Quarterly fund update, March 2025
By Kate Farrar, Chief Executive Officer, Brighter Super
26 March 2025
As Queensland and New South Wales recover from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our members and industry partners who have been part of the recovery effort.
From energy workers and emergency responders to local government teams, insurers and volunteers, your dedication has made an incredible difference. Thank you to everyone who has helped get our communities back on their feet.
Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this devastating event.
On the investment front, we are seeing increased market volatility as new U.S. economic policies take effect. The evolving situation around tariffs is creating uncertainty across many industries and sectors, leading to disruption in global markets.
In times like these, I encourage members to stay calm, avoid rushed decisions, and stay focused on long-term growth. Superannuation is a long-term investment that will inevitably experience both ups and downs along the way. You can read more about our diversified long-term investment approach in our recent article on
navigating market volatility.
Turning to our fund, this year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 60 years of Brighter Super. For six decades, we have proudly supported our members on their retirement journey, growing stronger together. Our commitment remains unwavering: delivering personalized service, reducing costs while driving strong long-term returns, and empowering our members to retire confidently.
Brighter returns
As global markets respond to the new US economic policies, I’m pleased to see our investment options performing strongly, effectively managing this period of volatility and delivering strong returns for our members.
Our Growth and Balanced options continue to lead the way, both ranking as the top-performing options in their respective SuperRatings indices over 7 years to 31 January 2025. This outstanding achievement highlights the strength of our long-term diversified investment strategy, allowing us to confidently navigate market shifts while driving sustainable growth for our members1.
Stay informed with our monthly investment updates.
See how we compare with other funds
Brighter fees
This year has started well for Brighter Super members, with yet another reduction in administration fees, reinforcing our commitment to helping you grow your retirement savings.
This is the third year in a row we’ve lowered administration fees. Since the completion of our mergers in 2022, Brighter Super has reduced total administration fees by 40%, staying true to our promise of being ‘brighter together’2.
Our fees are now lower than many of Australia’s leading funds4.
Learn more about our recent fee changes
See how we compare with other super funds
Link up and save with Partner Linking
Adding to our cost-effectiveness, our new Partner Linking feature allows two eligible members to link their accounts to further reduce fees, by sharing a combined administration fee cap of just $650 per financial year, with their spouse or partner.
By pooling your balances, the administration fee is calculated on the total balance across all investment options, excluding MySuper. This is offered by only a few super funds and means two eligible members can save even more on their super, maximising retirement savings
If the person you'd like to link with isn’t already a Brighter Super member, you can take advantage of our referral offer and invite them to join.
Discover how Partner Linking can help you save even more
Brighter Super members confident about retirement
We recently released key insights from Brighter Super and Investment Trends' 2024 Retirement Income Report, revealing a decline in Australians' confidence in achieving their ideal retirement lifestyle, with Queenslanders being the least confident nationally.
However, we are proud to report that Brighter Super members are defying this trend, showing higher levels of preparedness and satisfaction. This reflects the success of our ongoing efforts to close the preparedness gap through our award-winning member education and the support of over 40 dedicated super specialists who engage directly with members.
In addition, we have introduced new initiatives to enhance our members' retirement experience, including our new retirement income product, the Retire Easy Pension and boosted our Retirement Reward rate. We are also thrilled that our Pension product received the Canstar Outstanding Value Account-Based Pension Award for 2024, further validating our commitment to providing high-quality solutions for our members.
While challenges persist, particularly in regional Queensland, Brighter Super’s focus on member education and tailored retirement products is clearly making a positive impact, improving member confidence and preparedness for retirement.
Read more about the 2024 Retirement Income Report
Expanding our member education program
My team and I are proud to be delivering our biggest webinar and seminar program ever this year.
Our 2025 Webinar Series is designed to help you take control of your super and plan for a secure future. Our expert-led sessions provide valuable insights on growing your savings, investing wisely, and transitioning to retirement with confidence.
Based on member feedback, we've expanded our programme to offer shorter, more frequent webinars. It's easier than ever to access the information you need.
Find out more about our 2025 Webinar Series
We are also delighted to be hosting more in-person member seminars across Queensland this year, including Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Cairns, Sunshine Coast and Mackay.
Registrations for our Brisbane and Rockhampton seminars with retirement advocate David ‘Kochie’ Koch are now open. Visit brightersuper.com.au/seminars to book your place, and we encourage you to visit this page regularly as we add new dates throughout the year.
Launch of our first Reconciliation Action Plan
At the end of last year, Brighter Super published its first Reconciliation Action Plan, a significant step in our commitment to reconciliation and meaningful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I am pleased to report that we are already at the second of four phases in Reconciliation Australia’s framework, known as the Innovate phase where we focus on implementing change.
At Brighter Super, we believe in fostering inclusion, equity, and opportunity. Our Reconciliation Action Plan outlines clear actions to enhance cultural awareness, create employment pathways, support Indigenous-owned businesses, and contribute to financial literacy initiatives. These commitments are especially important as we support 17 First Nation Councils across Queensland.
We have already begun this journey, working with BlackCard to deliver cultural training and partnering with the First Nations Foundation to strengthen services. We have also been working with Kalkadoon, Waanyi and Quandamooka artist Kylie Hill, who has created a beautiful artwork reflecting our reconciliation commitment.
This plan is just the beginning. We look forward to working alongside our members, partners, and communities to drive lasting, positive change.
Read more about Brighter Super’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
- SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey, January 2025. For Accumulation accounts, the Growth option is ranked in the SR50 Growth (77-90) Index, and the Balanced option is ranked in the SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index. For Pension accounts, the Growth option is ranked in the SRP50 Growth (77-90) Index, and the Balanced option is ranked in the SRP50 Balanced (60-76) Index. 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 20 February 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.
- Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
- The 40% 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. This does not apply to members of the Suncorp Group Corporate Plan or Norfina Corporate Plan, who will continue to receive the administration fees negotiated by their employer.
- Brighter Super analysis conducted for 31 January 2025 of SuperRatings SMART Portal fee data, accessed on 18 March 2025. Analysis compares the Total Fee, based on a $50,000 super balance, and considers SuperRatings SR50 MySuper Index. Average industry fund considers industry funds with no joining restrictions. For more information on the SuperRatings research methodology visit superratings.com.au.
Brighter Super Trustee (ABN 94 085 088 484 AFS Licence No. 230511) ("Trustee") as trustee for Brighter Super (ABN 23 053 121 564) ("Fund"). Brighter Super may refer to the Trustee or the Fund as the context may be. Brighter Super products are issued by the Trustee on behalf of the Fund. The information contained is up to date at the time of publishing. Some of the information may change following its release. Any questions can be referred to Brighter Super by calling 1800 444 396, or by emailing info@brightersuper.com.au.
This article may contain general advice, which has been prepared without taking into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. As such, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice to your objectives, financial situation and needs before acting on the advice. You should also obtain and consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Financial Services Guide (FSG) before making any decision to acquire any product or contribute additional amounts to your Brighter Super account. A Target Market Determination (TMD) is a document that outlines the target market a product has been designed for. Find the PDSs, FSG and TMDs at brightersuper.com.au/pds-and-guides.
