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BT 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

BT

Retail platform

BT offers Panorama Super and the self-directed BT Super Invest product. These are investment platforms with costs determined partly by what the member holds.

Membership

BT Super Invest is currently limited to existing Westpac customers aged at least 18 in Australia. Panorama has its own application arrangements.

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.

Choose an investment option to see the figures

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.

How the products differ

BT and Challenger Retirement Fund: product features and conditions
What to compareBTChallenger Retirement Fund
Membership and access

BT Super Invest is currently limited to existing Westpac customers aged at least 18 in Australia. Panorama has its own application arrangements.

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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

Panorama Super and BT Super Invest.

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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

Shares, ETFs, managed funds, managed portfolios and other permitted investments, depending on the selected product and menu.

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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

Check the insurance offering in the precise platform PDS; it should not be inferred from a former BT employer account.

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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

Super and pension account types are available. Minimum transaction-account balances differ by account phase.

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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

Panorama supports adviser use; Super Invest is marketed to self-directed investors.

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

Fee details to check

Super Invest lists $540 a year plus a balance-based administration charge, then investment and transaction costs. Its quoted administration fee is not a total annual cost.

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

Comparing investment performance

There is no single BT platform return. Compare the selected portfolio after platform, investment, transaction and advice costs.

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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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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on BT

Editorial assessment

Most relevant when a person has a reason to use specific investments and will use the platform's extra control.

What deserves a closer look

  • Fixed charges and required cash holdings can weigh heavily on smaller balances.
  • Do not apply the former BT Super MySuper history or pricing to Panorama or Super Invest.

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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.

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

Before choosing between BT 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 BT profile · Read the full Challenger Retirement Fund profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for BT

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

  1. BT Super Invest current eligibility and costs
  2. Panorama disclosure
  3. Annual reports

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