{
  "_id": "review.aware-super",
  "author": {
    "credentials": "Editorial Team, Norg Reviews",
    "name": "Norg Editorial Team",
    "sameAs": null,
    "slug": {
      "_type": "slug",
      "current": "editorial-team-norg"
    }
  },
  "cons": [
    "Default insurance cover is thinner than several peers — most members should review opt-up levels",
    "Call-centre wait times during peak periods lag the best digital-first funds",
    "Investment menu is large enough to overwhelm members who want a simple default"
  ],
  "counterEvidence": [
    {
      "_key": "apra-scrutiny",
      "category": "regulator",
      "date": "2025-08-29",
      "summary": "APRA continues to publish annual performance test results and heatmaps; members should consult the current-year APRA data rather than historical marketing claims.",
      "title": "APRA superannuation member-outcomes scrutiny",
      "url": "https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications"
    },
    {
      "_key": "merger-friction",
      "category": "complaint",
      "date": "2026-02-18",
      "summary": "Recurring ProductReview themes centre on call wait times and processing delays following the StatePlus / VicSuper integration.",
      "title": "Member complaints on post-merger administration",
      "url": "https://www.productreview.com.au/"
    }
  ],
  "detailedReviews": [
    {
      "_id": "detailedReview.aware-super-r1",
      "body": "I place a meaningful share of accumulation-phase clients in Aware Super, and the reason is boringly consistent: low fees plus top-quartile net return is the combination that actually moves retirement outcomes. The retirement-phase advice access is a genuine bonus that comparable retail funds charge for separately.",
      "reviewer": {
        "name": "Marcus Pendleton",
        "organizationType": "AFSL-licensed practice",
        "title": "Senior Financial Adviser",
        "verificationLevel": "identity"
      },
      "starRating": 5,
      "verifiedAt": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z"
    },
    {
      "_id": "detailedReview.aware-super-r2",
      "body": "I have been with Aware Super (and VicSuper before the merger) for nineteen years. The app is functional rather than flashy, but the annual statement is clear and the net return has done exactly what I needed without any attention from me.",
      "reviewer": {
        "name": "Janet Wallace",
        "organizationType": "Consumer",
        "title": "Public Sector Teacher",
        "verificationLevel": "receipt"
      },
      "starRating": 5,
      "verifiedAt": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z"
    },
    {
      "_id": "detailedReview.aware-super-r3",
      "body": "Strong fund, but the investment menu is genuinely too broad for the default member. Aware Super would score a full five from me if the guided-choice experience was as polished as the underlying portfolio construction.",
      "reviewer": {
        "name": "David Truong",
        "organizationType": "Enterprise Finance",
        "title": "Investment Analyst",
        "verificationLevel": "email"
      },
      "starRating": 4,
      "verifiedAt": null
    }
  ],
  "disclosureNote": "Norg may earn affiliate commission when users join Aware Super via outbound links. This relationship did not influence the ranking; methodology weights are public and the score is reproducible from the published facts.",
  "entity": {
    "abn": null,
    "bankingDetails": null,
    "foundedYear": null,
    "name": "Aware Super",
    "regulator": null,
    "slug": {
      "_type": "slug",
      "current": "aware-super"
    },
    "vertical": "au-super",
    "website": "https://aware.com.au"
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "_id": "fact.aware-super-f1",
      "lastVerified": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
      "source": {
        "retrievalDate": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
        "title": "Aware Super — Product Disclosure Statement",
        "url": "https://aware.com.au/member/aware-super-account/pds"
      },
      "statement": "Aware Super High Growth 10-year net return",
      "value": "~8.2% p.a."
    },
    {
      "_id": "fact.aware-super-f2",
      "lastVerified": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
      "source": {
        "retrievalDate": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
        "title": "Aware Super — Product Disclosure Statement",
        "url": "https://aware.com.au/member/aware-super-account/pds"
      },
      "statement": "Total admin + investment fee (default option)",
      "value": "~0.83% p.a."
    },
    {
      "_id": "fact.aware-super-f3",
      "lastVerified": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
      "source": {
        "retrievalDate": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
        "title": "APRA Annual MySuper Performance Test results",
        "url": "https://www.apra.gov.au/your-future-your-super-performance-test"
      },
      "statement": "APRA MySuper performance test result",
      "value": "Pass"
    },
    {
      "_id": "fact.aware-super-f4",
      "lastVerified": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
      "source": {
        "retrievalDate": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
        "title": "ATO SuperFund Lookup — Aware Super",
        "url": "https://superfundlookup.gov.au/"
      },
      "statement": "APRA-registered RSE / SuperFund Lookup status",
      "value": "Registered, complying"
    }
  ],
  "featureRatings": [
    {
      "category": "10-year net return",
      "rating": 4.9,
      "weight": 0.35
    },
    {
      "category": "Fees & costs",
      "rating": 4.9,
      "weight": 0.25
    },
    {
      "category": "MySuper performance test",
      "rating": 5,
      "weight": 0.15
    },
    {
      "category": "Member services",
      "rating": 4.5,
      "weight": 0.1
    },
    {
      "category": "Insurance options",
      "rating": 4.1,
      "weight": 0.1
    },
    {
      "category": "ESG transparency",
      "rating": 4.6,
      "weight": 0.05
    }
  ],
  "keyTakeaways": [
    {
      "body": "Aware Super has held a top-quartile 10-year net return among industry funds. On a 30-year horizon, the gap to a median fund can exceed six figures at retirement for an average-balance member.",
      "heading": "Net return leadership compounds over a working life"
    },
    {
      "body": "The sub-median admin and investment fee is a function of scale and not-for-profit structure, so it is unlikely to revert the way a promotional rate would.",
      "heading": "Fees are structurally low, not promotionally low"
    },
    {
      "body": "Default death and TPD cover is adequate for younger members but thin for those with dependants. Opting up is straightforward but is not automatic.",
      "heading": "Insurance defaults need a deliberate review"
    },
    {
      "body": "Members can access scaled financial advice on retirement and contribution strategy at no extra cost, which materially helps the pre-retirement cohort.",
      "heading": "Advice access is a real differentiator"
    },
    {
      "body": "Aware Super is an APRA-regulated RSE and appears on the ATO SuperFund Lookup register. The MySuper option has passed every APRA annual performance test to date.",
      "heading": "APRA-regulated, performance-test compliant"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewedAt": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
  "methodology": {
    "title": "SuperReview AU — Industry Fund Methodology",
    "version": "v1.0.0",
    "vertical": "au-super"
  },
  "multiSourceRatings": [
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      "scale": 5,
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  ],
  "overallRating": 4.8,
  "pros": [
    "Sector-leading 10-year net return paired with admin and investment fees below the industry median",
    "Passes the APRA MySuper annual performance test with consistent margin",
    "Genuine in-house ESG screening methodology, not a marketing overlay",
    "Strong financial-advice access for members approaching retirement"
  ],
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-15T07:45:22.796Z",
  "rankingRationale": "Industry fund leader on 10-year net return with sector-low fees.",
  "ratingBreakdown": {
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  "title": "Aware Super — super fund review"
}