
Members first, always
As a profit-to-member super fund for the legal industry, we are run only to profit members, not shareholders or anyone else. After covering the cost of running the fund, any extra profit directly benefits our members as net investment returns. It's your profit, and always will be. We regularly reassess our fees to ensure they're competitive, while providing the best value for our members
A common question is, ‘Are superannuation administration fees tax deductible?’ or ‘Can you claim superannuation fees on tax?’ Generally, the tax treatment of these fees depends on your individual circumstances and the type of super fund you have. For a more detailed breakdown of these fees and their tax implications, please refer to our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) relevant to your product.
Superannuation fees and charges explained
We clearly outline our fees, from administration to investments, and cap them where possible whilst ensuring transparency in all we do, so there are no unexpected surprises for members.
Below are some commonly asked questions about our fees, what they cover and how they are paid.
The administration fees and costs for our fund have three components: fees taken directly from your account, fees deducted from your investments and costs paid from fund reserves . These fees and costs 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
$0.99 per week ($51.48 p.a.)
Indirect Administration fee
0.29% p.a. of your (average) account balance
Costs paid from reserves
Currently 0.00% p.a.
Any costs paid from fund reserves are not deducted from your account and these costs do not impact performance. This is an estimated amount based on the year ending 30 June 2025. The actual amount you will be charged for this financial year will depend on the actual fees and costs incurred.
These fees are deducted from your investment and cover the cost of managing investments, including performance fees (estimated between 0.00% and 0.09%). The fees charged depend on the investment 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 1 September 2025
Investment option |
Investment fees (% p.a.)* |
Transaction costs (% p.a.) |
Buy spread (% p.a.) |
Sell spread (% p.a.) |
Cash |
0.07% | 0.00% |
0.00 |
0.00 |
Conservative |
0.32% | 0.08% |
0.03 |
0.05 |
Conservative Balanced |
0.37% | 0.10% |
0.05 |
0.05 |
Balanced Index |
0.17% | 0.01% |
0.07 |
0.06 |
MySuper Balanced |
0.50% | 0.13% |
0.06 |
0.08 |
Balanced |
0.50% | 0.13% |
0.06 |
0.08 |
Balanced Socially Responsible |
0.46% | 0.26% |
0.12 |
0.13 |
Growth |
0.52% | 0.13% |
0.06 |
0.08 |
High Growth |
0.52% | 0.13% |
0.07 |
0.08 |
Australian Shares |
0.32% | 0.08% |
0.10 |
0.10 |
Overseas Shares |
0.32% | 0.07% |
0.08 |
0.07 |
* Due to rounding, individual components may not equal the ‘Total cost of product’
What do investment fees 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 are investment fees 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.
These fees are deducted from your investment and cover the cost of managing investments, including performance fees (estimated between 0.00% and 0.09%). The fees charged depend on the investment 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 1 September 2025
Investment option |
Investment fees (% p.a.)* |
Transaction costs (% p.a.) |
Buy spread (% p.a.) |
Sell spread (% p.a.) |
Cash |
0.07% | 0.00% |
0.00 |
0.00 |
Conservative |
0.32% | 0.08% |
0.03 |
0.05 |
Conservative Balanced |
0.37% | 0.10% |
0.05 |
0.05 |
Balanced Index |
0.17% | 0.01% |
0.07 |
0.06 |
Balanced |
0.50% | 0.13% |
0.06 |
0.08 |
Balanced Socially Responsible |
0.46% | 0.26% |
0.12 |
0.13 |
Growth |
0.52% | 0.13% |
0.06 |
0.08 |
High Growth |
0.52% | 0.13% |
0.07 |
0.08 |
Australian Shares |
0.32% | 0.08% |
0.10 |
0.10 |
Overseas Shares |
0.32% | 0.07% |
0.08 |
0.07 |
* Due to rounding, individual components may not equal the ‘Total cost of product’
What do investment fees 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 are investment fees 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 do transaction costs 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 are transaction costs paid?
Transaction costs are a percentage of each option’s assets per year. This is not deducted directly from your account balance. Instead, it’s deducted from the underlying asset value via the unit pricing process.
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 $557,386.351
If your average account balance at the end of a financial year exceeds the administration fees and costs rebate threshold during the entire financial year (and you are not in receipt of the under $6,000 Administration and costs refund) legalsuper will cap the total combined amount of administration fees (including any DIO Asset fee and DIO account fee if applicable).
Your account must be open on 30 June and 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.
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)’.
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 1 September 2025
Investment options |
Cost of product |
MySuper Balanced* |
$509.76 |
Cash |
$232.06 |
Conservative |
$398.86 |
Conservative Balanced |
$429.55 |
Balanced Index |
$285.34 |
Balanced |
$509.76 |
Growth |
$520.56 |
High Growth |
$519.32 |
Australian Shares |
$398.52 |
Overseas Shares |
$390.76 |
Balanced Socially Responsible |
$556.40 |
* 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.
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 1 September 2025
Investment options |
Cost of product |
Cash |
$232.06 |
Conservative |
$398.87 |
Conservative Balanced |
$429.14 |
Balanced Index |
$285.35 |
Balanced |
$509.86 |
Growth |
$520.55 |
High Growth |
$519.87 |
Australian Shares |
$398.64 |
Overseas Shares |
$390.82 |
Balanced Socially Responsible |
$556.93 |
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.
User type | Free Access | Full Access |
Access to | UBS research Morningstar Market data |
UBS research Morningstar Market data Cash Account Term Deposits Real time trading: Shares, ETFs and LICs |
Minimum balance | $10,000 | $10,000 |
Cost | Free | See below |
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.
Fee name | Fee amount | |
Account fee*# | $20 per month | Deducted from your DIO Cash account, whether or not you transact |
Administration fee (aka DIO Asset fee)*# | 0.29% |
Deducted directly from your other legalsuper investment option(s) on a monthly basis
This fee is deducted on the last day of the month based on your DIO balance at the time of processing the fee. The DIO balance used may be the balance at the close of the previous National Business Day |
DIO Cash account fee* | 0.40% | Of the funds held in your DIO Cash account, deducted from your DIO Cash account |
Brokerage fees | See below | If you purchase or sell shares, ETFs and/or LICs in your DIO account, brokerage applies as listed in the table below |
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 a financial year exceeds the administration fees and costs rebate threshold during the entire financial year, and you do not also receive the “under $6,000 Administration and costs refund"(refer to Refunds and rebates of fees and costs above).
Brokerage fees (from 1 July 2022)
Trade amount | Brokerage (excl. GST) |
$0 - $10,000 | $15.00 |
More than $10,000 (The maximum amount that can be invested per security trade purchase is $250,000) |
0.15% of total trade value |
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.
Time invested | Interest rate reduction |
0 to 50% of total term | 50% |
Over 50% of total term | 20% |
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:
When you transfer contributions into your spouse's super account, a fee of $50 will be charged to your account.