Best-Performing Super Funds Over 10 Years Revealed

The top-performing balanced super fund in Australia has delivered average annual returns of almost 9% over the past decade, according to research. Consumer comparison company Finder has published a list of the top-performing super funds over the 10 years to 30 June 2023, with Hostplus revealed as the No. 1 investment for returns.

Chant West provided the data, canvassing only balanced investment options among super funds. Balanced investment options are popular because they typically spread an investor’s superannuation monies across several asset classes, including shares, infrastructure, property, bonds and cash.

Here are the 5 top-performing super funds over the past decade

Hostplus Balanced (average 8.9% p.a.)

Hostplus’s balanced portfolio invests primarily in high growth assets with high stock diversification, according to the website. The minimum investment timeframe is more than five years and the target return is inflation (CPI) plus 4% p.a. over 20 years. The total investment fee is estimated at 0.98% p.a.

AustralianSuper Balanced (average 8.6% p.a)

This super fund invests in a wide range of assets, including shares, private equity, infrastructure, property, fixed interest, credit and cash, according to the website. The minimum investment timeframe is 10 years and the target return is CPI plus a minimum 4% p.a. over the medium to long term. In an example of fees on a $50,000 portfolio, the fee totalled 0.76% p.a.

Australian Retirement Trust (average 8.4% p.a.)

This fund has adopted the investment strategy of the Sunsuper Balanced investment option, according to the website. It invests in a wide variety of asset classes with a large allocation to Australian and international shares. The minimum investment timeframe is five years and the target return is CPI plus 3.5% p.a. over 10 years. The total investment fee is estimated at 0.8% p.a.

UniSuper Balanced (average 8.4% p.a.)

UniSuper balanced invests in a diversified portfolio of mainly higher-risk assets such as Australian and international shares, property, infrastructure and private equity, with some fixed interest and cash investments, according to the website. The minimum investment timeframe is 10 years and the target return is CPI plus 3% p.a. over 10 years. The total investment fee is estimated at 0.51% p.a.

Cbus Growth (MySuper) (average 8.3% p.a.)

The Cbus MySuper fund invests in growth assets including Australian shares and global shares, private equity, infrastructure, property, global credit, fixed interest and cash. The target return is CPI plus 3.5% p.a. over 10 years. The total investment fee is estimated at 0.5% p.a.

Source: Chant West, average annual returns among balanced super funds, 10 years to 30 June 2023

If we compare these funds’ performance to other assets owned by Australian investors, we find that over this same 10-year period, the median house price across Australia’s combined capital cities rose by about 70%. In other words, your home’s value grew by an average of 7% per year, according to CoreLogic data. If you owned an investment property during this time period, then rental returns would be added on top.

Compared to shares, the top super funds above outperformed the ASX 200. Using a popular index-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) as our yardstick, we see that the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) has delivered an average annual return of 7.5% (combined capital growth and dividends) since inception in 2010.

If you want to switch super funds, Finder provides the following advice and a four-step process.

Step 1: Choose a new super fund

Look for a combination of low annual fees, high long-term returns (10 year performance) and an investment strategy you understand and agree with.

Step 2: Join the new super fund

Download and complete the new membership form from the fund’s website.

Step 3: Transfer your existing super

Download and complete a second form to transfer your existing super to the new fund.

Step 4: Tell your employer

Download and complete a third form from your new fund’s website called the ‘employee super choice form’ or similar.

Requiring more than 30 percent of household income to service a home loan has long been considered the benchmark for ‘housing stress’. Yet research shows it is becoming the new normal. The 2024 ANZ CoreLogic Housing Affordability Report reveals home loans on only 17 percent of homes are ‘serviceable’ if serviceability is limited to 30 percent of the median national household income.

Based on 40 percent of household income, just 37 percent of properties would be serviceable on a mortgage covering 80 percent of the purchase price. ANZ CoreLogic suggest 40 may be the new 30 when it comes to home loan serviceability. “Looking ahead, there is little prospect for the mortgage serviceability indicator to move back into the 30 percent range any time soon,” says the report.

“This is because the cash rate is not expected to be cut until late 2024, and home values have continued to rise, even amid relatively high interest rate settings.” ANZ CoreLogic estimate that home loan rates would have to fall to about 4.7 percent to bring serviceability under 40 percent.

CoreLogic has broken down the actual household income required to service a home loan on a 6.27 percent interest rate for an 80 percent loan based on current median house and unit values in each capital city. As expected, affordability is worst in the most expensive property market, Sydney.

Sydney

Sydney’s median house price is $1,414,229 and the median unit price is $839,344.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $211,456 to afford a home loan for a house and $125,499 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $120,554.

Melbourne

Melbourne’s median house price is $935,049 and the median apartment price is $612,906.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $139,809 to afford a home loan for a house and $91,642 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $110,324.

Brisbane

Brisbane’s median house price is $909,988 and the median unit price is $587,793.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $136,062 to afford a home loan for a house and $87,887 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $107,243.

Adelaide

Adelaide’s median house price is $785,971 and the median apartment price is $504,799.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $117,519 to afford a home loan for a house and $75,478 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $89,806.

Perth

Perth’s median house price is $735,276 and the median unit price is $495,360.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $109,939 to afford a home loan for a house and $74,066 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $108,057.

Hobart

Hobart’s median house price is $692,951 and the median apartment price is $522,258.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $103,610 to afford a home loan for a house and $78,088 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $89,515.

Darwin

Darwin’s median house price is $573,498 and the median unit price is $367,716.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $85,750 to afford a home loan for a house and $54,981 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $126,193.

Canberra

Canberra’s median house price is $964,136 and the median apartment price is $585,057.

Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $144,158 to afford a home loan for a house and $87,478 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $137,760.