2026 AAA superannuation ratings

The annual assessment reviews all superannuation accumulation and retirement products across their performance, fees, insurance, operations and extra benefits. 

“The Rainmaker AAA Quality Rating is an annual review of the overall quality of a superannuation and retirement products’ features and performance,” said David Gallagher, executive director of research at Rainmaker Information.

“To achieve the AAA rating, each superannuation and retirement product must demonstrate its ability meet an exceptional standard of excellence across a number of different criteria.”

27 superannuation funds have at least one product with a AAA Rating, and there are currently 104 super funds according to Rainmaker Information’s latest Superannuation Benchmarking Report.

Of the products rated AAA, 64% are accumulation products and 36% are retirement/pension products.

The assessment criteria framework underpinning the AAA Quality Rating process incorporates the following elements for superannuation funds and retirement products: 

• Investments - including the investment menu, performance and processes. Long-term performance history, including risk-adjusted performance, is assessed, while the program also reviews investment processes including fund manager selection or internalisation, and the use of asset consultants.

• Insurance - including the types of insurances offered (death, TPD and income protection), premium costs and default coverage and variations by age, occupation, gender and industry. 

• Fees - including details of administration fees, investment fees, transaction fees, advice fees and indirect costs. 

• Organisation - including the company structure, trustee board and senior management, fund compliance, operations outsourced, size of the fund, complaints history and resolution, administration and investment systems and flexibility, communications with members and more. 

• Extra services - including financial planning and advice services, loyalty programs and other value-based offerings for members. 

Rainmaker Information conducts research for Money magazine’s Best of the Best Awards. Only funds rated AAA are considered as part of the awards process across various superannuation categories.

Providers of the AAA rated superannuation products have been notified of their rating. If you have any questions about your fund’s rating status, please contact us.

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