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Perpetual Select vs PSS

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

Perpetual Select

Retail fund

Perpetual Select offers a focused menu of diversified and single-sector investments for super and retirement.

Membership

Personal super is offered to employees and self-employed people. The published minimum initial investment is $3,000, with separate arrangements for a savings plan.

PSS

Closed public sector scheme

PSS is a closed defined benefit scheme for eligible Australian Government employees.

Membership

Existing contributors and preserved members retain scheme-specific rights. Limited re-entry rules can apply when returning to eligible employment.

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

Perpetual Select and PSS: product features and conditions
What to comparePerpetual SelectPSS
Membership and access

Personal super is offered to employees and self-employed people. The published minimum initial investment is $3,000, with separate arrangements for a savings plan.

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Existing contributors and preserved members retain scheme-specific rights. Limited re-entry rules can apply when returning to eligible employment.

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Accounts and products

Select Super Plan and Pension Plan; older term allocated pension accounts have separate restrictions.

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Public Sector Superannuation Scheme. This is different from PSSap.

PSS defined benefit

Preserved benefit

Eligible PSSap ancillary account

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Investment choices

The menu covers diversified, Australian-share, international-share and cash choices. The Diversified and High Growth super options closed on 23 April 2026.

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Contributors use the default fund. Preserved members can choose Default or Cash for funded amounts.

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Insurance

Optional death, disability and salary-continuance cover is available under the insurance disclosure.

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Contributing members receive built-in death and invalidity cover, subject to scheme conditions.

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Retirement income

Account-based and transition-to-retirement pension arrangements are available; the term allocated pension is closed to new investors.

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Eligible benefits may be paid as an indexed pension, a lump sum or a combination.

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Advice and support

Members can select options themselves or seek advice. A manager's diversified option still needs to match the member's risk tolerance.

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This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

Fee details to check

Read the June 2026 PDS with the additional fees-and-costs information. Investment charges, spreads, administration, insurance and advice may all apply.

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This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

Comparing investment performance

Check the option's current underlying fund and investment arrangements before treating a long historical return as an unchanged strategy.

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Do not rank the defined benefit using accumulation investment returns.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Perpetual Select

Editorial assessment

May suit someone who wants managed diversification or selected sector exposure from the Select range.

What deserves a closer look

  • Some product pages still describe options that closed in April 2026.
  • The June 2026 disclosure takes precedence over older descriptions of the trustee's investment role.

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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 PSS

Editorial assessment

Contribution choices and retirement timing can matter more here than a published investment return. A benefit estimate tied to your employment history is the useful starting point.

Who this profile is for

  • Existing PSS members considering contributions, preservation or retirement.

What deserves a closer look

  • PSS and PSSap should never be combined into one comparison entry.
  • Opting out has scheme-specific consequences and does not necessarily release preserved benefits.

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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 Perpetual Select and PSS

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 Perpetual Select profile · Read the full PSS profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Perpetual Select

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

  1. Current Select product changes
  2. Select features and eligibility
  3. Terminated investment options

Sources for PSS

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

  1. CSC PSS overview
  2. CSC membership eligibility