Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Closed public sector scheme
CSS is a closed Commonwealth scheme whose benefit depends on more than the investment return shown on a statement.
Relevant to existing contributors, deferred members and pensioners. Some returning employees must or may resume contributing.
Industry fund
Rest pairs its Growth default with indexed and other investment choices. Its published indexed investment costs make it useful to compare total account charges carefully.
Check the Rest Super or Rest Corporate PDS for the relevant membership and insurance terms. This profile covers the public Rest Super proposition rather than every employer arrangement.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
| Measure | Choose an investment option | MySuper |
|---|---|---|
| Return basis | Choose an option | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member |
| 3-year return, per year | Choose an option | 9.17% |
| 5-year return, per year | Choose an option | 6.66% |
| 7-year return, per year | Choose an option | 6.91% |
| 10-year return, per year | Choose an option | 7.35% |
| APRA strategic growth allocation | Choose an option | 76.24% |
| Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000 | Choose an option | $405 a year (0.81%) |
| Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total) | Choose an option | $130 a year |
| 2026 performance test | Choose an option | Pass |
| 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 | CSS | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Relevant to existing contributors, deferred members and pensioners. Some returning employees must or may resume contributing. Sources12 | Check the Rest Super or Rest Corporate PDS for the relevant membership and insurance terms. This profile covers the public Rest Super proposition rather than every employer arrangement. Sources5 |
| Accounts and products | Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme, including defined benefit and accumulation components. CSS defined benefit CSS accumulation component Sources12 | Rest Super, Rest Corporate and Rest Pension have separate disclosure documents. Rest Super Rest Corporate Rest Pension Sources45 |
| Investment choices | Investment earnings affect the funded component; they are only part of the overall benefit calculation. Sources12 | Growth Growth is Rest's default option. The choice menu includes Growth - Indexed, Australian and overseas share index options, and Sustainable Growth. An indexed option's investment fee does not include every charge incurred by the account. Sources12 |
| Retirement income | The main retirement benefit is generally a pension. Age, service, reason for leaving and sometimes final salary affect its calculation. Sources12 | Rest Pension has a separate PDS and investment information. Use its retirement product details when comparing payments, investment choice and charges rather than assuming a Rest Super comparison also covers retirement. Sources4 |
| Comparing investment performance | Explain benefits beside other schemes without treating CSS as a fund anyone can join. Sources12 | Use returns for the exact option and account type, with a common end date and a clear statement of fees deducted. Growth, Growth - Indexed and Sustainable Growth are distinct strategies and should not share a single performance figure. Keep Growth and Growth - Indexed separate in all fee and return tables. State whether the comparison includes costs paid from reserves and buy spreads. Sources123456 |
| Insurance | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Rest publishes separate insurance guides for Super and Corporate accounts. Check the active cover shown in your account, its benefit definitions and current premiums; insurance changes and employer arrangements can affect what you receive. Sources3 |
| Advice and support | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Simple personal advice about a Rest account is generally available at no extra cost. More complex advice can incur a fee and Rest states that this may not be payable from the Rest account. Sources3 |
| Fee details to check | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Rest's fees combine a weekly administration charge, a percentage administration charge, costs paid from reserves, investment costs and transaction costs. Buy spreads can apply when money enters an option. The current fee page says investment and transaction costs are forecast to increase for the year ending June 2027, so the displayed prior-year cost is not a guaranteed future quote. Sources34 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
For a CSS member, an ordinary fund ranking answers too little. Get a benefit estimate for the actual exit date and compare the pension and lump-sum choices before considering any transfer.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Rest is worth looking at when building a shortlist of simple indexed portfolios. The useful comparison is the whole annual cost at your balance, including administration and any spread on contributions. A zero investment-fee line can be accurate while the account still has other charges.
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 CSS profile · Read the full Rest 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.