One size doesn’t fit all. With personalised pension advice, you can create a retirement plan that’s tailored to your circumstances and your retirement goals
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Start with a free no-obligation chat to see if one of the Oxford-based advisers can help
Getting advice on your pension can help you work towards financial security in your retirement. From setting up new pensions to moving your investments around, the Aviva Financial Advice team can help you work towards your goals.
If you have at least £150,000 in pension and investment savings, an adviser will be able to help you with all your options. Whether it’s the in-the-now things like changing your investment strategies, or the later-in-life things like retirement options, Aviva Financial Advisers have you covered. It doesn’t even matter who your pension policies are with.
It's important to remember the value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than has been paid in.
Investment advice in Oxford
Investment advice can also help with both your short-term and long-term goals. If you’ve got something in mind that you want to save for, or you want to try and maximise your investment returns, advice could be for you. Aviva Financial Advice can help you with a range of different products, such as cash savings or stocks and shares ISAs. You’ll build a personalised portfolio with them to perfectly match your needs.
With an adviser by your side, you can work toward securing your financial future more confidently.
Why should I get financial advice?
Tailored plan
Your adviser will create a personalised plan just for you, designed around your current situation and your retirement goals.
Set your level of risk
All investments entail some risk, but how much to take on is a personal thing. You can talk through exactly how much risk you’re comfortable with before your investment plan is designed.
A 360-degree view of your pensions
The savvy move might be to combine your pensions. Your adviser will make sure you have the understanding to make an informed decision.
Why Aviva Financial Advice?
The fees are simple and clear. You’ll know exactly how much you’ll pay with no shocks and surprises along the way.
You can chat with an adviser online, over the phone, or in person – whichever way works best for you.
Your adviser will tailor your investment needs –they will understand your attitude to investment risk and the goals and dreams you have for your retirement before they put your plan together.
The advisers are salaried, not paid on commission – the only thing they care about is delivering the best quality advice.
With the ongoing advice service, you can keep on top of things by opting into monthly update packs.
Financial advice FAQs
Read some FAQs about pensions and investments below, and find out how an adviser might be able to help.
Can I afford to retire?
Whether you can afford to retire depends on factors like how much you’ve saved, when you hope to retire, and the lifestyle you’re expecting in retirement. You can get a sense of how much you might need by checking the Retirement Living Standards (RLS), published by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association. The RLS gives estimates of what retirement might look like at three different levels of income.
Your adviser will use the RLS in conversations with you. They’ll also use a type of forecasting called cashflow modelling to help you see the best ways of using your pension and investments to support your retirement.
What’s the difference between a defined benefit (DB) pension and a defined contribution (DC) pension?
A defined benefit (DB) pension – sometimes called a final salary pension – pays a retirement income based on your salary and how long you have been a member of your employer’s pension scheme. DB pensions are most common in the public sector and older workplace schemes. A tax-free lump sum will usually also be available. In some schemes, you will give up some of your income to pay for a lump sum.
A defined contribution pension lets you build up a pension pot that provides a retirement income based on how much you and your employer contribute and how much this contribution grows. Up to a quarter of the pot can usually be taken as a tax-free lump sum, though this would reduce the amount available for your retirement income. The value of a DC pension pot can go down as well as up.
Do I need a financial adviser for my pension?
In most cases, you don’t need to get an adviser by law, but deciding how to save for retirement can be a complex decision. Also, some decisions, like whether to start taking an income from your pension, can never be unmade. That’s why personalised advice from a qualified adviser can bring real relief.
You're required to take financial advice before transferring if the cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) of your defined benefit (DB) pension is over £30,000. This is a requirement under Section 48 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015. This also applies if you have a DC pension with safeguarded benefits over £30,000, such as GARs (guaranteed annuity rates).
MoneyHelper is a free financial guidance service backed by the Government. It’s there to help you understand your pension and other finances, but it can’t give you personalised advice – for that, you’ll need a qualified adviser.
Am I paying enough into my pension?
Simply put, you should put as much into your pension as you need to meet your goals. Your adviser will take the time to find out what you really want from retirement and where you’re at right now. Then they’ll tell you whether you’re on track to reach your goals and advise on what to do if not.
Should I consolidate my pensions?
If you have several pensions, there are both upsides and downsides to nesting them in a single place. That’s why we’d recommend talking to a financial adviser before you consolidate your pensions. They’ll explain all the possible outcomes of your decision and help you understand whether consolidating is what’s best for you.
What happens to my pension when I die?
You might have heard that when you die your pension just disappears. Luckily, that’s not true. In most cases, you can choose someone who relies on you for financial support (known as a dependent) to be paid a fixed amount of your pension, but you’ll likely have other options too. Aviva Financial Advice will help you understand your situation and prepare for the future – whether that’s tomorrow or the year 2100.
Do I need financial advice to transfer a pension?
If you have a defined contribution (DC) pension, you can legally transfer it without a financial adviser unless it has safeguarded benefits over £30,000.
You're required to take financial advice before transferring if the cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) of your defined benefit (DB) pension is over £30,000. This is a requirement under Section 48 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015. This also applies if you have a DC pension with safeguarded benefits over £30,000, such as GARs (guaranteed annuity rates).
Even if it's not a legal requirement, an adviser can talk you through all the implications of a transfer so you might find it beneficial.
When do I get the state pension?
You can currently claim your State Pension at age 66. But that age will gradually increase for people born after 5th April 1960.
The amount you get depends on your National Insurance record. Aviva Financial Advice can help you get as much as you’re entitled to. They can also help you make up for any gaps in your national insurance contributions.
How much tax-free lump sum can I take from my pension and when?
Currently you can take up to 25% of your pension as a Tax Free lump sum at age 55. From April 6th 2028 this will be age 57 (unless you have a protected pension age). You might be tempted to take the full amount as soon as you can. Your adviser can explain the potential drawbacks of that approach and suggest some more tax-efficient ways of managing your wealth.
What is the annual allowance?
Annual allowance is measured differently for defined benefit (DB)- and defined contribution (DC) pension schemes. For DB pensions, it’s measured according to how much your pension grows over the tax year. Your adviser can help you make sure you’re contributing to your pension in the most tax-efficient way. For DC pensions, it’s set at the total of your and your employer’s contributions
Tax benefits are dependent on individual circumstances and are subject to change. If you exceed the annual allowance limit you may be subject to a tax charge.
Can I start a pension for my child or grandchild?
Yes, you can start a pension for your children or grandchildren if you’re the person with parental responsibility under the Children Act 1989. Your adviser can guide you through your options, help you set up a pension, and start making contributions.
Tax benefits are dependent on your child's or grandchild's circumstances and are subject to change.
Pension Wise from MoneyHelper is a free, government-backed service offering clear, impartial and specialist guidance on your retirement options. If you're aged 50 or over, this service is available to you. You can call them on 0800 138 3944 or visit Pension Wise for full details of the service.
Visit Pension Wise about Pension Wise from MoneyHelper
Tax Help for Older People is a charity provided by Tax Volunteers that offers free independent and expert help and advice on any personal tax problems you may have.
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