We apologise to our members for the extended hold/wait times and delays to withdrawals from defined benefit accounts. We expect to resolve most issues by the end of May 2022 and are confident the majority will be resolved much sooner. Please read our service update for more information.

Also note: The ESSSuper mobile app has been updated and is available to download. Visit our Members Online web page for more details.

Annual returns

May 25 2022

How have we performed?

The chart below shows how $100,000 would have performed* when invested in select options within our Accumulation Plan, compared to the Consumer Price Index (CPI)** over the past 10 years (to 30 June 2021).

06/30/2011 100000.00 100000.00 100000.00 100000.00 100000.00 100000.00 100000.00 100000.00
07/31/2011 97671.74 99035.88 99354.28 99846.17 100097.82 100235.82 100340.70 100000.00
08/31/2011 95236.09 97829.98 98281.64 99277.04 99916.23 100340.08 100715.12 100000.00
09/30/2011 93447.99 97042.08 97500.80 98845.97 99959.61 100621.04 101035.20 100604.84
10/31/2011 97178.69 99125.68 99552.12 100270.43 100843.66 101158.88 101383.43 100604.84
11/30/2011 96319.34 98698.18 99215.23 100260.88 101020.78 101461.43 101708.15 100604.84
12/31/2011 96252.90 99072.86 99643.43 100755.82 101529.08 101881.62 101999.69 100604.84
01/31/2012 98401.01 101054.32 101441.17 102165.52 102492.24 102498.43 102337.65 100604.84
02/29/2012 101199.35 103021.54 103311.31 103600.82 103588.30 103180.87 102645.71 100604.84
03/31/2012 103727.51 104492.14 104737.18 104613.87 104366.70 103716.16 102991.12 100705.65
04/30/2012 103746.14 105019.12 105225.84 105245.00 104929.97 104179.09 103358.54 100705.65
05/31/2012 100091.13 103085.18 103632.70 104670.70 104824.75 104373.95 103706.77 100705.65
06/30/2012 101239.77 104352.31 104901.13 105365.34 105509.42 104906.12 104040.44 101209.68
07/31/2012 102598.41 105812.60 106225.51 106415.98 106238.39 105365.38 104325.13 101209.68
08/31/2012 105338.07 107734.35 107965.10 107700.43 107159.85 105940.07 104615.13 101209.68
09/30/2012 107329.34 109175.19 109363.71 108758.03 107902.92 106408.85 104865.60 102616.49
10/31/2012 108339.33 110152.72 110197.69 109450.20 108433.06 106782.34 105142.13 102616.49
11/30/2012 109164.78 110607.55 110672.61 109781.27 108703.49 107026.50 105388.68 102616.49
12/31/2012 111716.79 112518.75 112335.73 110991.31 109555.87 107564.34 105661.81 102818.10
01/31/2013 116043.71 115302.50 114745.55 112512.44 110687.66 108266.65 105944.15 102818.10
02/28/2013 118971.70 117088.25 116482.45 113653.54 111499.40 108772.90 106200.33 102818.10
03/31/2013 119165.42 117587.18 116831.99 114004.89 111752.24 109021.83 106452.76 103221.30
04/30/2013 122376.71 120059.55 119027.84 115649.82 112904.75 109698.36 106746.75 103221.30
05/31/2013 125178.86 121440.17 120177.76 116378.11 113490.76 110129.85 107054.87 103221.30
06/30/2013 124653.55 121179.19 119726.40 116038.75 113377.36 110214.38 107295.85 103626.09
07/31/2013 130015.77 124123.47 122453.92 117754.65 114544.18 110895.38 107545.33 103626.09
08/31/2013 130382.96 124234.57 122556.61 117817.56 114681.85 111105.74 107786.30 103626.09
09/30/2013 132655.14 125775.93 123986.23 118821.96 115388.88 111541.62 108011.03 104835.74
10/31/2013 136158.62 128337.86 126248.50 120343.04 116354.74 112072.27 108224.48 104835.74
11/30/2013 138536.94 129425.00 127242.44 120940.01 116765.12 112359.00 108420.92 104835.74
12/31/2013 141183.81 131543.25 129153.05 122285.29 117749.91 112954.49 108640.75 105642.17
01/31/2014 138154.86 130449.03 128186.50 121973.64 117702.71 113046.87 108852.86 105642.17
02/28/2014 143435.64 133400.29 130731.32 123615.39 118754.68 113642.76 109064.33 105642.17
03/31/2014 142836.39 133721.57 131039.15 123982.14 119021.18 113873.81 109282.47 106246.99
04/30/2014 144063.20 134751.31 131934.55 124728.56 119591.32 114252.91 109498.98 106246.99
05/31/2014 146130.65 136295.54 133344.50 125813.03 120366.44 114722.50 109703.94 106246.99
06/30/2014 146286.32 137316.42 134329.07 126680.29 121018.30 115135.21 109943.57 106751.01
07/31/2014 147958.99 138351.69 135270.14 127323.79 121477.50 115472.13 110162.18 106751.01
08/31/2014 150129.81 139532.71 136230.62 128040.07 122029.48 115847.20 110358.54 106751.01
09/30/2014 148970.78 138746.11 135581.16 127648.14 121864.61 115872.87 110581.09 107255.02
10/31/2014 151042.01 140104.60 136723.00 128506.38 122489.66 116276.46 110791.06 107255.02
11/30/2014 153650.68 141977.36 138301.65 129626.90 123371.32 116806.11 110984.93 107255.02
12/31/2014 155386.39 143390.20 139516.31 130603.05 124092.90 117255.55 111220.42 107456.63
01/31/2015 159099.92 146036.21 141834.70 132434.04 125343.64 117922.57 111432.04 107456.63
02/28/2015 166501.41 149844.71 145062.23 134742.64 126762.27 118689.61 111643.63 107456.63
03/31/2015 167161.20 151159.87 146223.28 135670.26 127359.51 119062.81 111852.46 107658.24
04/30/2015 166277.27 151050.82 146176.06 135656.77 127376.31 119150.84 112045.07 107658.24
05/31/2015 170002.06 152934.98 147624.01 136494.60 127852.01 119472.03 112236.54 107658.24
06/30/2015 164029.20 150402.04 145395.09 134991.48 127104.11 119213.08 112416.30 108363.86
07/31/2015 169627.15 152945.84 147503.91 136497.74 128184.87 119846.85 112599.21 108363.86
08/31/2015 161181.56 148845.44 144127.93 134279.79 126987.42 119388.72 112773.00 108363.86
09/30/2015 157770.18 147261.93 142555.48 133145.30 126515.88 119271.64 112939.47 108867.88
10/31/2015 165300.07 151667.14 146224.64 135771.71 128160.54 120110.15 113115.76 108867.88
11/30/2015 164551.78 151479.87 146064.74 135694.25 128137.91 120177.54 113286.89 108867.88
12/31/2015 163866.34 151391.77 145778.63 135481.51 128155.71 120284.89 113465.11 109271.09
01/31/2016 156761.41 147624.03 142712.02 133575.31 127331.40 120142.48 113647.70 109271.09
02/29/2016 156142.68 147804.73 142955.58 133854.38 127727.98 120507.03 113847.06 109271.09
03/31/2016 159983.58 150494.57 145172.97 135562.43 128888.58 121142.84 114040.37 109069.49
04/30/2016 162719.97 152598.22 146953.39 136935.25 129728.58 121613.13 114240.72 109069.49
05/31/2016 168085.84 155676.39 149377.10 138631.12 130743.01 122194.59 114445.88 109069.49
06/30/2016 163982.89 154762.57 149070.23 138833.46 131063.61 122485.81 114636.61 109472.70
07/31/2016 170431.95 158838.80 152342.24 141237.88 132515.55 123220.25 114801.30 109472.70
08/31/2016 170963.23 159479.36 152947.01 141745.75 132834.46 123453.70 114993.20 109472.70
09/30/2016 170294.37 159639.92 153131.56 141918.98 133007.99 123605.49 115158.03 110279.13
10/31/2016 167166.91 158205.13 152021.00 141108.44 132494.95 123373.40 115328.87 110279.13
11/30/2016 170608.17 160134.75 153286.46 141697.97 132655.60 123388.15 115492.46 110279.13
12/31/2016 175951.64 163702.87 156105.93 143690.95 133844.16 123961.34 115655.26 110883.95
01/31/2017 175597.15 163960.66 156434.22 144013.20 134103.62 124160.06 115825.66 110883.95
02/28/2017 178251.05 165860.50 157987.44 145188.78 134837.43 124554.28 115975.97 110883.95
03/31/2017 181542.52 168087.84 159746.13 146452.65 135646.97 125028.06 116141.74 111387.97
04/30/2017 185852.35 170687.43 161779.57 147903.39 136572.01 125548.10 116290.70 111387.97
05/31/2017 188712.04 172659.82 163430.48 149185.38 137385.70 126028.53 116446.79 111387.97
06/30/2017 187910.81 172745.92 163459.46 149185.62 137427.52 126066.88 116610.17 111589.58
07/31/2017 187786.53 172752.97 163550.25 149318.56 137585.78 126228.74 116762.74 111589.58
08/31/2017 189218.29 173825.34 164442.64 150023.39 137999.77 126491.95 116912.58 111589.58
09/30/2017 190826.55 175069.57 165400.27 150697.31 138368.91 126678.47 117052.02 112295.20
10/31/2017 196221.43 178639.75 168031.96 152568.64 139531.72 127307.68 117221.06 112295.20
11/30/2017 200414.41 181276.70 170009.61 154020.03 140372.78 127779.98 117370.61 112295.20
12/31/2017 202427.43 182537.35 170892.40 154598.04 140675.52 127925.80 117520.17 113000.83
01/31/2018 204735.40 184884.06 172728.31 155944.11 141461.33 128274.60 117673.99 113000.83
02/28/2018 204183.90 184645.21 172561.02 155875.96 141496.67 128379.58 117819.49 113000.83
03/31/2018 200861.92 182757.90 171327.69 155175.08 141361.65 128507.57 117971.53 113504.85
04/30/2018 206187.57 186629.98 173982.26 156895.53 142423.76 129007.71 118143.92 113504.85
05/31/2018 208417.37 187739.07 174833.25 157494.65 142842.02 129354.91 118328.08 113504.85
06/30/2018 212644.09 190405.74 176754.31 158874.11 143697.56 129827.27 118499.00 113908.06
07/31/2018 215527.34 192614.00 178321.09 159901.57 144359.70 130190.07 118691.04 113908.06
08/31/2018 219021.34 194609.46 179768.72 160920.36 145009.45 130628.19 118886.20 113908.06
09/30/2018 219736.66 195227.77 180170.06 161131.20 145191.36 130775.33 119071.10 114412.08
10/31/2018 208103.14 189048.88 176027.97 158523.88 143961.26 130400.57 119267.80 114412.08
11/30/2018 206089.21 187677.93 175151.91 157973.71 143851.97 130537.10 119448.31 114412.08
12/31/2018 200106.12 184196.30 173081.31 156920.17 143518.82 130679.26 119632.32 115016.90
01/31/2019 207668.63 189578.03 177057.51 159719.19 145222.13 131508.68 119824.77 115016.90
02/28/2019 215854.35 194390.73 180561.78 162128.11 146527.24 132155.85 120014.17 115016.90
03/31/2019 218025.74 195831.25 181898.17 163278.76 147402.24 132742.24 120205.09 115016.90
04/30/2019 224896.61 200387.71 185184.71 165502.51 148610.95 133316.06 120394.07 115016.90
05/31/2019 222474.23 199144.49 184567.28 165351.22 148811.44 133649.53 120575.57 115016.90
06/30/2019 229916.81 203954.22 188184.58 167890.73 150300.92 134436.51 120722.59 115722.52
07/31/2019 233863.89 206419.46 190046.15 169244.17 151062.39 134843.88 120862.36 115722.52
08/31/2019 230895.13 204837.47 189317.54 169099.32 151238.11 135134.07 120972.11 115722.52
09/30/2019 234677.31 207193.49 190871.34 170063.20 151708.52 135331.48 121072.48 116327.35
10/31/2019 236631.94 208758.63 191961.46 170744.43 152111.50 135533.09 121169.42 116327.35
11/30/2019 244532.17 212942.40 194752.09 172508.94 153089.88 136007.62 121268.19 116327.35
12/31/2019 243741.97 212914.55 194630.54 172330.17 152971.02 135898.55 121359.19 117133.78
01/31/2020 249714.64 217566.74 198463.52 175220.87 154759.03 136852.55 121460.22 117133.78
02/29/2020 237866.50 210971.06 194263.84 172672.23 153682.12 136552.06 121557.83 117133.78
03/31/2020 207838.50 189747.97 179082.72 162215.29 148058.52 134311.09 121672.52 117536.99
04/30/2020 220134.03 197126.39 183184.78 164862.59 149268.86 134909.87 121741.42 117536.99
05/31/2020 227088.29 201305.70 186148.31 166977.12 150540.09 135594.59 121768.88 117536.99
06/30/2020 230061.99 203469.07 188041.92 168485.37 151464.04 136097.31 121789.37 115319.31
07/31/2020 234014.68 206238.62 190212.12 170206.21 152609.07 136702.13 121812.25 115319.31
08/31/2020 241268.41 210830.33 193074.15 172060.67 153491.76 137074.37 121831.50 115319.31
09/30/2020 237719.01 208412.73 191575.19 171062.51 153019.53 136887.27 121850.34 117133.78
10/31/2020 239364.66 209877.18 192771.29 171857.84 153584.50 137185.27 121871.24 117133.78
11/30/2020 257934.14 222518.46 200949.88 177305.81 156637.72 138729.76 121882.94 117133.78
12/31/2020 261201.95 225032.35 202910.80 178746.73 157571.89 139239.29 121894.59 118141.81
01/31/2021 260861.58 225368.65 203311.53 179106.95 157838.86 139230.09 121898.07 118141.81
02/28/2021 264048.03 227666.31 204296.48 179579.74 157787.57 138858.71 121909.05 118141.81
03/31/2021 271769.68 232726.81 207260.56 181439.24 158629.81 139194.82 121910.54 118847.44
04/30/2021 280035.30 239210.21 211476.96 184316.25 160225.58 139974.45 121913.04 118847.44
05/31/2021 281701.41 240626.74 212611.99 185181.39 160732.02 140276.17 121915.61 118847.44
06/30/2021 291040.34 247683.56 217409.90 188234.29 162479.34 141070.95 121919.46 118847.44

* Returns are net of tax and fees.
** The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate is calculated quarterly by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). It's a measure of household inflation and includes statistics about price change for categories of household expenditure.

Annual returns

The tables below show the three and five year compound annual returns and financial year returns for each investment option.

Additional information is also available on our Investment performance flyer (PDF 49.9KB).

Accumulation Plan

  Shares Only High Growth Growth Balanced Conservative Defensive1 Basic Growth2 Ethically Minded2 Cash
Compound average returns
10 years (avg % p.a.) 11.27% 9.49% 8.08% 6.53% 4.97% 3.50% N/A N/A 2.00%
5 years (avg % p.a.) 12.16% 9.86% 7.84% 6.28% 4.39% 2.87% N/A N/A 1.24%
3 years (avg % p.a.) 11.03% 9.16% 7.14% 5.82% 4.18% 2.81% 9.17% 8.01% 0.95%
Financial year returns
2020-2021 26.51% 21.73% 15.62% 11.72% 7.27% 3.65% 18.99% 19.24% 0.11%
2019-2020 0.06% -0.24% -0.08% 0.35% 0.77% 1.24% 0.39% -1.13% 0.88%
2018-2019 8.12% 7.12% 6.47% 5.68% 4.60% 3.55% 8.94% 6.89% 1.88%
2017-2018 13.16% 10.22% 8.13% 6.49% 4.56% 2.98% 9.86% 8.11% 1.62%
2016-2017 14.59% 11.62% 9.65% 7.46% 4.86% 2.92% N/A N/A 1.72%
2015-2016 -0.03% 2.90% 2.53% 2.85% 3.12% 2.75% N/A N/A 1.98%
2014-2015 12.13% 9.53% 8.24% 6.56% 5.03% 3.54% N/A N/A 2.25%
2013-2014 17.35% 13.32% 12.20% 9.17% 6.74% 4.46% N/A N/A 2.47%
2012-2013 23.13% 16.13% 14.13% 10.13% 7.46% 5.06% N/A N/A 3.13%
2011-2012 1.24% 4.35% 4.90% 5.37% 5.51% 4.91% N/A N/A 4.04%
2010-2011 10.68% 11.18% 9.57% 8.49% 6.94% 1.06% N/A N/A 4.12%

1. The Defensive option commenced on 1 April 2011, therefore the 2010-2011 return is for a three month period only.
2. The Ethically Minded and Basic Growth options commenced 1 July 2017.

Working Income Stream

  Shares Only High Growth Growth Balanced Conservative Defensive1 Basic Growth2 Ethically Minded2 Cash
Compound average returns
10 years (avg % p.a.) 12.28% 10.27% 8.79% 7.13% 5.46% 3.88% N/A N/A 2.27%
5 years (avg % p.a.) 12.55% 10.19% 8.12% 6.50% 4.54% 2.96% N/A N/A 1.30%
3 years (avg % p.a.) 11.03% 9.16% 7.14% 5.82% 4.18% 2.81% 9.17% 8.01% 0.95%
Financial year returns
2020-2021 26.51% 21.73% 15.62% 11.72% 7.27% 3.65% 18.99% 19.24% 0.11%
2019-2020 0.06% -0.24% -0.08% 0.35% 0.77% 1.24% 0.39% -1.13% 0.88%
2018-2019 8.12% 7.12% 6.47% 5.68% 4.60% 3.55% 8.94% 6.89% 1.88%
2017-2018 13.16% 10.22% 8.13% 6.49% 4.56% 2.98% 9.86% 8.11% 1.62%
2016-2017 16.63% 13.31% 11.08% 8.59% 5.63% 3.42% N/A N/A 2.02%
2015-2016 0.10% 3.26% 2.86% 3.28% 3.64% 3.24% N/A N/A 2.33%
2014-2015 13.98% 10.67% 9.29% 7.41% 5.74% 4.11% N/A N/A 2.65%
2013-2014 19.67% 15.07% 13.82% 10.46% 7.67% 5.12% N/A N/A 2.89%
2012-2013 27.95% 18.52% 16.44% 11.73% 8.71% 5.95% N/A N/A 3.67%
2011-2012 0.95% 4.98% 5.50% 6.15% 6.25% 5.57% N/A N/A 4.69%
2010-2011 12.42% 12.91% 11.13% 9.91% 8.12% 1.23% N/A N/A 4.86%

1. The Defensive option commenced on 1 April 2011, therefore the 2010-2011 return is for a three month period only.
2. The Ethically Minded and Basic Growth options commenced 1 July 2017.

Retirement Income Stream

  Shares Only High Growth Growth Balanced Conservative Defensive1 Basic Growth2 Ethically Minded2 Cash
Compound average returns
10 years (avg % p.a.) 12.92% 10.81% 9.23% 7.50% 5.74% 4.08% N/A N/A 2.35%
5 years (avg % p.a.) 13.83% 11.26% 8.99% 7.25% 5.09% 3.37% N/A N/A 1.47%
3 years (avg % p.a.) 12.62% 10.55% 8.28% 6.79% 4.91% 3.35% 10.47% 9.15% 1.13%
Financial year returns
2020-2021 30.57% 25.04% 17.96% 13.53% 8.42% 4.35% 21.52% 22.48% 0.13%
2019-2020 -0.02% -0.22% 0.03% 0.55% 1.01% 1.52% 0.43% -1.37% 1.05%
2018-2019 9.43% 8.27% 7.59% 6.69% 5.43% 4.21% 10.46% 7.64% 2.22%
2017-2018 14.72% 11.40% 9.07% 7.27% 5.12% 3.39% 11.28% 9.21% 1.92%
2016-2017 16.63% 13.31% 11.08% 8.59% 5.63% 3.42% N/A N/A 2.02%
2015-2016 0.10% 3.26% 2.86% 3.28% 3.64% 3.24% N/A N/A 2.33%
2014-2015 13.98% 10.67% 9.29% 7.41% 5.74% 4.11% N/A N/A 2.65%
2013-2014 19.67% 15.07% 13.82% 10.46% 7.67% 5.12% N/A N/A 2.89%
2012-2013 27.95% 18.52% 16.44% 11.73% 8.71% 5.95% N/A N/A 3.67%
2011-2012 0.95% 4.98% 5.50% 6.15% 6.25% 5.57% N/A N/A 4.69%
2010-2011 12.42% 12.91% 11.13% 9.91% 8.12% 1.23% N/A N/A 4.86%

1. The Defensive option commenced on 1 April 2011, therefore the 2010-2011 return is for a three month period only.
2. The Ethically Minded and Basic Growth options commenced 1 July 2017.

Beneficiary Account

  Shares Only High Growth Growth Balanced Conservative Defensive1 Basic Growth2 Ethically Minded2 Cash
Compound average returns
10 years (avg % p.a.) 11.27% 9.49% 8.08% 6.53% 4.97% 3.50% N/A N/A 2.00%
5 years (avg % p.a.) 12.16% 9.86% 7.84% 6.28% 4.39% 2.87% N/A N/A 1.24%
3 years (avg % p.a.) 11.03% 9.16% 7.14% 5.82% 4.18% 2.81% 9.17% 8.01% 0.95%
Financial year returns
2020-2021 26.51% 21.73% 15.62% 11.72% 7.27% 3.65% 18.99% 19.24% 0.11%
2019-2020 0.06% -0.24% -0.08% 0.35% 0.77% 1.24% 0.39% -1.13% 0.88%
2018-2019 8.12% 7.12% 6.47% 5.68% 4.60% 3.55% 8.94% 6.89% 1.88%
2017-2018 13.16% 10.22% 8.13% 6.49% 4.56% 2.98% 9.86% 8.11% 1.62%
2016-2017 14.59% 11.62% 9.65% 7.46% 4.86% 2.92% N/A N/A 1.72%
2015-2016 -0.03%  2.90% 2.53% 2.85% 3.12% 2.75% N/A N/A 1.98%
2014-2015 12.13% 9.53% 8.24% 6.56% 5.03% 3.54% N/A N/A 2.25%
2013-2014 17.35% 13.32% 12.20% 9.17% 6.74% 4.46% N/A N/A 2.47%
2012-2013 23.13% 16.13% 14.13% 10.13% 7.46% 5.06% N/A N/A 3.13%
2011-2012 1.24% 4.35% 4.90% 5.37% 5.51% 4.91% N/A N/A 4.04%
2010-2011 10.68% 11.18% 9.57% 8.49% 6.94% 1.06% N/A N/A 4.12%

1. The Defensive option commenced on 1 April 2011, therefore the 2010-2011 return is for a three month period only.
2. The Ethically Minded and Basic Growth options commenced 1 July 2017.


This investment commentary does not constitute advice. All investment figures quoted relate to before-tax performance of the relevant industry benchmark. Investment returns cannot be guaranteed as investment markets can be volatile. As a consequence, returns can be positive or negative. Past investment performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Benefits in ESSSuper's Accumulation Plan, Income Streams and Beneficiary Account products are not guaranteed or underwritten by the Victorian Government or ESSSuper, and ESSSuper does not come under the jurisdiction of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).

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