If you are under 30 and just starting your career, super probably feels irrelevant. But the fund you land in now — often your employer's default — will compound for 40+ years. A bad choice at 22 can cost you six figures by retirement.
Young Australians should prioritise three things: low fees (because small balances are disproportionately hit by flat fees), high-growth investment options (because you have decades to ride out volatility), and ease of consolidation (because you will probably change jobs several times in your 20s and end up with multiple accounts if you are not careful).
Top 5 Super Funds for Young Australians
Ranked at a typical balance of $10,000. Data current as of April 2026.
8.50% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $104/year (1.04% of balance) at $10,000. 0.65M members. $130B in assets under management.
- Among the lowest fees of any major fund — $245 on $50k balance
- Strong 10-year returns of 8.5% — excellent fee-adjusted performance
- 16 investment options including sustainable and ethical choices
8.10% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $130/year (1.30% of balance) at $10,000. 1.2M members. $175B in assets under management.
- Strong performer — Growth option consistently above median over 10 years
- Socially conscious investment option available
- Good insurance through AIA with competitive premiums
7.80% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $132/year (1.32% of balance) at $10,000. 2.0M members. $85B in assets under management. sector alignment: young-australians, small-balances-under-10k.
- Low fees — $280 on $50k balance, competitive for young workers
- Extended call centre hours including Saturdays
- Lifecycle investment approach in Core Strategy (reduces risk as you age)
8.60% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $135/year (1.35% of balance) at $10,000. 2.3M members. $300B in assets under management.
- Second-largest fund in Australia at $300 billion — massive scale advantage
- Strong 10-year returns of 8.6% across both legacy products
- Competitive fees at $275 on $50k balance
9.00% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $140/year (1.40% of balance) at $10,000. 1.8M members. $115B in assets under management. sector alignment: young-australians.
- Highest 10-year return among major funds at 9.0%
- 22 investment options — one of the widest ranges available
- Choiceplus platform for direct share investing
Fee Comparison at $10,000
How the top 5 funds compare on total annual fees at a $10,000 balance:
| # | Fund | Admin Fee | Inv. Fee | Total $/yr | Total % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UniSuper | $60 | 0.36% | $104 | 1.04% |
| 2 | Aware Super | $52 | 0.52% | $130 | 1.30% |
| 3 | REST | $78 | 0.48% | $132 | 1.32% |
| 4 | Australian Retirement Trust | $78 | 0.42% | $135 | 1.35% |
| 5 | Hostplus | $78 | 0.52% | $140 | 1.40% |
Use our comparison calculator to see how these funds stack up at your actual balance and contribution level over 10, 20 or 30 years.
How We Ranked These Funds
Our ranking considers multiple factors relevant to young australians:
- Fees: Total annual cost (admin fee + investment fee + indirect costs) at a $10,000 balance
- Performance: 10-year and 5-year annualised returns on the default MySuper option
- Sector alignment: Whether the fund has specific expertise or tailoring for this segment
- APRA heatmap: The fund's fee and return ratings on APRA's MySuper Product Heatmap
- Fund size and stability: Total assets under management and member numbers
No fund pays for placement. Rankings are based on publicly available data from APRA, ATO, and individual fund disclosures.
Read Full Reviews
- UniSuper Review
The super fund for Australia's higher education and research sector.
- Aware Super Review
Major industry fund formed from the merger of First State Super and VicSuper.
- REST Review
The super fund for retail and fast food workers — one of Australia's largest by membership.
- Australian Retirement Trust Review
Formed from the merger of QSuper and Sunsuper — one of Australia's largest funds.
- Hostplus Review
The super fund for hospitality, tourism, recreation, and sport.