Quick Verdict
Australian Retirement Trust is cheaper at $50k ($363/yr vs $423/yr). Australian Retirement Trust leads on 10-year returns (8.60% vs 8.00%).
Fund Overview
Australian Retirement Trust
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2022 |
| Trustee | Australian Retirement Trust Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | QLD |
| Members | 2.3M |
| Assets (AUM) | $300B |
CareSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1986 |
| Trustee | CareSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 220K |
| Assets (AUM) | $28B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Australian Retirement Trust | CareSuper |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.10% | 0.09% |
| Investment Fee | 0.42% | 0.55% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.09% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Australian Retirement Trust | CareSuper |
|---|
| $10,000 | $135 | $147 |
| $25,000 | $220 | $250 |
| $50,000 | $363 | $423 |
| $100,000 | $648 | $768 |
| $250,000 | $1,503 | $1,803 |
| $500,000 | $2,928 | $3,528 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Australian Retirement Trust | CareSuper |
|---|
| 1-Year | 12.20% | 11.00% |
| 3-Year | 8.40% | 7.80% |
| 5-Year | 8.60% | 8.00% |
| 7-Year | 8.70% | 8.10% |
| 10-Year | 8.60% | 8.00% |
| FY2024 | 9.30% | 8.80% |
| FY2023 | 10.50% | 9.80% |
| FY2022 | -2.80% | -3.00% |
| FY2021 | 20.80% | 19.20% |
| FY2020 | -0.50% | -0.20% |
| FY2019 | 8.50% | 8.00% |
| FY2018 | 10.50% | 9.80% |
| FY2017 | 13.20% | 12.00% |
| FY2016 | 4.20% | 3.80% |
| FY2015 | 10.50% | 10.00% |
Insurance Comparison
Australian Retirement Trust
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
CareSuper
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | Australian Retirement Trust | CareSuper |
|---|
| 25 | $135 | $125 |
| 30 | $228 | $210 |
| 35 | $385 | $365 |
| 40 | $590 | $560 |
| 45 | $910 | $870 |
| 50 | $1,400 | $1,350 |
| 55 | $2,080 | $2,000 |
| 60 | $2,950 | $2,850 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Australian Retirement Trust
| Fee Rating | Below median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
CareSuper
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Australian Retirement Trust
| Total Options | 18 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
CareSuper
| Total Options | 10 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
Australian Retirement Trust
| App Ratings | iOS 4.6 / Android 4.4 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included; comprehensive fee-for-service |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.4 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-6pm AEST Mon-Fri |
CareSuper
| App Ratings | iOS 4.3 / Android 4.1 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.9 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-7pm AEST Mon-Fri |
Verdict
On fees, Australian Retirement Trust is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Australian Retirement Trust costs $363 per year compared to $423 for CareSuper — a difference of $60 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, Australian Retirement Trust holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.60% versus 8.00% for CareSuper — a gap of 0.60% per annum. While not enormous, that gap adds up over the compounding horizon of a superannuation balance.
On insurance, Australian Retirement Trust uses TAL Life Limited while CareSuper is backed by AIA Australia. For a 40-year-old, CareSuper's default premiums of around $560/year undercut Australian Retirement Trust's $590/year, giving CareSuper the edge on insurance costs. On member satisfaction, Australian Retirement Trust has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.4 per 10,000 members compared to 3.9 for the other.
Australian Retirement Trust is best suited for public sector workers, large balances over 250k, while CareSuper targets it professionals, lawyers legal workers. One key difference is scale: Australian Retirement Trust manages $300B in assets and has 2.3M members, dwarfing CareSuper's $28B. Larger funds generally negotiate better fees and access exclusive deal flow, though smaller funds can offer more personalised service.
Important information
The information on SuperFind is general in nature and does not take into account your personal financial situation, needs, or objectives. It is not personal financial advice. Before making any financial decisions about your superannuation, consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and consider seeking advice from a licensed financial adviser. Super fund data including fees and performance returns shown on this site were current as of April 2026 — always verify figures on the fund's website. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Data sourced from APRA, ATO, and individual fund disclosures. SuperFind is a
DecisionLab publication.