Every fund offering a MySuper product must publish an annual product dashboard — a standardised summary of key information about the product. Dashboards must be displayed prominently on the fund’s website and updated each year.
What Is a MySuper Dashboard?
The MySuper dashboard is a regulated disclosure document, not a marketing document. Its format is standardised by law — funds cannot cherry-pick which metrics to show or how to display them. This makes dashboards useful for comparing different MySuper products on a like-for-like basis.
What a MySuper Dashboard Must Include
1. Return target
The product’s return target — typically expressed as a CPI+ figure (e.g., “CPI + 3.5% per annum over 10 years”). This is the fund’s own stated investment objective for the option.
2. Comparison of return target to returns achieved
A chart showing the actual net return achieved over the past 1, 3, 5, and 10 years versus the return target. This shows whether the fund is meeting its own stated objective.
3. Level of investment risk
A Standard Risk Measure (SRM) rating from 1 (very low) to 7 (very high), showing the expected number of negative annual returns in a 20-year period:
| SRM band | Risk label | Expected negative years in 20 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Very low | Less than 0.5 |
| 2 | Low | 0.5 to less than 1 |
| 3 | Low to medium | 1 to less than 2 |
| 4 | Medium | 2 to less than 3 |
| 5 | Medium to high | 3 to less than 4 |
| 6 | High | 4 to less than 6 |
| 7 | Very high | 6 or more |
4. Fees and costs summary
- Administration fee ($ per year)
- Investment fee (% per year)
- Total of fees and costs (combined)
Presented for a representative $50,000 balance, allowing direct comparison between funds.
5. Liquidity
Whether the member can withdraw money or switch options and how quickly this can occur (all standard MySuper options must be liquid).
6. Whether the product is a lifecycle product
If yes, how the asset allocation changes with age must also be disclosed.
How to Find Your Fund’s Dashboard
- Go to your fund’s website
- Search for “MySuper dashboard”, “product dashboard”, or “investment options”
- Dashboards are typically found in the “investments” or “tools and resources” section
Alternatively, APRA publishes aggregate fund data at apra.gov.au and the ATO’s YourSuper comparison tool allows comparison of key dashboard metrics across all MySuper products.
What to Look For When Comparing Dashboards
| Metric | What to look for |
|---|---|
| 10-year net return | Higher is better, net of fees |
| Return target vs achieved | Is the fund meeting its own goals? |
| SRM | Higher = more volatility; typically medium to high for growth/balanced options |
| Total fees on $50k | Lower is generally better; under 1% p.a. is competitive |
| Administration fee structure | Fixed dollar fee vs % fee matters at different balance levels |
Limitations of Dashboards
- Dashboards show historical returns — past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance
- The return target is set by the fund — there’s no standard methodology for setting targets, so comparisons between targets are imperfect
- Dashboards cover the whole product but some members within a lifecycle fund may be in different age bands
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there dashboards for non-MySuper (choice) options? Not the standardised MySuper dashboard format. However, APRA requires funds to publish a choice product dashboard for trustee-directed products. These are less standardised but contain similar metrics.
Can I use the dashboard to decide whether to switch funds? Dashboards are a useful starting point — particularly for comparing fees and historical returns. But they should be considered alongside insurance, fund services, and your personal circumstances.
For more: MySuper, How to Read a Super PDS, Best Performing Super Funds, APRA Heatmap. For advice on comparing funds, speak with a licensed financial adviser via MoneySmart.