Quick Verdict
Australian Retirement Trust is cheaper at $50k ($363/yr vs $428/yr). Australian Retirement Trust leads on 10-year returns (8.60% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
Australian Retirement Trust
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2022 |
| Trustee | Australian Retirement Trust Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | QLD |
| Members | 2.3M |
| Assets (AUM) | $300B |
Spirit Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2021 |
| Trustee | Spirit Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | TAS |
| Members | 340K |
| Assets (AUM) | $28B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Australian Retirement Trust | Spirit Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.10% | 0.14% |
| Investment Fee | 0.42% | 0.50% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.09% | 0.10% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Australian Retirement Trust | Spirit Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $135 | $148 |
| $25,000 | $220 | $253 |
| $50,000 | $363 | $428 |
| $100,000 | $648 | $778 |
| $250,000 | $1,503 | $1,828 |
| $500,000 | $2,928 | $3,578 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Australian Retirement Trust | Spirit Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 12.20% | 10.80% |
| 3-Year | 8.40% | 7.50% |
| 5-Year | 8.60% | 7.50% |
| 7-Year | 8.70% | 7.80% |
| 10-Year | 8.60% | 7.50% |
| FY2024 | 9.30% | 8.20% |
| FY2023 | 10.50% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -2.80% | -2.80% |
| FY2021 | 20.80% | 18.50% |
| FY2020 | -0.50% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 8.50% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.50% | 9.50% |
| FY2017 | 13.20% | 11.50% |
| FY2016 | 4.20% | 3.50% |
| FY2015 | 10.50% | 9.50% |
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 |
Spirit Super
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | Australian Retirement Trust | Spirit Super |
|---|
| 25 | $135 | N/A |
| 30 | $228 | N/A |
| 35 | $385 | N/A |
| 40 | $590 | N/A |
| 45 | $910 | N/A |
| 50 | $1,400 | N/A |
| 55 | $2,080 | N/A |
| 60 | $2,950 | N/A |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Australian Retirement Trust
| Fee Rating | Below median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Spirit Super
| 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 |
Spirit Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| 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 |
Spirit Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.2 / Android 4.0 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.5 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
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 $428 for Spirit Super — a difference of $65 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 7.50% for Spirit Super — a gap of 1.10% per annum. That performance spread is significant and would result in tens of thousands of dollars difference over a working life.
On insurance, Australian Retirement Trust uses TAL Life Limited while Spirit Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. Australian Retirement Trust charges around $590/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, Australian Retirement Trust has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.4 per 10,000 members compared to 3.5 for the other.
Australian Retirement Trust is best suited for public sector workers, large balances over 250k, while Spirit Super targets construction workers, public sector workers. One key difference is scale: Australian Retirement Trust manages $300B in assets and has 2.3M members, dwarfing Spirit Super'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.