Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Restricted occupational fund
FES Super serves eligible Western Australian fire and emergency services employees, with defined benefit and accumulation accounts.
Firefighters start in the Defined Benefit Account. Different rules apply to other permanent, temporary and casual employees of DFES and associated employers. Spouse and retained accounts are available under their own eligibility rules.
Retail fund brand
Future Super offers five sustainably screened investment options and a pension product. Its exclusions are a central part of the product, so the screening policy deserves as much attention as the returns table.
Public membership is available under the current PDS and target market determination.
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 | FES Super | Future Super |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Firefighters start in the Defined Benefit Account. Different rules apply to other permanent, temporary and casual employees of DFES and associated employers. Spouse and retained accounts are available under their own eligibility rules. Sources12345 | Public membership is available under the current PDS and target market determination. Sources1234 |
| Accounts and products | Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund in Western Australia. Compare its accumulation accounts separately from defined benefits. Defined Benefit Account Accumulation Account Retained Benefit Account Spouse Account Account Based Pension Sources12345 | Future Super accumulation and pension. Sources1234 |
| Investment choices | Smoothed option for accumulation accounts Accumulation members have six choices: Smoothed, Moderate, Cash, Fixed Interest, International Shares and Australian Shares. The Smoothed option can set aside some returns in stronger years and release reserves in weaker years, at the board's discretion. Sources12345 | Sustainable Moderate, Sustainable Balanced Growth, Sustainable Alternatives Growth, Sustainable Growth and Sustainable High Growth. The fund says every option screens out defined fossil-fuel, weapons and gambling companies. Sources1234 |
| Insurance | The defined benefit has employment-related death and disability provisions, with separate income protection arrangements. Accumulation insurance uses different terms. Check occupation, account type and employment status before comparing cover. Sources12345 | Insurance is available for super accounts; it is not available for pension account holders. Sources1234 |
| Retirement income | Members can retain eligible savings or use an account-based pension. Converting a defined benefit into accumulation can be irreversible under the scheme rules. Sources12345 | A pension account allows regular income from retirement savings. It has separate fees and investment return information. Sources1234 |
| Comparing investment performance | Any investment comparison on this profile applies to the named accumulation option. Obtain a scheme benefit estimate before assessing a defined benefit transfer. Sources12345 | Check inception dates and any option changes. Ethical screening changes the investment universe, so compare risk and portfolio composition as well as fees. Sources1234 |
| Advice and support | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Account-related coaching and personal advice are generally included, with exceptions such as some pension advice. The service does not cover comprehensive advice about all outside assets. Sources1234 |
| Fee details to check | This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents. | Use the current option-specific total fee table, including administration and investment costs. Insurance remains separate. Sources1234 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
For a firefighter, the starting point is the value of the employment-linked benefit and cover. A return chart cannot price those entitlements. For an accumulation member, the unusual Smoothed option deserves attention: smoothing changes when returns are credited, without removing investment risk.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Worth researching when the stated exclusions match a person's values and the selected option matches their investment needs.
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 FES Super profile · Read the full Future 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.