Australian Retirement Trust Guide: Super Performance & Fees

Few financial decisions carry as much weight for Australians as choosing a super fund. With the merger of QSuper and Sunsuper in 2022, the Australian Retirement Trust (ART) emerged as one of the country’s largest superannuation funds, managing over $300 billion in retirement savings.

Assets under management: Over $300 billion AUD · Founded: 2022 (following QSuper and Sunsuper merger) · Performance recognition: Received industry awards for performance and low fees

Five facts about ART that shape its position in the super market:

What was the Australian Retirement Trust?

ART was created from the biggest super fund merger in Australian history, combining QSuper (Queensland government employees) and Sunsuper (a large industry fund). The merger completed in 2022, creating a fund with over $300 billion in assets and millions of members. Stockspot notes that the merger was the largest of its kind in Australia (Stockspot (super fund review platform)).

Has the Australian Retirement Trust changed its name?

No – the fund retains the name Australian Retirement Trust (ART) since the merger. The former fund names QSuper and Sunsuper were retired, but members from both legacy funds were rolled into ART automatically.

The implication: former QSuper and Sunsuper members gained automatic access to a merged fund with greater scale and diversification than either predecessor offered alone.

Is the Australian Retirement Trust a good fund?

Eight performance figures, one pattern: ART consistently beats industry medians across all major timeframes, especially in its High Growth option.

Source: Australian Retirement Trust (official fund website) – figures after fees (see methodology notes).

The implication: over ten years, a $100,000 balance in ART’s High Growth option would have grown to about $254,000 versus $226,000 at the median – a difference of $28,000.

How is the Australian Retirement Trust performing?

ART also claims a Platinum Performance rating from SuperRatings for 20 consecutive years (Australian Retirement Trust (official fund website)). The fund maintains low fees – a $1.20 weekly admin fee plus 0.10% p.a. on the first $500,000, capped at $562.40 per year (Australian Retirement Trust (official fund website)). However, if you hold multiple accounts, fees are charged separately for each (Australian Retirement Trust (official fund website)).

The catch: fee transparency helps only if members consolidate duplicate accounts; multiple accounts erode the cost advantage.

Can I retire at 60 with $500,000 in super?

The answer depends on your lifestyle, expenses, and whether you own your home. According to the ASFA Retirement Standard, a comfortable retirement for a single person aged around 67 requires about $47,384 per year (MoneySmart (Australian Government financial guidance)). At $500,000, using a 5% drawdown rate, you could generate $25,000 per year – below the comfortable standard, but supplemented by the Age Pension if eligible.

How much superannuation do I need to retire at 60?

• Modest lifestyle (single): Around $27,000 per year – a balance of ~$350,000 may suffice with part Age Pension.
• Comfortable lifestyle (single): Around $47,000 per year – needs roughly $600,000–$700,000 in super, depending on tenure.
• Couple comfortable: Around $66,000 per year – requires ~$800,000–$900,000.

Source: MoneySmart (Australian Government financial guidance).

How much do I need to retire on $80,000 a year at 60?

To generate $80,000 per year from super alone, assuming a 5% drawdown, you need about $1.6 million. That’s a high target – only a small minority of Australians reach it. Combining a lower super drawdown with part-time work and the Age Pension may make $80,000 achievable with a lower balance.

What this means: retiring early demands either a higher super balance or acceptance of a leaner standard of living than the comfortable benchmark.

Which 4 are the biggest retirement regrets?

Research consistently points to four common regrets among Australian retirees:

1. Retiring too early – without enough savings or a plan for the long term.
2. Underestimating expenses – particularly healthcare, home maintenance, and travel.
3. Lack of social connections – leaving work can lead to isolation if not replaced.
4. Poor health planning – not staying active or managing health conditions early.

Source: MoneySmart (Australian Government financial guidance).

How to avoid common retirement regrets?

• Test your budget before retiring – live on your projected retirement income for 3–6 months.
• Build a social network outside work – hobbies, volunteering, community groups.
• Plan for healthcare costs – consider private health insurance and preventive care.
• Don’t claim Age Pension too early if you can work part-time.

The pattern: the most preventable regrets involve underestimating either expenses or the non-financial dimensions of retirement.

How many people have $1,000,000 in retirement savings?

Very few. According to the ASFA, only about 4–5% of Australians aged 60–64 have super balances over $1 million (Australian Taxation Office (tax regulator)). The median super balance for those approaching retirement is around $200,000–$250,000.

What percentage of retirees have $1 million?

Roughly 1–2% of retirees hold over $1 million in super. High balances are concentrated among high-income earners, long-term contributors, and those who had employer contributions at 12% for decades. Most Australians rely on a mix of super, Age Pension, and personal savings.

The implication: hitting the million-dollar mark is rare, and even then, it buys a comfortable rather than lavish retirement.

Pros and Cons of Australian Retirement Trust

Timeline: Key date in ART’s history

• 2022 – Merger of QSuper and Sunsuper completed, forming Australian Retirement Trust (Stockspot (super fund review platform))

What we know and what’s still unclear

Quotes from industry voices

“Our member-first philosophy and strong long-term performance are what set ART apart. We’re committed to helping Australians achieve a secure retirement.”

– ART CEO (as communicated on official website)

“Retirement planning isn’t just about the super fund – it’s about having a realistic budget, considering the Age Pension, and not retiring too early without a plan.”

– MoneySmart (Australian Government financial guidance)

Summary: What this means for your retirement

ART delivers strong long-term performance and low fees, making it a solid choice for Australians who want a simple, large fund with a track record of beating industry averages. But scale alone doesn’t guarantee future returns, and the fee structure can penalise members with multiple accounts. For Australians in their 40s and 50s, the decision is clear: if you prefer a single-account, growth-oriented fund with low costs, ART is among the top contenders – but always compare using independent tools like the ATO YourSuper comparison and the ASFA standard.

When evaluating retirement savings options, comparing the Australian Retirement Trust against top-performing industry super funds can provide valuable perspective on fee structures and long-term returns.

Frequently asked questions