Brighter Super Adjusts Fees And Insurance Premiums
The Australian fund lowered investment costs for members while increasing average insurance premiums on 1 October 2026.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Investing
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Brighter Super implemented new investment fee structures and adjusted insurance costs across its fund options effective 1 October 2026. The changes come as the $38 billion fund continues to integrate following recent corporate mergers.
Why it matters
The fee reductions aim to pass on efficiency gains from recent mergers, while the premium increases reflect the rising cost of delivering insurance services. The fund uses age and occupational risk ratings to determine these individual adjustments.
Investment fees for the MySuper, Balanced, and Growth options were reduced to 0.50%, 0.55%, and 0.58% respectively. Simultaneously, average death and TPD premiums increased by 6%, while income protection premiums rose by 5.6%.
The players
Brighter Super
This Australian superannuation fund was formed through the merger of LGIAsuper and Energy Super, eventually acquiring Suncorp Super to reach 382,390 members.
The details
Brighter Super has launched two new indexed share investment options, which carry an investment fee of 0.08%. The fund also expanded terminal illness insurance accessibility to include diagnoses with a 24-month life expectancy and introduced a 60-day window for reinstating cancelled coverage.
Timeline
1 July 2022: The organization officially rebranded as Brighter Super.
30 June 2026: The fund reported $38 billion in total assets.
1 October 2026: New investment fees and insurance premiums took effect.
October 2026: Two new indexed share investment options were launched.
Market Dynamics
Brighter Super's reduction of its MySuper fee aligns with the industry-wide trend toward lower cost default products under the Australian government's MySuper product mandate. These structural shifts reflect an ongoing consolidation phase where merged entities leverage scale to reduce expense ratios.
Members will see lower management costs on most investment options, directly impacting their net returns over time. Conversely, individuals should review their annual benefit statements to account for the increased insurance premiums based on their specific age and occupation.
The takeaway
The adjustments illustrate the trade-offs often found in superannuation, where operational efficiencies from mergers allow for lower investment costs. Members should regularly evaluate their insurance levels against these premium changes to ensure their coverage remains cost-effective.
Further reading
Learn more about market trends in our Investing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Financial Standard.
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