Superannuation Fees, Asset Allocation and Fund Performance

Abstract

Superannuation fees have come under public scrutiny in recent years with the belief they are too high. We examine the determinants of fees and their relationship with fund performance. Superannuation funds with higher investment fees have higher allocations to asset classes that are riskier and are more expensive to manage. For-profit retail funds charge both higher investment fees and administration fees than other funds. Funds with higher investment fees do not generate higher returns than the least expensive funds. These findings suggest that superannuation members may not earn higher after-fee risk-adjusted returns by holding funds with higher fees.

Keywords: Superannuation funds, investment fees, administration fees, asset allocation

JEL Classification: G11