Not as another industry award or marketing badge, but as a clear, well-researched benchmark of what “good” really looks like in retirement services from your super fund. It’s a set of criteria, a detailed report and a badge that everyday Australians can use to judge their fund – and that funds can use to demonstrate they’re serious about delivering for their members in retirement.
Instead of promises in glossy ads, the Tick is built on evidence, measuring funds against 18 transparently shared and quite detailed criteria that we believe genuinely matter as you move into retirement: long-term performance, fees under the median, different types of retirement-relevant financial advice, retirement income options, drawdown solutions, digital tools, calculators, retirement education, service standards and more.
Aware Super is one of the few funds to be given the Tick.Credit: Peter Rae
In the first year we didn’t want to have too high a bar – so we assessed funds against their ability to meet any 12 of the 18 criteria. Only six exceeded the benchmark. That says a lot about the state of retirement readiness in our system today.
I’m delighted to share the funds awarded the Tick for 2025/26 are: Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings, Aware Super, Brighter Super, Hostplus, TelstraSuper and UniSuper. Congratulations.
We’ve published a detailed report on the six funds that passed, outlining the criteria in detail and explaining how members can use it. For the rest, it’s up to members to run their own assessment.
That’s deliberate – the aim isn’t to shame funds by hanging out their dirty laundry, at least not yet. It’s to lift the bar by putting pressure where it counts: from everyday Australians who now have a checklist in hand and the confidence to ask tougher questions.
When members start holding funds to account on their retirement services, two things happen: funds feel the heat to improve or risk losing members, and people get the better support they deserve as they step into retirement.
Some funds have already responded positively, outlining to their members the projects under way and how they plan to earn the Tick soon. Others have been less forthcoming. But all were assessed, and the message is clear: it’s time to act.
It’s time to lift the standard and deliver the support Australians need to retire with confidence.
And we’ve promised to do our bit too. If a fund reaches 12 out of 18 criteria during the year, they won’t have to wait until next October to be reassessed. We’ll proudly add them to the list of funds with a Tick beside their name. That way, progress is recognised quickly, members benefit sooner, and momentum builds across the system.
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Because at the end of the day, we just want more for everyday Australians approaching retirement – the support and services they deserve, many of which are basic and should already be standard.
1. Use the report to guide you. Download the report, look at the 18 criteria, and use them as your checklist. You may not need everything on the list, but you’ll quickly see which services matter most for your journey. If your fund isn’t one of the six, this is your chance to hold them up against the standard
2. Ask your fund the hard questions. If your fund didn’t get the Tick – and most didn’t – don’t just shrug. Pick up the phone or email them. Ask three simple but powerful questions:
- How will you help me navigate retirement in the months and years ahead?
- What retirement initiatives are a priority for you right now?
- When will they be live and ready for me to use? (And decide if their time frame is soon enough for your retirement to benefit.)
3. Make the most of what’s already there. Some funds are already doing impressive things – from tools and calculators to new income products – but many members don’t use them because super doesn’t feel “exciting”.
Don’t let that stop you. Super, when you retire, will suddenly become bloody exciting – trust me! Engaging with these services before you stop work can make a big difference to both your wealth and your confidence when the time comes.
Whatever you do, remember this: no one will plan your retirement for you – only you can make it epic.
Bec Wilson is the author of the bestseller How to Have an Epic Retirement and the newly released Prime Time: 27 Lessons for the New Midlife. She writes a weekly newsletter at epicretirement.net and hosts the Prime Time podcast.
- Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that considers their own personal circumstances before making financial decisions.
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