AustralianSuper is a multi-industry public offer fund that manages over $140 billion in assets on behalf of more than 2 million members, making it one of the largest industry superannuation funds in Australia. The fund has achieved a Platinum rating for the past 16 consecutive years. AustralianSuper offers a range of 11 investment options to choose from, providing members with access to 6 Pre-Mixed and 5 DIY Mix investment options, including a Socially Aware option for the ethical investor. Access to Term Deposits, ETFs and ASX300 Shares is also provided via the Member Direct option; however, additional costs may be incurred. The Balanced option has provided strong investment returns to members, outperforming the SuperRatings Index over each time period assessed to 30 June 2018.Fees for the Balanced option are lower than the industry average across all account balances assessed. No switching fees or exit fees are charged. A full suite of insurance cover is offered, with Death, Total & Permanent Disablement (TPD) and Income Protection (IP) insurance cover automatically provided to eligible members upon joining the fund. Income Protection with a benefit period of 2 years, 5 years or to age 65, covering up to 85% of salary, is available following a 30 or 60 day waiting period. Members can apply to increase cover following the occurrence of a prescribed Life Event without additional underwriting.AustralianSuper members have access to a range of online fact sheets, calculators and educational videos. The fund’s member online account further allows members to view and update their account details and perform transactions.
Admin fee $117 | Health insurance |
Administration fee (%) | Binding nominations |
Indirect cost ratio (%) | Anti-detriment payments |
Exit fee $0 | Switching fee $0 |
Financial planning service | Employer size discount |
Credit cards | Home loans |
Insurance life event increases | Non-lapsing binding nominations |
Investment fee 0.6% | Long term income protection |
Account size discount |
Product | Past 5-year return | Admin fee | Company | Calc fees on 50k | Features | SuperRatings awards | Go to site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9.55% | $117 | AustralianSuper - MySuper | $417 | Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options |   | More details | ||
9.55% | $117 | AustralianSuper | $417 | Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options |   | More details | ||
9.55% | $117 | AustralianSuper Personal Plan | $417 | Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options | | More details | ||
9.55% | $117 | AustralianSuper Public Sector Division | $417 | Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options | | More details | ||
New Fund | $117 | AustralianSuper - Select | $417 | Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options | | More details |
Accessing your superannuation is a simple administrative procedure – you just ask your fund to pay it. You can access your superannuation in three different ways:
However, please note that your superannuation fund will only be able to make a payout if you meet the ‘conditions of release’. The conditions of release say you can claim your super when you reach:
The preservation age has six different categories:
| Date of birth | Preservation age |
|---|---|
| Before 1 July 1960 | 55 |
| 1 July 1960 – 30 June 1961 | 56 |
| 1 July 1961 – 30 June 1962 | 57 |
| 1 July 1962 – 30 June 1963 | 58 |
| 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964 | 59 |
| From 1 July 1964 | 60 |
There are also seven special circumstances under which you can claim your superannuation:
You or your partner could be forced to surrender part of your superannuation if you divorce, just like with other assets.
You can file a claim for division of property – including superannuation – as soon as you divorce. However, the claim has to be filed within one year of the divorce.
Your superannuation could be affected even if you’re in a de facto relationship – that is, living together as a couple without being officially married.
In that case, the claim has to be filed within two years of the date of separation.
Either way, the first thing to consider is whether you’re a member of a standard, APRA-regulated superannuation fund or if you’re a member of a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF), because different rules apply.
Standard superannuation funds
If your relationship breaks down, your superannuation savings might be divided by court order or by agreement.
The rules of the superannuation fund will dictate whether this transfer happens immediately, or in the future when the person who has to make the transfer is allowed to access the rest of their superannuation (i.e. at or near retirement).
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SMSFs
If your relationship breaks down, you must continue to observe the trust deed of your SMSF.
So if you and your partner are both members of the same SMSF, neither party is allowed to use the fund to inflict ‘punishment’ – such as by excluding the other party from the decision-making process or refusing their request to roll their money into another superannuation fund.
This no-punishment rule applies even if the two parties are involved in legal proceedings.
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Financial consequences
Superannuation funds often charge a fee for splitting accounts after a relationship breakdown.
Splitting superannuation can also impact the size of your total super balance and how your super is taxed.
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A superannuation fund is an institution that is legally allowed to hold and invest your superannuation. There are more than 200 different superannuation funds in Australia. They come in five different types:
Retail funds are usually run by banks or investment companies.
Industry funds were originally designed for workers from a particular industry, but are now open to anyone.
Public sector funds were originally designed for people working for federal or state government departments. Most are still reserved for government employees.
Corporate funds are arranged by employers for their employees.
Self-managed super funds are private superannuation funds that allow people to directly invest their money.
Superannuation is designed to provide Australians with money in their retirement. The government has strict rules around when people can take that money out of their fund because it wants to prevent people eroding their savings before they reach retirement.
As a general rule, you can only take money out of your superannuation fund when you reach:
That said, you can take money out of your superannuation fund early based on one of these seven special conditions:
Superannuation is paid by employers to employees. Employers are required to pay superannuation to all their staff if the staff are:
This applies even if the staff are casual employees, part-time employees, contractors (provided the contract is mainly for their labour) or temporary residents.
Currently, the superannuation rate is currently 9.5 per cent of an employee’s ordinary time earnings. This is scheduled to rise to 10.0 per cent in 2021-22, 10.5 per cent in 2022-23, 11.0 per cent in 2023-24, 11.5 per cent in 2024-25 and 12.0 per cent in 2025-26.
Employers must pay superannuation at least four times per year. The due dates are 28 January, 28 April, 28 July and 28 October.
You can withdraw your superannuation (or at least some of it) when you reach ‘preservation age’. The preservation age is based on date of birth. Here are the six different categories:
| Date of birth | Preservation age |
|---|---|
| Before 1 July 1960 | 55 |
| 1 July 1960 – 30 June 1961 | 56 |
| 1 July 1961 – 30 June 1962 | 57 |
| 1 July 1962 – 30 June 1963 | 58 |
| 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964 | 59 |
| From 1 July 1964 | 60 |
When you reach preservation age, you can withdraw all your superannuation if you’re retired. If you’re still working, you can begin a ‘transition to retirement’, which allows you to withdraw 10 per cent of their superannuation each financial year.
You can also withdraw all your superannuation once you reach 65 years.
You can withdraw your superannuation when you meet the ‘conditions of release’. The conditions of release say you can claim your super when you reach:
The preservation age – which is different to the pension age – is based on date of birth. Here are the six different categories:
| Date of birth | Preservation age |
|---|---|
| Before 1 July 1960 | 55 |
| 1 July 1960 – 30 June 1961 | 56 |
| 1 July 1961 – 30 June 1962 | 57 |
| 1 July 1962 – 30 June 1963 | 58 |
| 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964 | 59 |
| From 1 July 1964 | 60 |
A transition to retirement allows you to continue working while accessing up to 10 per cent of the money in your superannuation account at the start of each financial year.
There are also seven special circumstances under which you can claim your superannuation:
Opening a superannuation account is simple. When you start a job, your employer will give you what’s called a ‘superannuation standard choice form’. Here’s what you need to complete the form:
You might want to provide your tax file number as well – while it’s not a legal obligation, it will ensure your contributions will be taxed at the (lower) superannuation rate.
When you start a job, your employer will give you what’s called a ‘superannuation standard choice form’. Here’s what you need to complete the form:
You should also provide your tax file number – while it’s not a legal obligation, it will ensure your contributions will be taxed at the (lower) superannuation rate.
Superannuation is paid by employers to employees, at least once every three months. The ‘superannuation guarantee’ is currently 9.5 per cent – which means that your employer must pay you superannuation equivalent to 9.5 per cent of your salary. The guarantee is scheduled to rise to 10.0 per cent in 2021-22, 10.5 per cent in 2022-23, 11.0 per cent in 2023-24, 11.5 per cent in 2024-25 and 12.0 per cent in 2025-26.
Superannuation is generally taxed at 15 per cent. However, if you earn less than $37,000, you will be automatically reimbursed up to $500 of the tax you paid. Also, if your income plus concessional superannuation contributions exceed $250,000, you will also be charged Division 293 tax. This is an extra 15 per cent tax on your concessional contributions or the amount above $250,000 – whichever is lesser.
You can withdraw your superannuation when you meet the ‘conditions of release’. The conditions of release say you can claim your super when you reach:
