The power of compounding
Compound earnings can turn regular superannuation contributions into a substantial nest egg over time. Your super is invested to generate earnings, which also attract earnings which help accelerate growth, like a snowball rolling down a hill. You are not working harder but your super is, as your balance benefits by growing faster. And if you’re paying less in fees and insurance costs out of your super it stands to reason the balance you have invested is even larger. That’s one half of the winning compounding combination – how much you have invested. The other is time. The longer your money stays invested in super, the more it can compound and grow.
Low fees and insurance premiums matter
Fees and premiums matter to your super balance not just in the year you pay them but over time. The Federal Government’s MoneySmart site has a
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to show how even small differences in fees can make a big difference to the amount of money you'll have when you retire. Any dollars spent on fees and insurance premiums miss out on this compounding power over time so it’s important to keep an eye on what’s coming out of your super account. Even with low premiums it’s a good idea to check you are not paying for insurance cover you do not need – log in to
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or the app to check.
Make sure you understand the different types of life insurance – read our article
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– and check the
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for the section of the Fund for which you are a member.
If you need help working out what you need speak to one of our friendly Contact Centre agents – call 1800 000 086. If you need financial advice, they will set up your appointment. The cost of financial advice on key aspects of your superannuation – like insurance – is included in your membership of ANZ Staff Super.1
ANZ Staff Super members pay very low fees and life insurance premiums
In its most recent comparative surveys independent research house Chant West rated ANZ Staff Super for fees and insurance costs:
- Number 1 for best-value life insurance in a super fund - Chant West Super Fund Insurance Premium Survey July 2025 (Employee Section); and
- Number 1 for lowest fees - Chant West Fee Survey September 2025 (Employee Section).
Time in the market matters
The longer your super stays invested the more you benefit from compounding - compounding works best when uninterrupted. Every time you pull out of the market you break that cycle and risk missing critical growth periods – which are often individual days of upside in protracted periods of volatile downside. Being in the market on those specific days though can more than double the return of missing those top performing market days according to global equities powerhouse Blackrock2 (one of our International Equities managers).