Compare super funds
Not all super funds are created equal
What you pay in fees, what you earn in returns, and the level of choice you have can differ more than you might expect. Over a working lifetime, those differences can add up to thousands of dollars, money that could make a real difference to your retirement.
So how does Colonial First State compare? We’ve compared our fees with the industry average, our performance with the market median, and our features with what you’d typically find elsewhere. Here’s what the data shows.
What to look for when comparing super funds
Before you compare fund names, it helps to know what really matters. These factors could have a big impact on your retirement outcome.
Admin fees
Lower fees means more of your money stays invested in your super. Over time, that can make a real difference as your balance compounds and grows
CFS has one of the lowest super admin fees in the industry²
Strong performance
Your returns after fees plays a powerful role in how quickly your balance can grow over time. Check how well your fund has performed over the past 5 years
We have a history of delivering strong super performance¹ for our members, backed by expert service and support
Investment options
More choice means more control to choose investments that fit your comfort with risk and what you want to achieve
Choose from our ready‑made Lifestage option or build your own portfolio with 200+ investment options and 70+ leading fund managers across single sector, multi-asset and multi-manager options in all major asset classes.
Advice and support
Simple digital tools, smart calculators and flexible advice options that can help you make confident decisions about your super
Insurance
Life insurance, total and permanent disability (TPD) and income protection are designed to help protect you and support the people who matter most
CFS offers these insurances through super that can help secure your future and enjoy peace of mind for you and your loved ones
A fund can offer low-fees, but underperform. Another might show strong returns, but high fees can quietly eat away at your balance over time. That’s why the smartest comparisons look at the full picture. We’ll step through what really matters below.
How CFS fees compare with the industry average
No one wants their investment returns whittled down by high fees and costs, that’s why comparing fees is an easy place to start.
FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super has one of the lowest admin fees in the market2
Source: Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey, December 2025.
This chart shows the administration fees for FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super options (excluding FirstRate options) on a $50,000 balance being 0.20% compared to the Super Fund Average of 0.49%. This does not include investment fees, costs, or transaction costs. Super Fund Average administration fees are based on the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey, which compares average fees by segment and across five investment risk categories.
FirstChoice Employer Super has lower fees than the super funds average3
Source: Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey, December 2025.
This chart shows the annual fee of the CFS Lifestage 1965–69 option with a $50,000 balance in FirstChoice Employer Super is $395, compared to the All Funds Average of $445, and the Industry Funds Average of $450. Fees for FirstChoice Employer Super, the All Funds Average and the Industry Funds Average are compared for MySuper products based on data from the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey. Fees may vary for other age cohorts, typically ranging between $375 and $400.
All fees and costs are detailed in our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Before you join, make sure to read the PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) to help you decide if the product is right for you.
Stay on top of your fees anytime by logging into the CFS app. See our full fee breakdown on the CFS low fee super page.
How CFS performance compares with the market
Low fees matter. But they’re not the whole story. What really counts is net performance, this is how much your super grows after fees and costs are taken out.
Take a look at the performance of two of our CFS Lifestage options against the median performance of balanced and growth options in the independently researched SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey.⁵
CFS Lifestage 1965-69 vs Balanced options
1 year
10.32%
10.29%
9.27%
3 years p.a.
n/a
12.02%
10.15%
5 years p.a.
n/a
8.38%
7.57%
10 years p.a.
n/a
8.01%
7.36%
CFS Lifestage 1975-79 vs Growth options
1 year
11.71%
11.80%
10.43%
3 years p.a.
n/a
13.96%
11.92%
5 years p.a.
n/a
10.01%
8.94%
10 years p.a.
n/a
8.92%
8.52%
Source: SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey, December 2025.
Use our funds and performance tool to explore investment options, compare performance across different time periods, and filter by category, asset class, risk rating, and suggested investment time frame. Find the options that best fit your goals and risk appetite.
Investment choice and flexibility
One of the biggest differences between super funds is how much control you have over where your money is invested.
Investment choice
Industry funds typically offer a limited investment menu
Retail super funds typically offer more investment choice, with CFS offering our ready-made Lifestage option or build your own portfolio with 200+ investment options.
Asset classes
A more limited choice of pre-mixed, single sector and themed options.
Greater choice, including shares, property, fixed interest, credit, infrastructure, private equity, hedge funds, alternatives
Lifecycle options
Lifecycle options vary
CFS Lifestage options that automatically adjusts as you get older
Advice options
Advice options vary
We offer a range of financial advice options to support you at every stage of life.
If you’re looking for an easy starting point, Lifestage does the hard work for you, automatically adjusting your investments as life changes. If you’d like to take a more active role by choosing your own investments, you could build your own portfolio.
Tools, support and advice
Your super is more than an account balance. It’s the tools, guidance and support that help you stay in control of your retirement savings. That’s where CFS can help. We make super simpler, with smart tools and practical support designed to help you manage and grow your super with confidence.
CFS mobile app
Join over 300,000 members who use our app to track their super, pension and investments.
FirstNet online account
Stay in control of your super and investments from your laptop or desktop, it’s easy to use and secure.
Super calculator
Our super calculator makes it simple to check your projected income to see if you’re on track.
Financial advice
We can help you get the right advice for key moments in your life.
Ready to make the switch?
If your super could be doing more, switching is easier than you think.
- Join CFS super online - it takes under 10 minutes
- Consolidate your super - we’ll help you bring your balance across from your previous fund
- Notify Employer - easily share your account information with your employer in the CFS app
Frequently asked questions
The "best" super fund depends on your individual needs — your age, balance, risk appetite, and what you value most (low fees, high returns, investment choice, or advice). Independent rating agencies like Chant West, SuperRatings, Canstar, and Money magazine assess funds across multiple criteria. CFS has been consistently awarded for our commitment to delivering strong performance¹, low fees², and outstanding service.
Compare net returns, that's performance after investment fees and costs have been deducted. Look at long-term returns, as short-term performance can be volatile. Sources like SuperRatings and Chant West publish quarterly survey data. You can also keep track of your performance in the CFS app, and check the Funds and Performance tool for the latest CFS data.
Switching makes sense if your current fund charges higher fees, consistently underperforms, offers limited investment options, or doesn't meet your needs. Before switching, check whether you'll lose insurance cover, and compare total fees (not just admin fees).
When you switch funds, you’ll need to roll over your old super balance to your new fund. This usually takes 3–5 business days. Any insurance cover attached to your old fund will typically end when the rollover is processed. CFS can help you consolidate your super into one account, you can do it online through FirstNet or the CFS app.
Yes. Several independent platforms let you compare super funds side by side, including Canstar, SuperRatings, Chant West, and the Australian Tax Office's YourSuper comparison tool. These tools compare fees, returns, and ratings across hundreds of funds. You can also compare CFS directly on this page.
We're here to help
Get in touch
Get in touch with us online or call us 8:30am to 6pm (Sydney time) Monday to Friday.
Find the right advice option
Our dedicated team can help you choose from a range of different financial advice options.
Download mobile app
Track your balance and see your transaction history from anywhere.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
¹ CFS Lifestage 1965-69 (balanced) and CFS Lifestage 1975-79 (growth) in FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super outperformed the balanced and growth medians in the independently researched SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey, as at December 2025. Returns are calculated after investment fees and costs, transaction costs and investment taxes, but before administration fees are deducted. The super fund median returns of the balanced and growth options are from the SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey. SuperRatings classify growth options as 77%-90% growth assets and balanced options as 60%-76% growth assets.
² Super fund average admin fees are based on the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey at 31 March 2025 that compares average fees by segments and across four investment risk categories. Administration fees of FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super options (excluding FirstRate options) for a member balance of $50,000, is 0.20% p.a compared to the Super Fund Average of 0.49%. It does not take into consideration investment fees and costs or transaction costs. Please see the PDS for these fees and costs.
³ Administration fees for FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super options (excluding FirstRate options) are for a member balance of $50,000. It does not take into consideration investment fees and costs or transaction costs. Please see the PDS for these fees and costs. Super Fund Average admin fees are based on the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey that compares average fees by segments and across five investment risk categories. The chart is constructed by CFS using data sourced from the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey, which is based on information provided to Chant West by third parties that is believed accurate at the time of publication. Fees may change in the future which may affect the outcome of the comparison. Chant West may make adjustments to fees and costs for comparison purposes and therefore data may vary to other published materials. Consider the PDS and TMD to see if it’s right for you.
⁴ The fee comparison applies to MySuper products and is based on the CFS Lifestage 1965-69 option for a member balance of $50,000. Fees may vary for different age cohorts. The Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey compares the CFS Lifestage option that is closest to 71% growth assets, which is consistent with the average risk and return profile of most non-lifecycle products. Total fees and costs include administration fees and costs, investment fees and costs, and net transaction costs, calculated on a gross of tax basis. Fund averages are calculated by Chant West on a weighted average basis. This comparison has been prepared by CFS using data sourced from the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey and is based on information provided to Chant West by third parties, that is believed accurate at the time of publication. Fees may change in the future which may affect the outcome of the comparison. Chant West may make adjustments to fees and costs for comparison purposes and therefore data may vary to other published materials. Whilst care has been taken to ensure that the data provided by Chant West is correct, CFS neither warrants, represents nor guarantees the contents of the information, nor does it accept any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions or any inconsistencies herein.
⁵ Performance data for CFS Lifestage 1975-79 and CFS Lifestage 1965-69 options in FirstChoice Employer Super and FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super is from the SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey. Returns shown are calculated after investment fees and costs, transaction costs and investment taxes, but before administration fees are deducted.
The super fund median returns of the balanced and growth options are from the SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey. SuperRatings classify growth options as 77%-90% growth assets and balanced options as 60%-76% growth assets.
Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.
The CFS Lifestage options in FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super and FirstChoice Employer Super use the same underlying investments. Since the CFS Lifestage options were only recently added to the FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super investment menu, performance data is currently limited.
Although the investment option in both products invest in the same underlying portfolio, their performance may differ slightly due to variations in the timing and volume of member contributions and withdrawals. Managing these cashflows requires the fund to buy or sell assets at different times, which can result in minor differences in asset weightings and transaction costs. As these weightings can vary at any given performance measurement date, differences observed on a particular day may have been smaller or larger if assessed at another time. These impacts are generally small, and overall performance is expected to remain broadly similar
Disclaimer
Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 (AIL) is the trustee of the Colonial First State FirstChoice Superannuation Trust ABN 26 458 298 557 and issuer of FirstChoice range of super and pension products. Colonial First State Investments Limited ABN 98 002 348 352, AFSL 232468 (CFSIL) is the responsible entity and issuer of products made available under FirstChoice Investments and FirstChoice Wholesale Investments.
Information on this webpage is provided by AIL and CFSIL. It may include general advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances. You can find the target market determinations (TMD) for our financial products at https://www.cfs.com.au/tmd which include a description of who a financial product might suit. You should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Financial Services Guide (FSG) carefully, assess whether the information is appropriate for you, and consider talking to a financial adviser before making an investment decision. You can get the PDS and FSG at www.cfs.com.au or by calling us on 13 13 36.