Competitive and transparent Super and Pension fees and costs

The administration fees for our fund have two components: fees taken directly from your account and fees deducted from your investments. These fees are designed to cover the operational costs of managing your account and keeping the fund running smoothly. Our administration fee is capped, meaning we charge only what is necessary to maintain your account. For a more detailed breakdown of these fees, please refer to our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) relevant to your product.

Direct Administration fee
$1.30 per week ($67.60 p.a.)

Indirect Administration fee
0.29% p.a. of your (average) account balance

These fees are deducted from your investment and cover the cost of managing investments, including performance fees (estimated between 0.00% and 0.06%). The fees charged depend on the option/s you're invested in.

If you're unsure where your super is invested, log in to MemberAccess or get in touch.

As of 14 December 2023

Investment fees

What does it cover?
Investment fees and costs include investment expenses relating to the investment management of legalsuper’s assets, such as base and performance-related fees paid to investment managers and advisers, management fees charged in investment vehicles, asset consulting fees (if applicable), bank fees, custodian fees and internal legalsuper costs related to the management of the fund’s assets.

How is it paid?
Investment fees are deducted proportionately from the assets of each investment option and are reflected in the calculations of the daily unit prices of each option.

What does it cover?
Transaction costs include explicit transaction costs such as brokerage, settlement costs, or stamp duty, undertaken by the fund in the management of any particular investment option. Transaction costs in respect of all investment options are an estimate based on the explicit transaction costs incurred by the fund and underlying investment vehicles.

How is it paid?
Transaction costs are a percentage of each option’s assets per year. This accrues (usually) daily and is not deducted directly from your account balance. Instead, it’s deducted from the underlying asset value via the unit pricing process.

Your investment balance is net of Transaction costs; these have been deducted before we declare your balance.

Buy-sell spread

What is it?
A buy-sell spread is the difference between the entry and exit price of an investment option and is reflected in the valuation of the unit price. It applies when you transact in an investment option (such as contributing to super, switching an investment option, or withdrawing money).

How is it paid?
It is not deducted directly from your account or from your investment returns. Your investment balance is net (or includes) any buy-sell spreads and have been deducted before we declare your balance.

The fees we charge are capped to ensure that no matter your balance, you are only paying to recover operating costs. All our profits return to members through net investment returns.

Administration fees and costs refund - for balances under $6,000

If your account balance is less than $6,000 at the end of the income year, fee capping rules will apply. Certain fees and costs will be capped at 3% of your balance, and any amounts charged in excess of those caps will be refunded.⁺

Administration fees and costs rebate - for balances over $525,917.82

If your average account balance at the end of a financial year exceeds the Administration fees and costs rebate threshold of $525,917.82 for the 2023/24 financial year, excess fees will be rebated to you.⁺ (Your account must be open on 30 June of that financial year, and you cannot be in receipt of the under $6,000 Administration and costs refund.)

⁺Eligibility conditions apply

For more information on the Administration fees and costs refund and the Administration fees and costs rebate, see the relevant Product Disclosure Statement for your product.

How much will I be charged in a year?

The amount you're charged through the year varies for everyone. It will depend on your balance, your investment option, insurances, and any transactions or activity in your account (such as contributions, withdrawals, and investment switches).

The following calculations are examples across our various investment options, using some assumptions. These are designed to show the product's cost and assist in comparing superannuation products within legalsuper and with other super funds.

Cost of product

The cost of product information assumes a balance of $50,000 at the beginning of the year, which is invested in a single investment option.

As of 14 December 2023

* Default investment option, only available to Employer-sponsored members

Other fees and costs
There are some other fees which legalsuper charges when we provide additional services. We charge these separately from the general Administration fee. They are charged in the instance that we provide you with a particular service or product, such as insurance or particular account activity happens. For example, a family law split fee, where you're charged to split your super following a separation and family law court order.

An investment option that invests in property may incur associated property operating costs and borrowing costs, which are an additional cost, but are not an additional charge as they are reflected in the unit price for the relevant investment option.

These fees are your insurance premiums. You are charged these if you have insurance with us; the amount you are charged is dependent on the level or amount and type of cover you have, and your age. You can log into your account to view your premiums, use our Insurance Fees Calculator, or refer to our Product Disclosure Statement for more details.

If applicable your account will be debited with any insurance fee payable by you for Death and TPD, Death and/or Salary Continuance cover.

legalsuper enables you to pay an adviser an agreed fee from your superannuation account. Only fees that relate to advice given to you about your superannuation investment may be paid from your account. legalsuper reserves the right to reject an application and request further information.

A fee is an advice fee if:

• the fee relates directly to costs incurred by the trustee of the superannuation entity because of the provision of financial product advice to a member by:
  • a trustee of the entity; or another person acting as an employee of, or
  • under an arrangement with, the trustee of the entity;

and

• those costs are not otherwise charged as an administration fee, an investment fee, a switching fee, an exit fee, an activity fee or an insurance fee.

There are additional costs for the flexibility of investing directly in a selection of ASX listed shares, ETFs & LICs & term deposits through our Direct Investment option.

Access levels
The Direct Investment Option (DIO) may suit members who want to actively manage their super, or those who are looking for a low-cost, SMSF-style alternative. You can access the DIO platform as a 'Free Access' or a 'Full Access' user. Please note that Transition to Retirement Pension members are unable to access the Direct Investment Option.

Before you can access the DIO as a 'Free Access' user or invest as a 'Full Access' user, you will need to:

• be a legalsuper member
• provide your Tax File Number
• provide your email address
• register for MemberAccess
• satisfy the minimum balance requirements.

Once you become a 'Full Access' user, the following fees apply. 

Other fees also apply to your legalsuper membership as detailed on this page.

If you are a 'Full Access' user, the $20 monthly account fee is payable upon registration for the DIO, regardless of whether or not you transact. 

* The above fees are included in the calculation of the fee cap if your account balance is less than $6,000 at the end of the financial year. Read more about fee capping here.

# The above fees are included in the calculation of the administration fee rebate if your account balance at the end of the 2022/23 financial year exceeds an average balance of $467,307.69 during the entire 2022/23 financial year. For the financial year 2023/24, your average balance will need to exceed $525,917.82 indexed¹ for the entire financial year. The fee cap will not apply if your account with the fund is closed on or before 30 June during that financial year. Any refund of fees will be paid within 4 months after the end of the relevant financial year. Read more about fee capping here.

¹ The Administration fees and costs rebate threshold will be indexed annually from 1 July 2021, in accordance with the ‘All Groups Consumer Price Index (CPI)’.

Brokerage fees (from 1 July 2022)

If brokerage is charged to your Direct Investments account on a failed share or ETF purchase, this will be reimbursed to you; and fees also apply to the early redemption of Term Deposits.

Breaking a Term Deposit 
Requesting to break a Term Deposit prior to its agreed maturity may result in interest rate adjustments.

Further details of the ‘Fees and costs’ associated with the DIO are contained in the relevant Product Disclosure Document as applicable to your membership type:

• Super Disclosure Statement
• Employer Sponsored Super and Personal Super Additional information
• Pension Product Disclosure Statement

Guaranteed Income Accounts are a way of converting your super into a guaranteed income for a set period of time, or for life. There are two accounts to choose from:

Fixed Term Guaranteed Income account

Fees and Costs

* Your initial investment decreases with every regular income payment. This decrease is based on: (initial investment - any leftover capital value) divided by the total income payments over the investment period.

Additional explanation of fees and costs
Your Fixed Term Guaranteed Income Account doesn't have indirect fees or charges. We determine your regular income payments by considering the costs of the account and estimating potential investment returns. All mentioned fees and costs include GST.

Member Fee Capping
Investments in legalsuper's Fixed Term Guaranteed Income Account and the fees on the received income don't count towards member fee capping.

Residual Capital Value (RCV)
For a Residual Capital Value (RCV) between 0 and 99, your initial investment decreases after every income payment. The decrease is determined by (Initial investment - any leftover capital value) divided by the total income payments over the investment period.

For more details, access the Product Disclosure Statement here

Lifetime Guaranteed Income Account

Additional explanation of fees and costs
There are no indirect fees or charges payable in relation to your Lifetime Guaranteed Income Account. Costs of providing the account are considered when setting the amount of your regular income payments, and assumptions are made about potential investment returns and your life expectancy. All fees and costs stated are GST inclusive.

Member fee capping
Amounts invested in legalsuper's Lifetime Guaranteed Income Accounts, and the administration fees received by legalsuper are not included in entitlement to Member fee capping. 

For more details, access the Product Disclosure Statement here.

When you transfer contributions into your spouse's super account, a fee of $50 will be charged to your account.