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Brighter Super vs Challenger Retirement Fund

Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.

By SuperGuru Group · Research checked 11 September 2026 · Historical APRA figures to 30 June 2026

Brighter Super

Industry fund

Brighter Super brings together Queensland local government and energy industry roots with the former Suncorp super business. It now serves a broader membership.

Membership

Open to a broad Australian membership. Employer and legacy product arrangements can differ, so use the disclosure documents for the account you would actually join.

Challenger Retirement Fund

Closed retail fund

Challenger Retirement Fund holds legacy super, pension and insurance contracts. Its products are closed to new members.

Membership

The provider confirms all products in this fund are closed to new members. Existing holders should use the documents for their particular contract.

Compare fees and investment returns

Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.

APRA product data to 30 June 2026
MeasureAccumulation - MySuperChoose an investment option
Return basisMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative memberChoose an option
3-year return, per year9.73%Choose an option
5-year return, per year6.98%Choose an option
7-year return, per year7.02%Choose an option
10-year return, per year7.59%Choose an option
APRA strategic growth allocation78.63%Choose an option
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000$365 a year (0.73%)Choose an option
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)$80 a yearChoose an option
2026 performance testPassChoose an option
New-member status at reporting dateCheck the current product eligibility rulesCheck the current product eligibility rules

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.

How the products differ

Brighter Super and Challenger Retirement Fund: product features and conditions
What to compareBrighter SuperChallenger Retirement Fund
Membership and access

Open to a broad Australian membership. Employer and legacy product arrangements can differ, so use the disclosure documents for the account you would actually join.

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The provider confirms all products in this fund are closed to new members. Existing holders should use the documents for their particular contract.

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Accounts and products

Accumulation accounts, pension accounts and legacy or employer arrangements.

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Existing products inside Challenger Retirement Fund. This entry does not describe every annuity currently sold by Challenger Life.

Guaranteed Personal Superannuation

Guaranteed Income Pension Plan

Guaranteed Lifetime Pension Plan

Term Allocated Pension

Term Life under super

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Investment choices

A MySuper default, ready-made multi-manager options and single-asset options. The comparison page states that MySuper is for accumulation accounts and is unavailable to pension and defined benefit members.

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Some contracts provide a guaranteed rate or income; others have cash or market-linked features. There is no single investment menu or balanced option that represents the whole fund.

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Insurance

Insurance is available through super. Cover, eligibility and the insurance guide depend on the account or employer arrangement.

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Term Life is a separate insurance product in the fund. Holding a pension does not mean a member has that insurance.

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Retirement income

Pension and transition-to-retirement investment choices have their own return targets and fee documents. A pension return should not be compared directly with an accumulation return.

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Income, withdrawal rights and indexation depend on the original contract. Fixed terms may have break costs, while some lifetime pensions have no withdrawal value.

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Advice and support

Member support and advice services are part of the fund's offering. Ask which questions the service covers and whether a separate advice fee applies.

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This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

Fee details to check

Use the current Investment and Fees Guide for the precise product and investment option. An old LGIAsuper, Energy Super or Suncorp fee figure is not a current Brighter Super quote.

Sources1234

This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

Comparing investment performance

Match the investment option, account phase and reporting end date. For any history spanning the integration, read the explanation of the predecessor option.

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Do not present this fund as an available destination for a new accumulation account.

Guaranteed-income contracts and ordinary market investment options need different comparisons.

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Former names and account history

LGIAsuper: Brighter Super name launched in July 2022 following the Energy Super merger.

Energy Super: Merged with LGIAsuper in July 2021; Brighter Super branding followed in July 2022.

Suncorp Super: Business acquired in April 2022; successor fund transfer completed in June 2023.

Sources5

This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Brighter Super

Editorial assessment

Worth comparing if you want an industry fund with Queensland connections and the choice to move beyond its default portfolio.

What deserves a closer look

  • Confirm which legacy or employer terms apply before comparing insurance and administration costs.
  • MySuper and Balanced are separate options; a shared return target does not make their portfolios identical.

Sources12345

Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Challenger Retirement Fund

Editorial assessment

This entry is useful for someone trying to understand an existing policy. A modern super comparison can miss the promise built into a legacy pension. Start with the contract, its payment schedule and any surrender value before weighing a change.

Who this profile is for

  • Existing policyholders and pensioners reviewing their entitlements.
  • People helping a family member identify an older Challenger policy.

What deserves a closer look

  • The fund's closed status does not mean every product sold under the Challenger brand is closed.
  • A guarantee, if provided, has terms and a named provider. Check both in the contract.
  • Legacy pension exit rules and the treatment of benefits require a separate assessment; a fee table cannot establish whether leaving is worthwhile.

Sources123

Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

Before choosing between Brighter Super and Challenger Retirement Fund

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 Brighter Super profile · Read the full Challenger Retirement Fund profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Brighter Super

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. Welcome to Brighter Super
  2. Compare investment options
  3. PDS and guides
  4. Insurance
  5. LGIAsuper: name and account history

Sources for Challenger Retirement Fund

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. Challenger Retirement Fund product status and retirement strategy
  2. Challenger Retirement Fund trustee disclosures
  3. Challenger forms and product documents