In your 20s, time is your greatest super asset. Every dollar invested now has 40+ years to compound, which means two things matter most: minimising fees (which compound just as powerfully as returns) and choosing a growth-oriented investment option that maximises long-term returns.
Many young Australians have small balances under $20,000, where flat admin fees can eat 1-2% of the balance annually — on top of investment fees. The best super fund for someone in their 20s charges low flat fees, offers a high-growth default option, and makes it easy to consolidate multiple accounts from casual or part-time jobs.
Top 5 Super Funds for People in Their 20s
Ranked at a typical balance of $15,000. Data current as of July 2026.
7.50% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $134/year (0.89% of balance) at $15,000. 0.12M members. $18B in assets under management.
- Strong Queensland presence with local offices
- Heritage in local government and energy sectors
- Face-to-face advice available
7.20% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $140/year (0.93% of balance) at $15,000. 0.165M members. $29B in assets under management.
- One of Australia's oldest funds — established 1947
- Strong Victorian local government heritage
- Defined benefit products still available
8.90% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $146/year (0.98% of balance) at $15,000. 3.4M members. $365B in assets under management.
- Consistently strong long-term returns — top quartile over 10 years
- Low total fees relative to fund size ($367 p.a. on $50k)
- Largest fund in Australia with $365 billion in assets
8.30% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $158/year (1.06% of balance) at $15,000. 1.0M members. $75B in assets under management.
- Purpose-built for health and community services workers
- Strong long-term returns — 8.3% over 10 years
- Insurance designed for healthcare occupation risks
10.04% annualised return over 10 years. total fees of $165/year (1.10% of balance) at $15,000. 2.3M members. $300B in assets under management.
- Second-largest fund in Australia at $300 billion — massive scale advantage
- Strong long-term returns — the lifecycle default's High Growth Pool has returned 10.0% p.a. over the 10 years to 30 June 2026
- Admin fee cut 1 July 2026 ($1.20 → $1.10 a week), with the asset-based admin fee charged only on the first $500,000
Fee Comparison at $15,000
How the top 5 funds compare on total annual fees at a $15,000 balance:
| # | Fund | Admin Fee | Inv. Fee | Total $/yr | Total % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brighter Super | $26 | 0.50% | $134 | 0.89% |
| 2 | Vision Super | $66 | 0.31% | $140 | 0.93% |
| 3 | AustralianSuper | $52 | 0.47% | $146 | 0.98% |
| 4 | HESTA | $52 | 0.49% | $158 | 1.06% |
| 5 | Australian Retirement Trust | $57 | 0.51% | $165 | 1.10% |
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 people in their 20s:
- Fees: Total annual cost (admin fee + investment fee + indirect costs) at a $15,000 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
- Brighter Super Review
Queensland-based industry fund formed from the merger of LGIAsuper and Energy Super.
- Vision Super Review
Industry fund for Victorian local government and community sector workers.
- AustralianSuper Review
Australia's largest super fund by membership and assets under management.
- HESTA Review
The super fund for health and community services workers.
- Australian Retirement Trust Review
Formed from the merger of QSuper and Sunsuper — one of Australia's largest funds.
Independent superannuation research · about the editor ✓ Fact-checked · updated July 2026
Source: APRA & ATO data