Essential Super — superannuation fund performance
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Essential Super reported A$6.6bn of total assets for 137,523 member accounts (average balance A$47k) in APRA's fund-level statistics for the year to 30 June 2025, with a one-year rate of return of 12.1%.
| Total assets | A$6.6bn |
| Member accounts | 137,523 |
| Average member balance | A$47k |
| 1-year rate of return | 12.1% |
| 5-year rate of return (annualised) | 9.6% |
| 10-year rate of return (annualised) | 6.5% |
| Investment options offered | — |
What running the fund costs
For its reporting year ended 30 June 2025, Essential Super ran on an operating expense ratio of 0.2% — the running cost per dollar of savings (0.5% is 50 cents per A$100 a year). Payments to related parties — companies connected to the fund's own trustee or owner group — came to A$9.4m, equal to roughly 61.5% of its administration bill (a related-party payment is disclosed, not improper — but it is worth knowing who the fund pays).
| Operating expense ratio | 0.2% |
| Investment expense ratio | 0.0% |
| Administration and operating expenses | A$15.4m |
| Marketing spend | A$1.4m (about A$10 per member account) |
| Executive remuneration (expensed to the fund) | A$30k |
| Director remuneration | A$51k |
| Payments to related parties | A$9.4m |
The annual performance test
Every year the regulator tests most super products against a benchmark portfolio — fail twice and the product must close to new members. As at 30 June 2025, 5 of this fund's products and options were tested, and every one of them passed:
| Product / option | Type | Test result | 10-yr return | Admin fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Super - MySuper | MySuper | Pass | — | 0.1% |
| Essential Super - Choice — Diversified Index option | Choice | Pass | 5.5% | 0.1% |
| Essential Super - Choice — High Growth Index option | Choice | Pass* | — | 0.1% |
| Essential Super - Choice — Balanced Index Option | Choice | Pass* | — | 0.1% |
| Essential Super - Choice — Thrive+ Sustainable Growth option | Choice | Pass* | — | 0.1% |
Does the insurance pay out?
Most super accounts carry insurance, paid from your balance. The admittance rate is the share of finalised claims the insurer accepted in the year to 30 June 2025 — the single best number for "does this cover actually pay". Over the year it collected A$15.3m in premiums and paid out A$11.0m in claims (claims paid in a year often relate to earlier years' cover, so this is a cash-flow picture, not a loss ratio).
| Cover type | Claims accepted (1-yr) | Claims paid | Premiums collected | Insurer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life insurance (death cover) | 91.7% | A$4.5m | A$8.3m | AIA Australia |
| Total & permanent disability (TPD) | 61.7% | A$6.5m | A$7.0m | AIA Australia |
| Income protection | — | — | A$15k | AIA Australia |
The gender gap in this fund
In Essential Super, women's average balance was 27.5% lower than men's — from the fund-level member demographics APRA last published for the year to 30 June 2022:
| Average balance — female members | A$24k |
| Average balance — male members | A$33k |
| Member accounts (female / male) | 57,643 / 73,482 |
Compare Essential Super with similar funds
The funds closest to Essential Super in size, side by side — each with its own page for the fees, insurance and performance-test detail:
| Fund | Assets | 1-yr return | 10-yr return | Why comparable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| legalsuper | A$7.1bn | 13.1% | 7.2% | Similar size |
| National Mutual Retirement Fund | A$5.7bn | 8.2% | 5.7% | Similar size |
| Building Unions Superannuation Scheme (Queensland) | A$7.5bn | 10.0% | 6.8% | Similar size |
| ANZ Australian Staff Superannuation Scheme | A$7.5bn | 12.2% | 7.0% | Similar size |
| OneSuper | A$7.6bn | 7.6% | 5.5% | Similar size |
| First Super | A$5.3bn | 8.7% | 7.1% | Similar size |
Questions this page answers
How big is Essential Super?
Essential Super held A$6.6bn in total assets for 137,523 member accounts in the APRA fund-level statistics for the year to 30 June 2025.
What return has Essential Super delivered?
Essential Super reported a 12.1% one-year rate of return, and 6.5% a year over the past ten years, at whole-of-fund level in the APRA fund-level statistics.
What does Essential Super charge in fees?
Essential Super reported an operating expense ratio of 0.2% and an investment expense ratio of 0.0% for its reporting year ended 30 June 2025 — the running cost per dollar of savings (APRA fund-level statistics).
Did Essential Super's products pass the performance test?
5 of Essential Super's products and options were tested against the regulator's annual performance test as at 30 June 2025, and every one passed.
Does Essential Super's insurance pay out?
In its latest reported year Essential Super's default cover collected A$15.3m in premiums and paid A$11.0m in claims, per the APRA fund-level statistics.
See also: Australian super in numbers — marketing spend, expenses, the gender gap and two decades of consolidation across all APRA-regulated funds · all tracked plans.