Retail fund
Australian Ethical
Australian Ethical applies its ethical screening approach across its investment range. The main comparison is how its published criteria, portfolio and cost fit what you want your super to do.
THE OVERVIEW
About Australian Ethical
Australian Ethical provides super, pension and investment products using its Ethical Charter and screening process. Ethical investing is a product-wide approach rather than one optional screened portfolio inside a broader unscreened menu.
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Who can join
Check the current super PDS and target market determination for joining conditions. Pension eligibility and investment choices are covered separately.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Our take
Australian Ethical is worth examining if investment exclusions are a deciding factor. Its advantage for a researcher is the published ethical framework across the range. The next step is to read that framework against your own priorities, then assess the asset mix and cost with the same care you would apply to any other fund.
Who might put it on their shortlist
- People who want ethical screening across their selected super options.
- Members prepared to inspect sector thresholds and holdings rather than rely on a sustainable label.
- Retirees who want to retain a screened investment approach in a pension account.
What deserves a closer look
- Ethical criteria involve thresholds and judgments; they may not match every member's personal definition.
- Screened portfolios can perform differently from the broader market when excluded sectors lead or lag.
- Compare total dollar fees at your balance, especially where a fixed member fee is material.
- Insurance remains subject to eligibility and policy definitions even where the investment approach suits your values.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE NUMBERS
Fees and investment returns
Use the product, investment option and employer plan on your statement. Lifecycle members need to choose the relevant stage. APRA's investment pathways may include closed options held by existing members.
| Measure | Australian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund MySuper |
|---|---|
| Return basis | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member |
| 3-year return, per year | 7.68% |
| 5-year return, per year | 5.00% |
| 7-year return, per year | 6.21% |
| 10-year return, per year | 6.99% |
| APRA strategic growth allocation | 72.25% |
| Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000 | $595 a year (1.19%) |
| Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total) | $160 a year |
| 2026 performance test | Pass |
| New-member status at reporting date | 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.
A CLOSER LOOK
Inside Australian Ethical
Accounts and products
Australian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund's super and pension products.
Australian Ethical Super
Australian Ethical account-based pension
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Investment choices
Balanced
The range includes diversified options and share-focused choices with different risk levels. All are subject to Australian Ethical's screening process. Its exclusions and positive investment choices use detailed criteria and revenue thresholds, so 'ethical' should not be read as an absolute ban on every indirect connection to a sector.
Insurance
Eligible members can receive default death and TPD cover, with income protection available by application. The amount and cost depend on the insurance terms. Members and eligible family members can access MetLife 360Health support services, subject to the service conditions.
Retirement income
Australian Ethical offers an account-based pension with its own investment options, fees and payment choices. Check that the pension option's asset mix is comparable with the accumulation holding you are considering moving.
Advice and support
The fund provides information, calculators and a direction to seek licensed advice before investment decisions. This research has not verified a universal included personal-advice service, so confirm available assistance and fees directly.
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Fee details to check
Compare administration, investment and transaction charges for the chosen option, plus insurance and other applicable costs. Australian Ethical's published performance can exclude a fixed dollar member fee even when percentage administration fees are reflected; the return figure and total account cost are different measures.
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Comparing investment performance
The fund describes the fee basis of its published returns. Comparisons should use the same period, risk profile and account type and explain which administration fees are excluded. Screening can change sector exposures, so a broad-market index is a useful reference but not an identical portfolio.
Compare ethical methodologies and actual holdings rather than awarding an unexplained ethical score.
State fixed-fee exclusions alongside any net-return figure.
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THE LEGAL FUND
Fund size in APRA's annual reporting
Australian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund
At 30 June 2025. These are legal-fund totals, which can include several products and more than one account per person.
APRA annual fund-level statistics, June 2025. These older totals can differ substantially after mergers. Size is not a measure of suitability or investment quality.
Sources for Australian Ethical
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.