Fees, Comparisons and 2026 Rules
What each super fee is, what drives it, how to compare products, and the rules that apply in 2026–27.
superannuation fund fees
Superannuation fund fees, read line by line
Plain-English guides and calculators that show what your super fund charges, how small percentages add up over decades, and how to compare, switch or consolidate safely.
- Every fee type in a PDS explained, with illustrative dollar examples
- 2026–27 rules: 12% super guarantee, payday super, caps and the performance test
- General information only, pointing to YourSuper, the ATO, APRA and Moneysmart for real numbers
Explore by topic
Worked Examples and Checklists
Fee drag over decades, comparing two funds, consolidating through myGov, insurance costs and retirement access.
Mistakes, Complaints and Official Sources
Costly super mistakes, lost and unpaid super, scams, early release rules, death benefits and how to complain to AFCA.
Start here
Worked Examples and Checklists
Super fee drag worked example: what a 0.5% fee difference costs over 30 years
A step-by-step illustrative calculation of how super fee differences of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 percentage point compound over 10, 20 and 30 years, with the method shown.
Worked Examples and Checklists
How to compare super funds: a step-by-step checklist for fees, returns and insurance
A practical order for comparing Australian super funds — fees in dollars, long-term net returns, investment options, insurance, services and employer arrangements — with a worked comparison.
Fees, Comparisons and 2026 Rules
Payday super from 1 July 2026 and the 12% super guarantee: what members should check
How payday super works from 1 July 2026, the 12% super guarantee rate, who is eligible, and how to check each payment reaches your fund within 7 business days.
Mistakes, Complaints and Official Sources
Superannuation mistakes that cost money, and the official sources to fix them
The super mistakes that most often cost Australians money — duplicate accounts, lost insurance, unpaid super, scams, missed nominations — with fixes and official contacts.
Fees, Comparisons and 2026 Rules
Superannuation fund fees explained: every fee type, what drives it and how to compare
A plain-English guide to Australian super fund fees for 2026–27 — administration, investment, transaction, buy/sell, advice and insurance costs, with dollar examples.
Fees, Comparisons and 2026 Rules
How to use the YourSuper comparison tool to compare super fund fees and returns
A step-by-step guide to the ATO's YourSuper comparison tool — what it shows, what it leaves out, and how to use it alongside your own statement before changing funds.
Tools
Annual super fee calculator
Turn the percentage and dollar fees in your fund's PDS into one yearly dollar figure, then add insurance premiums.
Fee drag projection
Project a super balance at two different after-fee returns to see how much a fee gap costs over the years.
Switch or consolidate checklist
The checks to run before you roll super into one account or move to a new fund.
Super fee types compared
| Fee or cost | How it is charged | Who it hits hardest | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration fee (flat) | A dollar amount per week, month or year, deducted from your account | Small balances: $78 a year is 1.6% of $5,000 but 0.08% of $100,000 | Whether you pay it in more than one fund |
| Administration fee (percentage) | A percentage of your balance, sometimes capped or tiered | Large balances, unless capped | Any cap and the balance at which it applies |
| Investment fees and costs | A percentage of the amount in each investment option; can include performance fees | Everyone; differs widely between options | The figure for the option you are actually in, not the default |
| Transaction costs | Brokerage, settlement and similar costs inside the option, shown as a percentage | Members in actively traded options | Whether they are included in the total cost on YourSuper |
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical super fund fee?
There is no single typical figure: total fees depend on the fund, the investment option and your balance. The fair way to compare is in dollars for your own balance. The ATO's YourSuper comparison tool shows the total fees of MySuper products on a standard balance, and your fund's PDS shows every fee line. See super fund fees explained.
Is 1% a high fee for super?
It depends on what the 1% includes and on your option. A 1% total for a diversified option with insurance excluded is higher than many large MySuper products charge, while some actively managed or specialist options cost more. Compare the same type of option on YourSuper, and use the fee drag projection to see what a fee gap means over your time to retirement.
Should I combine my super accounts?
Usually it saves duplicate fees and premiums, but check insurance first: rolling an account over normally cancels its cover. Also check for defined benefit interests or employer arrangements tied to a fund. Use the switch or consolidate checklist before you move money.
What changed in super on 1 July 2026?
Employers must now pay super with each pay under payday super, generally reaching your fund within 7 business days. The concessional cap rose to $32,500 and the non-concessional cap to $130,000, and the general transfer balance cap is $2.1 million. See payday super and the super guarantee.
What does it mean if my fund failed the performance test?
APRA's annual test compares a product's net returns with a benchmark. If a product fails, the fund must write to members, and a product that fails two years in a row cannot take new members until it passes again. It is a signal to compare, not an instruction to leave. See the performance test explained.
Can I get my super out early to pay bills?
Only in narrow cases, such as severe financial hardship or approved compassionate grounds, and promoters offering easy early access are often running illegal schemes. See early release of super and call the National Debt Helpline for free help with bills.
Is this site giving financial advice?
No. Fee Drag Notes provides general information about how super fees and rules work. It does not consider your objectives, finances or needs, and it does not recommend any fund. Consider a licensed financial adviser for personal advice.
How this site is made
Fee Drag Notes is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.