“It just makes sense”: Why Gary and Adean Stumer linked their super

23 February 2026

When Gary and Adean Stumer talk about Brighter Super’s  feature, their advice to other couples is simple.

“Why wouldn’t you do it?” Gary says. “If you can keep more of your money invested for retirement, it just makes sense.” 

Brighter Super introduced Partner Linking to enable couples to link their eligible¹ accounts to combine their balances and benefit from a single $650 administration fee cap, instead of paying separate percentage-based administration fees on each account. That means more of their money stays invested for their future.

The initiative reflects Brighter Super’s broader focus on lowering costs and delivering value to members, ensuring more of their money is working toward better retirement outcomes. For the Stumers, that approach feels like a natural fit.

Building super as a partnership

Gary, who is 65, began working as a linesman in Queensland’s electricity industry in 1981 and joined the super fund as soon as he secured permanent employment.

“As soon as I could join, I did,” he says. “I couldn’t understand why some people waited.”

Over the years, Gary salary sacrificed additional contributions and made considered decisions about how his super was invested, including moving into a higher growth option when he believed it would deliver better long-term outcomes.

“I looked at the numbers and made the call,” he says. “Over time, that made a big difference.”

When government rules changed in the 1990s to allow spousal contributions, Gary began contributing to Adean’s super as well. Adean, now 58, had stepped away from paid work after they married and raised their children.

“We’ve always treated it as ours,” Adean says. “It wasn’t his super and my super - it was something we were building together.”

That shared approach paid dividends. When it came time for Gary to retire, he had built a substantial superannuation balance. The couple’s shared approach also laid the groundwork for their decision to link their accounts decades later.

Reducing fees, increasing opportunity

When Brighter Super made Partner Linking available, the couple saw it as a practical extension of what they had always done - looking for sensible ways to strengthen their financial position.

“Before linking, we each had our own cap,” Gary says. “When the option came in to combine it, it was an easy choice.”

For couples with balances over a certain threshold, Partner Linking can reduce total administration fees and keep more money invested in super. While the annual saving may be a few hundred dollars, the Stumers consider what that means over time.

“If you’ve got five years to go, that’s still money in your account,” Gary says. “If you’ve got 20 years, it can make a real difference. Every dollar that stays in super keeps working for you.”

For Gary, who officially retired in October 2024, staying engaged has always been key.

“When I first salary sacrificed, my take-home pay was only about $10 a week less,” he says. “I didn’t notice it day to day, but it added up. It’s the small decisions you make early on that really adds up over time.”

Since retiring, Gary says Brighter Super’s Retire Easy Pension has helped simplify how he manages his money. The Retire Easy Pension divides a member’s balance into short-, medium- and long-term buckets and pays a regular pension each month.

“I take the 5% (of the account balance) pension paid monthly.” Gary says. “Brighter Super resets it every July.’’

Enjoying the freedom they planned for

Today, the couple are enjoying the retirement they spent decades preparing for.

“We can travel when we want to,” Adean says.

Last year the Stumers spent six weeks overseas and they’ve just returned from a trip that included travelling the Great Ocean Road.

This year they plan to do more travel in and around Australia, including caravanning holidays, extended cruises, and trips to visit family.

For Gary, the message to other couples is straightforward.

“If you’re planning your future together and you’re eligible, look at linking your accounts,” he says.

“Why pay more than you need to? The more you keep in super, the better off you’ll be.’’

Learn about Partner Linking.