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Challenger Retirement Fund vs Prime Super

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

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.

Prime Super

Industry fund

Prime Super is an independent fund with rural and regional roots. Its members work across agriculture, health, education, aged care, recruitment and other industries.

Membership

Serves members across several industries. Check the joining criteria and any employer-specific insurance arrangements in the current member guide.

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
MeasureChoose an investment optionMySuper
Return basisChoose an optionMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member
3-year return, per yearChoose an option8.49%
5-year return, per yearChoose an option5.59%
7-year return, per yearChoose an option6.35%
10-year return, per yearChoose an option7.00%
APRA strategic growth allocationChoose an option75.75%
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000Choose an option$505 a year (1.01%)
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)Choose an option$235 a year
2026 performance testChoose an optionPass
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

Challenger Retirement Fund and Prime Super: product features and conditions
What to compareChallenger Retirement FundPrime Super
Membership and access

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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Serves members across several industries. Check the joining criteria and any employer-specific insurance arrangements in the current member guide.

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Accounts and products

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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Superannuation and retirement income products.

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Investment choices

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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Members can choose a mix of investment options or use the MySuper default. The menu includes diversified choices and sector options such as Australian shares, international shares, property and cash.

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Insurance

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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The member guide describes insurance choices. Use the cover available under your employer or personal membership arrangement when comparing benefits.

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Retirement income

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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Income Stream accounts are available. The investment option corresponding to MySuper is called Balanced for pension accounts, so comparisons must use the correct account phase.

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Comparing investment performance

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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Prime publishes returns by option and period. Its current page refers to periods ending 30 June 2026; any ranking needs the same dates, peer group and fee basis on both sides.

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Advice and support

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

The fund has superannuation specialists and a book-a-chat service. Confirm whether you are receiving general guidance or personal advice, and the fee for any detailed plan.

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Fee details to check

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

Use the member guide and each option's current fee disclosure. Investment costs vary with the chosen portfolio, and insurance is a separate comparison.

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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.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Prime Super

Editorial assessment

Worth researching for someone who values a fund with experience in rural work and care industries, particularly when its member support is useful to them.

What deserves a closer look

  • Industry familiarity does not establish whether the fees or insurance suit an individual.
  • Do not substitute a pension Balanced return for an accumulation MySuper return.

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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 Challenger Retirement Fund and Prime Super

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

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

Sources for Prime Super

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

  1. About Prime Super
  2. Investments
  3. Member guide
  4. MySuper option