Look beyond the default options if you want to start taking income from your pension
Regulators have come up with four ready-made plans for people who want to start taking an income from their pension fund – but you should still seek help before you decide
New regulations on income-drawdown plans should make it easier for savers to make sensible decisions on retirement. The rules, which come into effect on 1 February, are primarily aimed at savers who don’t take financial advice before opting for a drawdown scheme, even though the schemes require some challenging investment decisions.
Income drawdown plans have become the automatic choice for many savers as they reach retirement and need to begin taking an income from their pension fund. But unlike annuities, which were once the most common way to convert savings into income, they don’t pay a guaranteed income for life. Savers must manage their pension funds to keep generating the income they require while ensuring there is enough cash to last them through their retirement.
Regulators have long been concerned that more than a third of savers taking out drawdown plans do so without consulting a financial adviser. Their solution is to order drawdown providers to offer ready-made investment deals to savers on retirement, with four separate “investment pathways” aimed at people in the most common situations.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
How long to retirement?
Different investment solutions will be appropriate for each of the four groups: those who have no plans to touch their money for at least five years; those who intend to start taking an income within five years; those who expect to take all of their money within five years; and those who plan to use their drawdown fund to buy an annuity within five years.
Regulators have asked providers to design default investment strategies for each group, so that more savers end up with drawdown investments that are well-suited to their circumstances. In practice, product providers will have freedom to select the investment products they believe are right for each group, but they are likely to take a similar approach.
For example, savers with no plans to draw down income for five years or more will largely be offered balanced investment funds, providing exposure to the stockmarket that offers the potential for further capital growth, as well as lower-risk assets to provide some caution. Savers planning to begin drawing down income within five years might also be offered a balanced investment product, but with a more cautious strategy that is less exposed to the stockmarket.
By contrast, savers expecting to withdraw all their cash within five years are likely to need an investment fund with a great deal of downside protection. That might mean moving the fund largely into cash. Those expecting to buy an annuity might be offered a fund invested in gilts, since the performance of UK government bonds is closely linked to annuity rates.
Look beyond these choices
However, while these default strategies should mean fewer savers end up invested in inappropriate assets, they don’t provide any help with other crucial drawdown questions. For example, savers will still need to think carefully about how much money they can afford to take out of their plans on a regular basis, and how much of their 25% tax-free lump sum they should take upfront. Tax planning will be another important consideration for many people.
The upshot, then, is that the vast majority of drawdown savers will be better off taking independent financial advice on their retirement options, rather than depending on the new pathways.
Bear in mind too that you do not have to accept the default investment solutions proposed by your drawdown provider, even if you fit into one of the four standard groups. Many providers will also offer more complex strategies, or you are free to make your own decisions.
Sign up to Money Morning
Our team, led by award winning editors, is dedicated to delivering you the top news, analysis, and guides to help you manage your money, grow your investments and build wealth.
David Prosser is a regular MoneyWeek columnist, writing on small business and entrepreneurship, as well as pensions and other forms of tax-efficient savings and investments. David has been a financial journalist for almost 30 years, specialising initially in personal finance, and then in broader business coverage. He has worked for national newspaper groups including The Financial Times, The Guardian and Observer, Express Newspapers and, most recently, The Independent, where he served for more than three years as business editor.
-
Bitcoin price one of the most-asked questions on Alexa - here's how to buy the cryptocurrency
According to figures from Amazon, which cover September 2023 to November 2024, pop star Taylor Swift and Bitcoin were named among the most popular Alexa queries of 2024
By Chris Newlands Published
-
Investing for children this Christmas – five ideas
It might not come with a shiny ribbon, but an investment fund could be the gift that keeps on giving. We share five ideas if you are investing for children this Christmas.
By Katie Williams Published
-
Parents face £1,000 'nanny tax' – how to afford it
Hiring a nanny is about to become even more of an expensive hassle for families, especially those in London. Here's how to cut costs
By Ruth Jackson-Kirby Published
-
Is it cheaper to be a sole trader?
It might be cheaper to be a sole trader due to changes to the tax system
By David Prosser Published
-
Should you switch your pension fund?
Many pension fund options are poor performers, thanks partly to high charges. Is it worth switching?
By David Prosser Last updated
-
The best fintech apps on the market
From digital banking to investment platforms, here are the top fintech apps on the market right now, according to David C. Stevenson
By David C. Stevenson Published
-
What pension providers don't tell you about your retirement money
Check the small print from your pension provider or risk losing thousands.
By Merryn Somerset Webb Published
-
Britain’s stifling tax burden
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement will see the tax burden rise in each of the next 5 years.
By Emily Hohler Published
-
Brace for a year of tax rises
The government is strapped for cash, so prepare for tax rises. But it’s unlikely to be able to squeeze much more out of us.
By Matthew Lynn Published
-
Lock in high yields on savings, before they disappear
As interest rates peak, time to lock in high yields on your savings, while they are still available.
By Ruth Jackson-Kirby Published