Important information - please remember that the value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may not get back what you invest. It’s important to understand that pension transfers are a complex area and may not be suitable for everyone.
Many people only properly review their pensions when they want to take money out. At this point, they might have 40 years of savings spread across several schemes with different rules (and even different legislation) applying to them. It’s not always easy to make sense of everything at this stage, so getting help is a good idea. But what sort of help is needed?
You can choose to do much of the research yourself, including getting some free guidance or you can take personalised advice though this will have a charge. They both have their advantages, so to help you understand more about them, we’ve interviewed two specialists in our retirement service – Alastair and Charlie.
Alastair: GuidanceGuidance can mean different things to different people, so Alastair is keen to point out that when you choose guidance from Fidelity, you are given a lot of help from highly trained specialists.
Alastair says, “When I talk with a potential customer, I make sure I take the time to get to know them and their requirements. I then provide a general overview of the options available on the market and talk to them about the things they need to remember. Finally, if it’s relevant, we look at the services that Fidelity offers and how they can take advantage of them.”
When asked to pick out the key benefit of guidance, Alastair suggests that it provides “reassurance”. He explains, “Guidance helps you understand the various choices you have and prompts you on all the things you need to consider. We find that many customers feel much more confident about making their own decisions after a ‘guidance’ conversation. This includes making sure you know about some of the potential pitfalls, such as your annual allowance dropping from £60,000 to £10,000 once you take more than tax-free cash from your Drawdown pension…an important point if you are planning to continue contributing to your pension in the future.”
Alastair goes on to say “we can help clients with retirement planning as well as pension drawdown, so we can be a one-stop shop if customers are looking for a broader view”.
Charlie: AdviceWith pension advice, you get a much more comprehensive service, with a personal recommendation at the end of the process. This is designed to help you make the best decisions possible, whether you are thinking about transferring pensions or taking money out of them. Charlie says, “This recommendation takes into account everything about your current position, plans and pension accounts - and it can take around 30 hours of work from the retirement team before the final recommendation is completed.“
He adds, “This is why advice is very popular with those who have enough knowledge to make their own choices but value having a second opinion from a specialist before making such a significant decision.
Of course, advice is also needed by people who just don’t know where to start and want someone to walk them through it all.”
There are some big decisions to make at retirement. Fidelity’s retirement specialists are on hand to help. You can call us on 0800 860 0048. We’re open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
You may also want to contact the Government’s free and impartial Pension Wise guidance service which can help you understand your options at retirement. You can access their guidance online at moneyhelper.org.uk or over the phone on 0800 011 3797.
Important information - the minimum age you can normally access your pension savings is currently 55 (57 in 2028). Tax treatment depends on personal circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. It’s important to understand that pension transfers are a complex area and may not be suitable for everyone. Before going ahead with a pension transfer, we strongly recommend that you undertake a full comparison of the benefits, charges and features offered. To find out what else you should consider before transferring, please read our transfer factsheet. If you are in any doubt whether or not a pension transfer is suitable for your circumstances we strongly recommend that you seek advice from Fidelity’s retirement service or an authorised financial adviser of your choice.
Take control of your future by bringing your pensions together with Fidelity’s award-winning SIPP.
Looking to take tax-free cash from your pension? Here are some important things to consider.
Free drawdown access to your pension with our award-winning SIPP. Normal SIPP and fund fees apply.
These terms and conditions (together with any relevant documents referred to in them) set out the terms relating to the Offer.
The promoter of this Offer is FIL Retirement Services Limited, St Cross House, St Cross Business Park, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 5BP (“Fidelity’s retirement advice service ”).
This Offer is available when you agree to take either retirement advice or pension transfer advice for the first time from Fidelity’s retirement advice service between 26 November 2018 and 28 February 2019 (“Offer Period”).
Please note that regrettably we are unable to offer Fidelity’s retirement advice services to US or Canadian citizens.
Important Information
Please remember, that the value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. You cannot normally access your pension savings until age 55. In addition, the value of any tax benefits will depend on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change. Pension and retirement planning can be complex, so if you are unsure about the suitability of a pension investment, retirement service or any action you need to take, please contact Fidelity’s retirement service, or, if you prefer, speak to an authorised financial adviser of your choice.
