Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Retail fund
Bendigo SmartStart Super continues under Betashares ownership. Existing product terms should be assessed separately from any proposed future Betashares super product.
Check current availability for the specific product and option. Certain failed investment options are closed to new members.
Industry fund brand
Catholic Super remains a separate brand within Equip Super. Its background in Catholic education and healthcare is useful context, but the name alone does not tell you the investment screens or product terms.
Check the current joining and employer criteria. The brand serves its established community as well as members whose circumstances fit the product.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
The costs and returns belong to the selected product, option or lifecycle stage.
Source: APRA Comprehensive Product Performance Package 2026, published 28 August 2026. Fees reflect the reporting year to 30 June 2026, are net of tax, use standard arrangements and exclude member-activity fees. Dollar figures are rounded. They are not a current quote. Check the latest PDS for changes, insurance premiums and any separately charged advice.
Returns are annualised historical results. Different return bases, risk levels and periods cannot be treated as interchangeable. MySuper net returns use a $50,000 representative balance even when you change the fee balance. A lifecycle stage return does not track a person moving between stages. Missing figures mean not reported, not zero. Past returns do not predict future returns. Read our method and APRA's definitions.
| What to compare | Bendigo SmartStart Super | Catholic Super |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Check current availability for the specific product and option. Certain failed investment options are closed to new members. Sources123 | Check the current joining and employer criteria. The brand serves its established community as well as members whose circumstances fit the product. Sources1234 |
| Accounts and products | Bendigo SmartStart Super and SmartStart Pension. Sources123 | Superannuation, transition-to-retirement income and retirement income. Sources1234 |
| Investment choices | MySuper is an age-based strategy using Growth Index, Balanced Index and Conservative Index at different ages, with a separate choice menu. Sources123 | Diversified and sector-specific choices. The default is MySuper for super accounts, Capital Stable for transition-to-retirement accounts and MyPension for retirement income accounts. Sources1234 |
| Insurance | Insurance is available under the SmartStart policy and guide. Sources123 | Read the current Catholic Super insurance documents for the relevant employer or personal arrangement. Sources1234 |
| Retirement income | SmartStart Pension has its own product documentation. Sources123 | MyPension invests across Cash, Capital Stable and Growth. This is an investment allocation strategy, with market risk, rather than a promise to pay income for life. Sources1234 |
| Advice and support | Use the current support and advice documents to establish services and charges. Sources123 | Financial planning is available through Togethr Financial Planning. Confirm the work covered and the agreed charge before requesting a personal plan. Sources1234 |
| Fee details to check | Use the current PDS and updates; ownership change alone does not establish a fee reduction. Sources123 | Compare the current Catholic Super product disclosure with the same product phase elsewhere. Shared investment infrastructure with Equip does not justify guessing that every member fee and insurance term is identical. Sources1234 |
| Comparing investment performance | The current site reports that Bendigo Balanced Wholesale and Bendigo High Growth Index did not pass the 2026 APRA performance test. This finding is option-specific, not a claim about every SmartStart option. Sources123 | Use the current aligned investment menu and its predecessor notes. Compare individual options with similar asset mixes. Sources1234 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Most useful for an existing member reviewing their exact option and current alternatives.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
A useful candidate for people who value its workplace relationships or want the retirement services offered through the brand.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
Use the membership rules to establish which accounts are available to you. Then compare the total price of the investment option and cover you need. A lower fee or higher historical return alone does not tell you which fund is suitable.
Ask both funds to confirm insurance acceptance, exclusions, waiting periods and whether cover would change when you leave your employer. Obtain advice before giving up a defined benefit or an insurance policy you may not be able to replace. ASIC Moneysmart explains the comparison checks.
Read the full Bendigo SmartStart Super profile · Read the full Catholic Super profile · Choose another comparison
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.