super can provide automatic insurance for eligible employee members. Insurance depends on the plan, so ask about cover, premiums and any employer subsidy. A Personal Super account should be checked under its own insurance terms. Sources3 |
| Retirement income | The platform supports transition-to-retirement and pension accounts. Sources123 | CFS has pension products and services for starting and managing a retirement income stream. Compare the particular pension product and investment menu rather than carrying across fees from FirstChoice Employer Super. Sources45 |
| Advice and support | Portfolio selection is part of an advised service. Ask for the ongoing advice scope and fee in writing. Sources123 | CFS offers personal advice on FirstChoice super and access to broader financial advice. Comprehensive advisers charge a fee that may be one-off or ongoing; include this cost when comparing an advised portfolio. Sources45 |
| Fee details to check | Add the platform and account charges, cash-account margin, investment costs, transaction costs and any adviser remuneration. A monthly account fee alone does not describe the whole cost. Sources123 | Calculate fees for the actual FirstChoice product and selected managers. A low administration fee does not include all underlying investment costs or any advice fee. Employer-plan insurance and discounts can also alter the member's total. Sources5 |
| Comparing investment performance | There is no single Centric return. Compare the actual model or selected holdings after all relevant costs, using a consistent period and risk level. Sources123 | CFS Lifestage needs an age-cohort comparison. A chosen managed fund's return is specific to that investment; it should not be presented as the return of Colonial First State overall. Different FirstChoice products can hold a similarly named option with different charges. Specify Employer Super versus Wholesale Personal Super. Do not treat Essential Super's Lifestage product as interchangeable with FirstChoice Lifestage. Sources2 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
May suit someone who has a clear reason for using an adviser and wants that adviser to manage investments within super.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
FirstChoice is most interesting when you have a reason to use investment choice. Its range accommodates a simple age-based holding as well as a more tailored portfolio. If you only want one diversified option, compare its complete cost and service with other simple accounts before paying for features you may not use.
Sources6
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 Centric Super profile · Read the full Colonial First State 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.