When people compare super funds, they often look at one number: last year's return. But a single year tells you very little. Comparing super funds properly means looking at fees, long-term performance and the insurance inside the fund — together, and against genuinely comparable options.
1. Fees — the part you can control
Fees are one of the few things that are certain about your super. Higher fees don't reliably buy higher returns, and because they compound, even small differences matter over decades. Look at total fees — administration, investment and any others — not just the headline percentage.
2. Performance — over years, not months
Compare long-term performance (five, seven, ten years where available) rather than a single year, and compare like with like: a growth option against other growth options, not against a conservative one. Past performance isn't a guarantee of future returns, but consistent long-term results are more meaningful than one strong year.
3. Insurance — the hidden variable
The insurance inside your super varies significantly between funds, both in cost and in what it covers. Two funds with similar fees can differ meaningfully once insurance is factored in.
Comparing properly takes context
The right fund for someone else may not be right for you — it depends on your age, balance, goals and insurance needs. A complimentary super review puts your fund side by side with comparable options across all three factors, so you can see clearly how yours stacks up.
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