Celebrating 60 years of Brighter Super
12 August 2025
This year, Brighter Super proudly celebrates 60 years of service – a major milestone for a fund shaped by its people, its purpose and a strong focus on supporting members at every stage of life. Since 1965, we’ve grown, adapted and thrived, and always with our members at the centre of everything we do.
Today, Brighter Super serves members nationally and is the fourth-largest non-government financial institution in Queensland. We manage more than $35 billion in retirement savings for over 280,000 members across the state and beyond (as at 30 July 2025). As a 100% member-owned fund, every decision we make is for the benefit of our members, not shareholders.
Our story brings together the legacy of three respected Queensland funds – LGIAsuper, Energy Super and Suncorp Super – each with decades of experience that laid the foundations for the strong, member-first fund we are today. Their mergers in 2021 and 2023 created a single, stronger fund that now supports members across every sector and corner of the community.
Together, we’ve created a stronger, more dynamic fund – grounded in trusted service, deep community roots and a bold vision to help members retire with confidence, knowing we’re right by their side.
A legacy of service since 1965
Brighter Super's journey began in February 1965, when the Local Government Superannuation Scheme in Queensland was formally established through an Act of Parliament. With strong bipartisan support and the backing of the Local Government Association of Queensland, Local Government Managers Association and the Services Union, the fund began with a clear mission – to support local government workers and their families in securing a dignified retirement.
In the decades that followed, LGsuper evolved and expanded its reach. In 2011, it merged with City Super, the fund for Brisbane City Council employees, and in 2016, it rebranded as LGIAsuper.
Meanwhile, the Queensland electricity sector had established its own superannuation fund in 1976, the QLD Electricity Supply Industry Superannuation Scheme (QESISB). This fund evolved into Energy Super through a series of mergers, including the integration of SPEC Super in 2011.
Suncorp’s superannuation business began in 1994. Over the next two decades, 12 super funds were consolidated to form Suncorp Super.
The coming together of these three funds was a defining chapter, not just for Brighter Super, but for the Australian superannuation industry. The successful integration of LGIAsuper and Energy Super in July 2021, followed by the acquisition of Suncorp Super in April 2022, created a new type of fund – one that combines public sector strength, industry insight and retail innovation.
In July 2022, the Brighter Super name and brand were officially launched, uniting all members under one shared identity.
Our journey continued in June 2023 with the successor fund transfer of Suncorp Super (following our 2022 acquisition), and in October 2024, Brighter Super became the Trustee of the Zurich Insurance-only Superannuation Fund.
From Queensland roots to national growth
Brighter Super is proudly Queensland-based. We’ve been part of the social and economic fabric of this state for six decades – supporting workers, communities and industries that keep Queensland moving. We’ve now evolved into a national fund. Through our mergers and acquisitions from 2021 to 2024, we've welcomed thousands of new members from across Australia. Today we manage the retirement savings for over 280,000 members.
We have a team of super specialists with ‘boots on the ground’, providing personal, face-to-face support where it matters most. At workplaces and local communities, we’re right by your side – helping you navigate your super, understand your options and plan for a confident retirement.
For the many members who work in financial services, local government and energy sectors – the people who keep the lights on, maintain our towns and support our communities – Brighter Super provides practical, personal support. We’re proud to stand beside them, offering trusted advice and guidance to help build a confident financial future.
But our reach doesn’t end there. We are an open fund that welcomes members from all sectors, industries and communities across Australia. From electricians to early educators, council workers to consultants – Brighter Super is here for everyone.
A member-first model
From its inception, Brighter Super has been proudly 100% member-owned. As a not-for-profit fund, it operates without shareholders, ensuring that profits are reinvested into better services, lower fees and stronger long-term returns for members.
This model has shaped Brighter Super’s identity. Personal service isn’t just a value; it’s a way of doing business. While our roots are in Queensland, our team of super specialists is expanding its reach – providing personalised, face-to-face and virtual support to members in workplaces and communities
Our ‘boots on the ground’ approach has helped foster genuine, meaningful connections with members. Whether it's a Super or Retirement Health Check, educational event, or personalised advice from one of our financial advisers, Brighter Super’s reach is both deep and wide.
A bold strategy to unite and grow
During each merger, we have deliberately worked to preserve the strengths of our foundation funds.
LGIAsuper, Energy Super and Suncorp Super each had strong roots in their industries and communities. Bringing them together was a carefully considered strategy to combine people, platforms and philosophies with the goal of delivering better outcomes for all members.
This union brings together the trust of the public sector, the dynamism of the energy industry and the reach of retail distribution to form a fund that is agile, inclusive and genuinely member-first.
The result is a fund unlike any other, and one that defies traditional industry labels. We can’t be labelled as an industry fund or a retail fund – instead, we’re a fund for members.
Brighter Super draws on the best of public, industry and retail fund thinking to shape something new: a member-owned super fund built on connection, confidence and care.
A transformation driven by purpose
That bold strategy wasn’t just about structure – it laid the foundation for meaningful transformation, centred on helping members retire with confidence.
Brighter Super’s journey of renewal has been guided by one clear principle: building personal connections that support every step toward retirement. This purpose shapes everything we do, from the way we invest in local communities to how we deliver advice, education and everyday support.
Over the last five years, we have rebuilt our capabilities, transformed our services and improved our value proposition. But we’ve also stayed true to our roots – prioritising people, relationships and trusted advice.
We have delivered significant improvements in digital access, member education and service delivery. Our member education program is now industry-leading, and we are delivering seminars, webinars and super health check appointments with members across the state. Our in-person, ‘boots on the ground’ service model is one of the things members value most.
Delivering more, for less
Our commitment to members is clear: deliver strong long-term returns, keep fees low and provide exceptional service.
Since the completion of the mergers in 2022, Brighter Super has delivered an average of 40% in administration fee reductions across the membership1. Former Suncorp Super members have seen fees drop by as much as 77%, with annual fee caps reduced from $5,000 to $6502.
Earlier this year, Brighter Super’s default MySuper option was ranked among the top five lowest-fee industry funds in the SuperRatings SR50 Index3.
We also have a strong and consistent track record of value. Brighter Super has received a SuperRatings Platinum rating for both MyChoice (Accumulation) and Pension every year for the past 17 years4. This rating recognises us as a ‘best value for money’ fund.
Brighter Super’s long-term diversified investment strategy enables us to confidently navigate global market ups and downs, while driving sustainable growth for our members.
According to SuperRatings’ latest figures (June 2025)5, all our diversified options for Accumulation and Pension accounts – except for the defensive Secure option – were ranked in the top quartile for their respective categories for 3 years ended 30 June 2025.
Our Growth option also retained its #1 ranking in both the Growth SR50 Index (Accumulation) and the SRP50 Growth Index (Pension) for 7 years to 30 June 2025.
For financial year 2024/25, these diversified options delivered double-digit returns6:
- Accumulation accounts: Growth (11.65%), Balanced (10.54%), MySuper (10.89%).
- Pension accounts: Growth (12.82%), Balanced (11.49%), Conservative Balanced (10.09%).
With lower fees, better service and a commitment to sustainable growth, Brighter Super continues to put members first, where they belong.
Innovating in retirement
While delivering value during your working years is vital, retirement is where confidence truly counts.
Helping members retire confidently means going beyond superannuation accumulation – it means delivering smart, accessible solutions that make retirement planning and management easier.
As retirement needs evolve, Brighter Super has introduced a range of initiatives designed to make planning for and living in retirement easier and more rewarding. Retire Easy Pension, our new retirement income service, has been designed to give members confidence, convenience and control at every stage of retirement.
Our Retirement Reward is another way we give back to members. Eligible members who move from a Brighter Super Accumulation or Transition to Retirement Pension account to a Brighter Super Pension account can receive a potential reward ranging from $1,600 to $16,0007. In 2024/25, we paid out nearly $2 million in Retirement Rewards to members.
We’re proud that our Pension product was awarded the Canstar Outstanding Value Account-Based Pension Award for 2024 – recognition of our commitment to quality, value and innovation.
We’ve also made it easier for members to manage their accounts. Pension applications can now be completed online, withdrawal payments are faster than ever, and death benefit claims have been streamlined, with some processed in as little as seven days.
At Brighter Super, we’re doing retirement differently – and doing it better.
Investing in Queensland’s future
Supporting our members means more than just super, it also means backing the communities where many of our members live and work. That’s why Brighter Super is investing in Queensland – supporting local jobs, infrastructure and industries that drive long-term economic growth.
In 2024, we announced a further $500 million investment in Queensland, building on the
$1 billion we already hold in assets across the state. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to be right by our members’ sides – not just in retirement, but in the communities that our members help shape every day.
Our Queensland Investment Strategy is focused on generating strong returns while supporting job creation and economic development, particularly as the state prepares to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
Investing in Queensland is not only good for the state, but also for our members.
Thank you to our members
As we celebrate 60 years of service, we look back with pride and forward with purpose.
Brighter Super has grown into a significant financial institution – one that’s redefining what a super fund can be by combining the strengths of industry, public and retail sectors. At the heart of it all is our commitment to personal connections, which continue to set us apart.
None of this would be possible without the trust and support of our members, employers, partners and dedicated staff. For six decades, you’ve relied on us to help safeguard your financial future, and we’re truly grateful for that trust.
To all our members, thank you for being part of our story.
A brighter future ahead
As we look to the years ahead, our commitment to members remains as strong as ever. Brighter Super is more than a fund, we’re a partner in your future, right by your side every step of the way.
We help members retire with confidence. We put people first. We invest in Queensland. And we’re here, on the ground and in your corner, offering the advice and guidance you need to plan for the future you deserve.
Here’s to 60 years of heritage, connection and confidence – and to many more ahead.
We’ll be right by your side, building a brighter tomorrow, together.
- The fee reductions represent the overall reduction in administration fees charged across the membership of the Fund. This includes actual reductions over the past three years and the forecasted impact of fee changes from 1 January 2025. Individuals may see different levels of fee changes, and in some instances, fee increases, dependent on account balance, products, and investment options.
- The fee reductions represent the overall reduction in administration fees charged across former SPSL (Suncorp Super) members of the Fund from 31 May 2023 to 1 June 2025. Individuals may see different levels of fee changes, and in some instances, fee increases, dependent on account balance, products, and investment options.
- Brighter Super analysis conducted for 31 January 2025 of SuperRatings data in the SMART portal based on Data Modules (Fees), accessed on 3 February 2025. Data is subject to change. Analysis compares the Cost-of-Product and Total Admin Fee, based on a $50,000 super balance, and considers SuperRatings Rated MySuper Options offered by Industry funds only. For more information on the SuperRatings research methodology visit superratings.com.au. Awards and ratings are only one factor to be taken into account when deciding whether to invest.
- The rating is issued by SuperRatings Pty Ltd ABN 95 100 192 283 (SuperRatings) a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No.1309956) of Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561, AFSL No. 421445. Ratings are general advice only and have been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider your personal circumstances, read the product disclosure statement and seek independent financial advice before investing. The rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any product. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Ratings are subject to change without notice and SuperRatings assumes no obligation to update. SuperRatings use proprietary criteria to determine awards and ratings and may receive a fee for the use of its ratings and awards. Visit superratings.com.au for ratings information. © 2024 SuperRatings. All rights reserved.
- SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey, June 2025. Refer to superratings.com.au for further information about these results. The information is current as at the date of the SuperRatings Survey (released on 21 July 2025). Investment returns are only one factor to be considered when deciding whether to invest. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
- Returns are based on daily unit pricing valuations and are net of external investment manager fees, net of taxes and gross of all Brighter Super administration fees for all performance periods.
- This is based on Brighter Super's financial year 2025/26 Retirement Reward Rate of 0.8% of growth assets, calculated on the 1 July 2025 transfer balance cap of $2 million. A Retirement Reward is not payable on any amount higher than transfer balance cap, and eligibility criteria apply. Please see 'Who is eligible' on our website at com.au/retirement-reward.
The transfer balance cap is subject to change per financial year. For additional information, refer to the Australian Taxation Office website at https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/key-superannuation-rates-and-thresholds/transfer-balance-cap.
