CEO Update, August 2025

By Kate Farrar, Chief Executive Officer, Brighter Super

12 August 2025

In a time of global economic uncertainty, Brighter Super continues to grow and deliver positive outcomes for our members. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together.

In recent months, we’ve achieved strong investment returns, made further investments in Queensland’s future, and enhanced our online tools to help you stay in control of your super. We’ve also expanded access to quality financial advice – all part of our commitment to helping you retire with confidence.

Strong end to the financial year

Our investment performance has been a key highlight in recent months, despite ongoing global market volatility. Brighter Super’s investment options have continued to deliver strong returns, including MySuper (our default option for Accumulation accounts).

For the 12 months to 30 June 2025, eight of our Accumulation and Pension diversified options returned more than 10%, reflecting the strength and resilience of our long-term investment strategy. This strong performance was recognised in SuperRatings’ June 2025 survey, which ranked our Growth, Balanced and MySuper options among the top performers across multiple time periods¹.

I’m particularly pleased to see our Growth option retain its #1 ranking in both the Growth SR50 Index (Accumulation) and the SRP50 Growth Index (Pension) for 7 years to 30 June 2025. Our default MySuper option was ranked 6th in the SR50 MySuper Index, and 1st among industry funds, for 3 years to June 2025¹.

To see full performance details and our insights into global market trends, read our latest investment update to 30 June 2025.

Join us for our 2024/25 Investment Wrap webinar

Join us online on Tuesday 19 August at 6.00 pm AEST for our 2024/25 Investment Wrap webinar. Members and guests are warmly invited to attend this online event.

The session will be hosted by Chief Investment Officer Mark Rider and retirement advocate David Koch.

Register to attend

Staying the course through market ups and downs

In February 2025, global trade tariff tensions triggered the most significant market downturn of last financial year. I was pleased to see that all our diversified investment options had fully recovered by the end of May.

Short-term market fluctuations are a normal part of investing. That’s why we focus on long-term growth and maintain broad diversification across asset classes, regions and investment managers. This approach enables us to navigate periods of volatility, helping to protect your retirement savings through changing market conditions.

Events like the recent downturn highlight the importance of staying invested. Australia’s super system is designed for the long term, and history shows that markets typically recover from short-term shocks.

Our message to members remains clear: stay calm and stay focused on your long-term goals, and trust in a strategy built to navigate uncertainty and deliver results over time.

You can see how your super investments are performing over time using our interactive performance graph.

Celebrating 60 years of supporting our members

This year, we’re proud to celebrate a significant milestone – Brighter Super’s 60th anniversary of helping members build a brighter financial future. We’ve been marking the occasion at meetings and events, celebrating with members, partners and stakeholders who’ve been part of our journey.

Since our beginnings in 1965, we’ve stayed committed to delivering strong long-term investment performance, competitive fees, and personal service to help our members retire with confidence. That commitment remains just as strong today.

Over six decades, we’ve grown and adapted to meet the changing needs of our members, all while staying true to our values of integrity, trust and service. Today, we’re proud to support over 280,000 members and manage more than $35 billion in retirement savings (as at 30 June 2025).

We’ve always been a 100% member-owned, not-for-profit fund – and that means every decision we make is with your best interests in mind. Our goal has never changed: to support your financial wellbeing, both now and into retirement.

To our members, employers, partners and dedicated employees – thank you. Your support has helped shape Brighter Super into the strong, member-focused fund we are today.

To learn more about our history and achievements, read our article celebrating Brighter Super's 60th anniversary.

Investing in Queensland innovation and agriculture

Brighter Super announced its Queensland Investment Strategy in May 2024, pledging to invest a further $500 million in Queensland assets on top of the $1 billion the fund already holds in assets in the state. Through this strategy, we are continuing to invest in Queensland’s future, aiming to drive sustainable growth and create lasting positive outcomes for Brighter Super members and their communities.

We have already made three major commitments under the strategy:

• $50 million partnership with Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) to support local startups and innovation-supporting programs.
• $75 million investment in Queensland agriculture and water assets, managed by Riparian Capital Partners, supporting regional producers, agribusinesses, and infrastructure across the state.
• $100 million partnership with global investment firm Barings to invest in Queensland real estate.

By backing innovation and agriculture, we’re helping strengthen Queensland’s economy while aiming to deliver strong, sustainable returns for our members.

New advice partnership to support more members

Brighter Super has launched a new advice referral program to help make quality advice more accessible, especially for those needing more tailored or complex support.

We’re pleased to welcome Financial Advice Matters as our foundation partner in this new advice referral program.

Financial Advice Matters is a Queensland-based firm and part of Centrepoint Alliance. Its expertise complements our broader range of advice services available to members. Our in-house team of financial advisers remain committed to helping members with their super and retirement planning.

In addition to this partnership, we continue to support more than 1,500 independent financial advisers and invest in tools and services that help advisers deliver quality outcomes for members.

This expanded focus on advice builds on recent recognition of Brighter Super’s growing capability in advice services:

• Winner – 2025 SuperRatings Member Education Award.
• Finalist – 2025 Chant West Best Fund: Advice Services.
• Finalist – 2025 SuperRatings Adviser Servicing of the Year.

Improvements to Member Online

Listening to member feedback helps us enhance our services and deliver a better experience for all members. Over the past few months, we’ve introduced a range of new features in Member Online, all designed to make it easier and more convenient to manage your super.

Here’s what you can now do:

• Apply for a Pension account online.
• Submit non-lapsing binding nominations online.
• Claim tax deductions for personal contributions digitally.
• Apply for early access to your super under financial hardship.

We’re committed to making it easier and more secure for you to manage your super, and we’ll continue improving Member Online to meet your needs.

Log in to Member Online to explore the new features

Super changes for 2025/26 – what to expect

The new financial year brought some important changes to superannuation rules – many of which are great news for members.

From 1 July 2025, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate – the compulsory contributions your employer makes to your super – increased from 11.5% to 12%. That means more going into your account with every pay, helping to build your long-term retirement savings.

There’s also a positive change for parents. From 1 July 2025, eligible parents will receive a 12% super contribution from the ATO on government-funded Paid Parental Leave. This is a welcome step toward improving retirement outcomes for those who take time out of the workforce to care for family.

Other changes include increased contribution opportunities for members with higher super balances, and updated income thresholds for the government co-contribution – helping more low- and middle-income earners access this benefit.

These are excellent changes to super that can benefit members of all ages and balance sizes – and we’re here to help you make the most of them.

Get more detail on these changes

Retirement Reward proving popular with members

Brighter Super’s Retirement Reward has quickly become a popular benefit among members transitioning into retirement.

This one-off bonus – ranging from $1,600 to $16,000 depending on your balance – is available to eligible members who move from an Accumulation or Transition to Retirement Pension account into a Brighter Super Pension account.

I’m pleased to report that 2,635 members received the Retirement Reward in 2024/25, with more than $6.98 million paid out. That’s over three times the amount paid in 2023/24, and I’m delighted to see so many of our members benefiting from this initiative.

Learn more about the Retirement Reward

More couples are benefiting from Partner Linking

Since launching in January 2025, Partner Linking has helped more Brighter Super members reduce fees and keep more of their money invested for retirement. It’s been great to see more members signing up to take advantage of this fee-saving feature.

Partner Linking allows eligible couples to combine their account balances (excluding MySuper amounts) for administration fee purposes. This can reduce the percentage-based fees charged across both accounts, with a combined annual cap of $650.

Already, over 500 couples have linked their Brighter Super accounts, which has helped them reduce fees and keep more money working toward their retirement goals.

Access the Partner Linking Form

Thank you

Thank you to all our members for being part of Brighter Super.

Superannuation is one of the most important long-term investments many people will make. It’s a privilege to help support your retirement journey.

Whether you’re just starting out, building your balance, or preparing for retirement, your super plays a vital role in shaping your financial future. This past year has shown how a strong, steady approach can make a real difference.

As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we look forward to continuing the journey with you – helping you grow your super and prepare for the retirement you deserve.

Thank you for your continued trust and support.