$96
$296




Based on your details, you can compare and save on the following superannuation
Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons
- In-house service and call centre functions complemented by state based education and personal advice staff.
- Exceptional optional insurance offering. Pension products offered.
- Locally provided free general advice seminars covering a wide range of topics.
- Relatively low cost personalised, professional and easily accessible "fee-for-service" financial advice in-house facility.
Summary
UniSuper is an industry fund established for those working in the Australian higher education and research sector and their families. The fund was the winner of the 2021 MySuper of the Year award and was nominated as a finalist for the 2021 MyChoice Super of the Year and the 2021 Net Benefit awards. The fund's MySuper offering comprises a single diversified investment option, the Balanced (MySuper) option. The Balanced (MySuper) option has provided strong investment returns to members, outperforming the SuperRatings Index over each time period assessed to 30 June 2020. Choice members are provided with access to 7 Pre-Mixed and 9 Single Sector options.Fees are competitive and lower than the industry average across all account balances assessed. The first investment switch each financial year is free of charge, with a fee charged for subsequent switches.A full suite of insurance cover is offered, with Death and Total & Permanent Disablement (TPD) insurance cover automatically provided to eligible members upon joining the fund. Income Protection (IP) with a benefit period of 2 years, 5 years or to age 65, covering up to 85% of salary, is available following a 30, 60- or 90-day waiting period. Members have the ability to increase their default Death & TPD cover or apply for IP cover within 180 days of being first eligible to join the fund, without having to provide any medical evidence.UniSuper provides members with access to a range of online fact sheets, calculators, educational videos and on-demand webcasts and podcasts. The fund's Member Online further allows members to view and update account details, as well as perform transactions.
Features and Fees
UniSuper Fees and Features
- Features
- Insurance Cover
- Fees
Features
Binding nominations | |
Account size discount | Online Access |
Home loans | Financial planning service |
Non-lapsing binding nominations | Employer size discount |
Anti-detriment payments | Credit cards |
Insurance Cover
Health insurance | Insurance life event increases |
Total and permanent disability cover | Long term income protection |
Fees
Admin fee $96 | Administration fee (%) |
Switching fee $9.9 | Investment fee 0.4% |
Indirect cost ratio (%) | Exit fee $0 |
Pros and Cons
- In-house service and call centre functions complemented by state based education and personal advice staff.
- Exceptional optional insurance offering. Pension products offered.
- Locally provided free general advice seminars covering a wide range of topics.
- Relatively low cost personalised, professional and easily accessible "fee-for-service" financial advice in-house facility.
UniSuper is an industry fund established for those working in the Australian higher education and research sector and their families. The fund was the winner of the 2021 MySuper of the Year award and was nominated as a finalist for the 2021 MyChoice Super of the Year and the 2021 Net Benefit awards. The fund's MySuper offering comprises a single diversified investment option, the Balanced (MySuper) option. The Balanced (MySuper) option has provided strong investment returns to members, outperforming the SuperRatings Index over each time period assessed to 30 June 2020. Choice members are provided with access to 7 Pre-Mixed and 9 Single Sector options.Fees are competitive and lower than the industry average across all account balances assessed. The first investment switch each financial year is free of charge, with a fee charged for subsequent switches.A full suite of insurance cover is offered, with Death and Total & Permanent Disablement (TPD) insurance cover automatically provided to eligible members upon joining the fund. Income Protection (IP) with a benefit period of 2 years, 5 years or to age 65, covering up to 85% of salary, is available following a 30, 60- or 90-day waiting period. Members have the ability to increase their default Death & TPD cover or apply for IP cover within 180 days of being first eligible to join the fund, without having to provide any medical evidence.UniSuper provides members with access to a range of online fact sheets, calculators, educational videos and on-demand webcasts and podcasts. The fund's Member Online further allows members to view and update account details, as well as perform transactions.
Read More
UniSuper Fees and Features
- Features
- Insurance Cover
- Fees
Features
Binding nominations | |
Account size discount | Online Access |
Home loans | Financial planning service |
Non-lapsing binding nominations | Employer size discount |
Anti-detriment payments | Credit cards |
Insurance Cover
Health insurance | Insurance life event increases |
Total and permanent disability cover | Long term income protection |
Fees
Admin fee $96 | Administration fee (%) |
Switching fee $9.9 | Investment fee 0.4% |
Indirect cost ratio (%) | Exit fee $0 |
Fund fees vs. Industry average
Fund past-5-year return vs. Industry average
Investment allocation
Investment option performance
Past 5-year return 7.35% | Admin fee $96 | Company ![]() | Calc fees on 50k $296 | Features Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options | SuperRatings awards ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Go to site | More details | |
Past 5-year return 7.35% | Admin fee $96 | Company ![]() | Calc fees on 50k $296 | Features Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options | SuperRatings awards ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Go to site | More details | |
Past 5-year return 7.35% | Admin fee $96 | Company ![]() | Calc fees on 50k $296 | Features Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options | SuperRatings awards ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Go to site | More details | |
Product | Past 5-year return New | Admin fee $96 | Company ![]() | Calc fees on 50k $296 | Features Advisory services Death insurance Income protection Online access Term deposits Variety of options | SuperRatings awards ![]() ![]() ![]() | Go to site | More details |
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FAQs
What are personal contributions?
A personal contribution is when you make an extra payment into your superannuation account. The difference between personal contributions and salary sacrifices is that the former comes out of your after-tax income, while the latter comes out of your pre-tax income.
What are reportable superannuation contributions?
For employees, there are two types of reportable superannuation contributions:
- Reportable employer super contributions your employer makes for you
- Personal deductible contributions you make for yourself
Is superannuation included in taxable income?
Superannuation is not included when calculating your income tax. So if you have a salary of $50,000, your assessable income would be $50,000, not $50,000 plus superannuation.
That said, superannuation itself is taxed. It is generally taxed at 15 per cent, although if you earn less than $37,000, you will be reimbursed up to $500 of the tax you paid.
What happens if my employer goes out of business while still owing me superannuation?
If your employer collapses, a trustee or administrator or liquidator will be appointed to manage the company. That trustee/administrator/liquidator will be required to pay your superannuation out of company funds.
If the company doesn’t have enough funds, in some cases company directors will be required to pay your superannuation. If the directors still don’t pay, the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) might take legal action on your behalf. However, ASIC might decline to take legal action or might be unsuccessful.
So there might be some circumstances when you don’t receive all the superannuation you’re owed.
What compliance obligations does an SMSF have?
SMSFs must maintain comprehensive records and submit to annual audits.
How do I choose the right superannuation fund?
Different superannuation funds charge different fees, offer different insurances, offer different investment options and have different performance histories.
So you need to ask yourself these four questions when comparing superannuation funds:
- How many fees would I have to pay and what would they cost?
- What insurances are available and how much would they cost?
- What investment options does it offer? How would they match my risk profile and financial needs?
- How have these investment options performed historically?
When is superannuation payable?
Employers must pay superannuation at least four times per year. The due dates are 28 January, 28 April, 28 July and 28 October.
How can I increase my superannuation?
You can increase your superannuation through a ‘salary sacrifice’. This is where your employer takes part of your pre-tax salary and pays it directly into your superannuation account. Like regular superannuation contributions, salary sacrifices are taxed at 15 per cent when they are paid into the fund.
Am I entitled to superannuation if I'm not an Australian citizen?
Yes, permanent and temporary residents are entitled to superannuation.
Can I buy a house with my superannuation?
First home buyers are the only people who can use their superannuation to buy a property. The federal government has created the First Home Super Saver Scheme to help first home buyers save for a deposit. First home buyers can make voluntary contributions of up to $15,000 per year, and $30,000 in total, to their superannuation account. These contributions are taxed at 15 per cent, along with deemed earnings. Withdrawals are taxed at marginal tax rates minus a tax offset of 30 percentage points.
Voluntary contributions to the First Home Super Saver Scheme are not exempt from the $25,000 annual limit on concessional contributions. So if you pay $15,000 per year into the First Home Super Saver Scheme, you have to make sure that you don’t receive more than $10,000 in superannuation payments from your employer and any salary sacrificing.
How does superannuation work?
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:
- Age 65
- Your ‘preservation age’ and retire
- Your preservation age and begin a ‘transition to retirement’ while still working
What are concessional contributions?
Concessional contributions are pre-tax payments into your superannuation account. The payments made by your employer are concessional payments. You can also make concessional contributions with a salary sacrifice.
What superannuation details do I give to my employer?
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:
- The name of your preferred superannuation fund
- The fund’s address
- The fund’s Australian business number (ABN)
- The fund’s superannuation product identification number (SPIN)
- The fund’s phone number
- A letter from the fund trustee confirming that the fund is a complying fund; or written evidence from the fund stating it will accept contributions from your new employer; or details about how your employer can make contributions to the fund
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.
How is superannuation regulated?
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) regulates ordinary superannuation accounts. Self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) are regulated by the Australian Taxation Office.
What is lost superannuation?
Lost superannuation refers to savings in an account that you’ve forgotten about. This can happen if you’ve opened several different accounts over the years while moving from job to job.
Am I entitled to superannuation if I'm a contractor?
As a contractor, you’re entitled to superannuation if:
- The contract is mainly for your labour
- You’re over 18 and earn more than $450 before tax in a calendar month
- You’re under 18, you work more than 30 hours per week and you earn more than $450 before tax in a calendar month
Please note that you’re entitled to superannuation even if you have an Australian business number (ABN).
Can I choose a superannuation fund or does my employer choose one for me?
Most people can choose their own superannuation fund. However, you might not have this option if you are a member of certain defined benefit funds or covered by certain industrial agreements. If you don’t choose a superannuation fund, your employer will choose one for you.
How do you calculate superannuation from a total package?
Superannuation is calculated at the rate of 9.5 per cent of your ‘ordinary-time earnings’. (For most people, ordinary-time earnings are their gross annual salary or wages.) So if you had a salary of $50,000, your superannuation would be 9.5 per cent of that, or $4,750. This would be paid on top of your salary.
As the Australian Taxation Office explains, some items are excluded from ordinary-time earnings. They include:
- Overtime work paid at overtime rates
- Expense allowances that are fully expended
- Expenses that are reimbursed
- Unfair dismissal payments
- Workers’ compensation payments
- Parental leave
- Jury duty
- Defence reserve service
- Unused annual leave when employment is terminated
- Unused long service leave when employment is terminated
- Unused sick leave when employment is terminated
Although the superannuation guarantee is currently at 9.5 per cent, it 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.
What contributions can SMSFs accept?
SMSFs can accept mandated employer contributions from an employer at any time (Funds need an electronic service address to receive the contributions).
However, SMSFs can’t accept contributions from members who don’t have tax file numbers.
Also, they generally can’t accept assets as contributions from members and they generally can’t accept non-mandated contributions for members who are 75 or older.
How do I set up an SMSF?
Setting up an SMSF takes more work than registering with an ordinary superannuation fund.
An SMSF is a type of trust, so if you want to create an SMSF, you first have to create a trust.
To create a trust, you will need trustees, who must sign a trustee declaration. You will also need identifiable beneficiaries and assets for the fund – although these can be as little as a few dollars.
You will also need to create a trust deed, which is a document that lays out the rules of your SMSF. The trust deed must be prepared by a qualified professional and signed by all trustees.
To qualify as an Australian superannuation fund, the SMSF must meet these three criteria:
- The fund must be established in Australia – or at least one of its assets must be located in Australia
- The central management and control of the fund must ordinarily be in Australia
- The fund must have active members who are Australian residents and who hold at least 50 per cent of the fund’s assets – or it must have no active members
Once your SMSF is established and all trustees have signed a trustee declaration, you have 60 days to apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN).
When completing the ABN application, you should ask for a tax file number for your fund. You should also ask for the fund to be regulated by the Australian Taxation Office – otherwise it won’t receive tax concessions.
Your next step is to open a bank account in your fund’s name. This account must be kept separated from the accounts held by the trustees and any related employers.
Your SMSF will also need an electronic service address, so it can receive contributions.
Finally, you will need to create an investment strategy, which explains how your fund will invest its money, and an exit strategy, which explains how and why it would ever close.
Please note that you can pay an adviser to set up your SMSF. You might also want to take the Self-Managed Superannuation Fund Trustee Education Program, which is a free program that has been created by CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.