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Challenger Retirement Fund vs PSSap

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.

PSSap

Restricted public sector fund

PSSap is CSC's accumulation fund for eligible current and former Australian Government employees.

Membership

Joining normally requires eligible government employment. After 12 continuous months in eligible employment, a member can receive contributions from other employers. Some CSS and PSS members can open a personal accumulation account, subject to eligibility.

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 optionPSSap MySuper
Return basisChoose an optionMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member
3-year return, per yearChoose an option9.74%
5-year return, per yearChoose an option6.77%
7-year return, per yearChoose an option7.10%
10-year return, per yearChoose an option7.57%
APRA strategic growth allocationChoose an option69.06%
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000Choose an option$455 a year (0.91%)
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)Choose an option$75 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 PSSap: product features and conditions
What to compareChallenger Retirement FundPSSap
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.

Sources123

Joining normally requires eligible government employment. After 12 continuous months in eligible employment, a member can receive contributions from other employers. Some CSS and PSS members can open a personal accumulation account, subject to eligibility.

Sources123
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

Sources123

Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan. CSCri retirement accounts use the same fund ABN but have separate terms.

PSSap employer-sponsored membership

PSSap personal accumulation

CSCri retirement income

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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.

Sources123

PSSap MySuper Balanced

Members can choose among four investment options. The MySuper comparison applies to Balanced; it does not describe every PSSap account.

Sources123
Insurance

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

Sources123

lifePLUS can provide death, total and permanent disability and income protection cover. Automatic cover depends on eligibility.

Sources123
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.

Sources123

CSCri is a separate retirement income product. Its fees and tax treatment need a separate comparison.

Sources123
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.

Sources123

Use the same balance, investment risk and reporting date on both sides.

Sources123

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.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on PSSap

Editorial assessment

PSSap deserves a place on an eligible employee's shortlist, especially when assessing their employment package. Check the contribution and insurance arrangements attached to the job before comparing funds on fees alone.

Who might put it on their shortlist

  • Eligible government employees assessing an accumulation account.
  • Former eligible employees who want to keep contributing after changing employers.

What deserves a closer look

  • PSSap and PSS are different schemes. A decision involving a PSS defined benefit needs a separate benefit assessment.
  • Public sector employment does not automatically make every person eligible; participating-employer rules matter.

Sources123

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 PSSap

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 PSSap 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 PSSap

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

  1. CSC PSSap product overview
  2. CSC membership eligibility
  3. CSC fund history and identifiers