Quick Verdict
LUCRF Super is cheaper at $50k ($406/yr vs $442/yr). Aware Super leads on 10-year returns (8.10% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
Aware Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2020 |
| Trustee | Aware Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | NSW |
| Members | 1.2M |
| Assets (AUM) | $175B |
LUCRF Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1978 |
| Trustee | AustralianSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 140K |
| Assets (AUM) | $10B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Aware Super | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $52 | $91 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.18% | 0.10% |
| Investment Fee | 0.52% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.11% | 0.10% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Aware Super | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $130 | $154 |
| $25,000 | $247 | $248 |
| $50,000 | $442 | $406 |
| $100,000 | $832 | $721 |
| $250,000 | $2,002 | $1,666 |
| $500,000 | $3,952 | $3,241 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Aware Super | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.50% | 10.50% |
| 3-Year | 8.00% | 7.20% |
| 5-Year | 8.10% | 7.00% |
| 7-Year | 8.20% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 8.10% | 7.50% |
| FY2024 | 8.50% | 8.00% |
| FY2023 | 10.10% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -3.20% | -3.50% |
| FY2021 | 19.80% | 18.50% |
| FY2020 | -0.30% | -1.00% |
| FY2019 | 8.20% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.10% | 9.20% |
| FY2017 | 12.50% | 11.50% |
| FY2016 | 3.80% | 3.50% |
| FY2015 | 10.20% | 9.50% |
Insurance Comparison
Aware Super
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
LUCRF 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 | Aware Super | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| 25 | $130 | $145 |
| 30 | $220 | $245 |
| 35 | $380 | $400 |
| 40 | $580 | $615 |
| 45 | $900 | $960 |
| 50 | $1,380 | $1,480 |
| 55 | $2,050 | $2,200 |
| 60 | $2,920 | $3,100 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Aware Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
LUCRF Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Aware Super
| Total Options | 11 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
LUCRF Super
| Total Options | 6 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
Aware Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.6 / Android 4.3 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included; comprehensive fee-for-service |
| AFCA Complaints | 4.3 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-7pm AEST Mon-Fri |
LUCRF Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.7 / Android 4.5 |
| Advice | Via AustralianSuper |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.6 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Verdict
On fees, LUCRF Super is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, LUCRF Super costs $406 per year compared to $442 for Aware Super — a difference of $36 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, Aware Super holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.10% versus 7.50% for LUCRF Super — a gap of 0.60% per annum. While not enormous, that gap adds up over the compounding horizon of a superannuation balance.
On insurance, Aware Super uses AIA Australia while LUCRF Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. For a 40-year-old, Aware Super's default death and TPD premiums cost around $580/year versus $615/year at LUCRF Super, making Aware Super the cheaper option for mid-career cover. On member satisfaction, LUCRF Super has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.6 per 10,000 members compared to 4.3 for the other.
Aware Super is best suited for public sector workers, education sector, while LUCRF Super targets retail workers. One key difference is scale: Aware Super manages $175B in assets and has 1.2M members, dwarfing LUCRF Super's $10B. 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.