Russell Investments iQ Super
Retail fund
iQ Super combines an age-based default with a sizeable menu of active, indexed and low-carbon investments.
Membership
For Life and employer-based arrangements have their own product terms.
Russell Investments iQ Super vs Vanguard Super
Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Vanguard Super
Retail fund
Vanguard Super offers an age-based Lifecycle default, other diversified and single-sector investments, and both retirement and transition-to-retirement accounts.
Membership
The SaveSmart PDS sets joining conditions. Insurance eligibility is separate and includes work-hours and occupation requirements for some cover types.
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
| What to compare | Russell Investments iQ Super | Vanguard Super |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | For Life and employer-based arrangements have their own product terms. Sources123 | The SaveSmart PDS sets joining conditions. Insurance eligibility is separate and includes work-hours and occupation requirements for some cover types. Sources48 |
| Accounts and products | iQ Super and iQ Retirement. Sources123 | SaveSmart accumulation, SpendSmart pension and TransitionSmart TTR. Vanguard Super SaveSmart SpendSmart account-based pension TransitionSmart TTR Sources2 |
| Investment choices | GoalTracker is the age-based MySuper default. The menu also includes diversified, sector, responsible and third-party indexed options. Sources123 | Lifecycle Lifecycle changes the asset mix as a member ages. Members can choose other diversified options or single-sector options instead. The menu offers pooled investments inside super; it should not be described as a brokerage account for buying any Vanguard ETF. Sources1 |
| Insurance | Insurance applications and terms differ by membership and employer plan. Sources123 | Eligible members receive basic death and TPD cover. Income protection requires a separate application. Vanguard's public eligibility page lists a minimum recent work-hours condition and excludes hazardous occupations for TPD and income protection; TPD must be held with death cover and cannot exceed it. Sources45 |
| Retirement income | iQ Retirement includes pension and transition-to-retirement arrangements. Sources123 | SpendSmart provides regular retirement income and lump-sum access for eligible members. TransitionSmart lets eligible working members draw pension payments while keeping a SaveSmart accumulation account for contributions. Sources23 |
| Advice and support | Member resources include retirement support and advice; confirm the scope and fee for your request. Sources123 | Vanguard provides educational material and a Find an Adviser tool. Compare the scope and price of personal advice separately; the presence of a referral tool does not establish that comprehensive advice is included in the super fee. Sources7 |
| Fee details to check | Use the PDS and plan booklet for the precise iQ product. Employer pricing must not be assigned to every iQ member. Sources123 | Use the total annual fee for your selected option and balance, then account for insurance and buy/sell spreads. Vanguard says options other than Lifecycle can have different costs. A quoted Lifecycle percentage therefore should not be attached to every investment choice or pension product. Sources6 |
| Comparing investment performance | GoalTracker changes exposure with age. Compare the correct stage and use the same fee basis as the competing option. Sources123 | Lifecycle performance is age-dependent. Compare an equivalent age allocation and period, and use super-product returns rather than the much longer track record of a Vanguard managed fund or ETF outside super. Those are different products with different costs and taxes. Show Lifecycle results for the same age. Include SpendSmart and TransitionSmart in retirement comparisons, and compare insurance eligibility explicitly. Sources12345678 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Our take on Russell Investments iQ Super
A useful candidate for someone who wants Russell's investment range or an employer plan with negotiated terms.
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 Vanguard Super
Vanguard is a useful comparison for someone who wants a clearly described age-based investment approach. Its retirement accounts also let members move from saving to drawing an income within the fund. Insurance is the detail that can change the decision, particularly for someone in a hazardous occupation or with irregular working hours.
Who might put it on their shortlist
- People who prefer a Lifecycle strategy that automatically changes with age.
- Members comparing pooled diversified or single-sector investments.
- People who want an accumulation and pension pathway with the same provider.
What deserves a closer look
- Hazardous-occupation and work-hours eligibility rules can limit TPD or income-protection cover.
- The super product's own performance history must be distinguished from Vanguard's older investment funds.
- An age-based strategy cannot account for every part of your household finances.
- Vanguard Super does not provide the same freedom as a direct ETF brokerage account.
Sources4
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
Before choosing between Russell Investments iQ Super and Vanguard Super
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 Russell Investments iQ Super profile · Read the full Vanguard Super profile · Choose another comparison
Sources for Russell Investments iQ Super
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.
Sources for Vanguard Super
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.