Australian Ethical increases fees across most super options

Australian Ethical has increased fees across most of its superannuation investment options shortly after decreasing them earlier in the year.

Taking effect on November 1, Australian Ethical has rolled out a set of new investments affecting members across the board.

For accumulation members, the Conservative and Growth options' fees went up by 0.02%.

The Conservative Balanced and Balanced options increased by 0.03% to 0.81% and 0.86% respectively. The International Shares fee is now 0.97%, up 0.04%.

The Defensive and Australian Shares options' fees are unchanged at 0.24% and 1.15% respectively.

Australian Ethical said these are not increases to the investment management fees it charges.

"They reflect the annual regulatory calculation of investment fees and costs incurred in managing the relevant investment option over the previous financial year," Australian Ethical explained.

The majority of the Retirement Pension and Transition to Retirement investment options followed the same fee increases as the accumulation options.

Accumulation members' transaction costs, which relate to the sale and purchase of assets other than costs that are recovered by the super fund when charged buy-sell spreads at the time members buy or sell investment options, rose between 0.01% and 0.03%. These exclude the Defensive and International Shares options. Transaction costs also include taxes, duties and other costs such as brokerage fees.

Most of the investment options in Retirement Pension and Transition to Retirement products also followed suit.

Earlier in 2026, Australian Ethical announced superannuation investment fee on several investment options would reduce by 0.06% p.a.

"Every year, we're required to calculate and disclose to members any changes in the indirect investment fees and costs that have been incurred by the fund and its investment managers over the past 12 months. These are not deducted directly from your account. They are included in the investment fees and costs of the relevant option and reduce the investment return reflected in its unit price," the super fund told members.

Most changes related to investment fees and costs were between 0.02% and 0.04%, Australian Ethical added, noting they reflect either performance fees paid by the super fund to investment managers where they exceeded their performance targets, or indirect costs incurred by the managers over the previous 12 months.

On May 1, the super fund closed its High Growth investment option as all members transferred to the Growth option.

In June, it introduced a new Conservative Balanced investment option for accumulation and pension members. It aims to achieve returns of 2.25% p.a. above inflation over 10 years.