Low-involvement investment options
We take care of the investment decisions – so you don’t have to
Pre-determined investment paths
With these options, we make most of the investment decisions, so you don’t have to. Ideal if you don’t want to spend much time managing your investments.
What are your low-involvement investment options
There are two types of low-involvement investment options available – lifestage approaches and lifestyle approaches.
In a nutshell, lifestage and lifestyle approaches are pre-determined investment paths through which, at various stages, we'll automatically move your money between carefully chosen funds.
In other words, they're ways of investing for your retirement without having to be too hands-on in managing your pension plan.
Growth in the early years
Typically, in the early years (normally more than 5 or 10 years before your chosen retirement age) your money is invested in one or more funds that invest in different assets and are well-balanced, and which aim to grow your pension over the long term.
Remember that fund values can go down as well as up and are not guaranteed - you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Focus on your retirement plans in later years
As you get closer to your chosen retirement age, we will automatically and gradually move your money into different types of funds which are designed to prepare your pension pot for how you intend to take your retirement benefits. You can leave your money invested and decide later (flexible access), take a cash lump sum, take a regular income and leave the rest invested (drawdown) or buy an annuity. Please see the charts later to see how this works in practice.
Lifestyle investment approach
If you invest in a lifestyle approach, we will automatically move your money into different types of funds at set dates as you near retirement.
Your existing pot of money will be moved into the funds gradually, month by month. We move your existing money automatically on set dates. For example, Stakeholder Mixed Investment Universal lifestyle approach continues to invest any new payments in the original fund and only moves your existing pot of money into the new funds as described above. Please see the full details below.
Lifestage investment approach
Lifestage approaches have a feature called 'automatic rebalancing'. This is where we automatically adjust how your entire pot of money is split between funds, at regular, set intervals.
We do this to make sure you're not exposed to a different level of investment risk than you wanted to be.
Things to consider
- A lifestage/lifestyle investment approach is a pre-determined investment path through which, at various stages, we'll automatically move your money between carefully chosen funds as you get closer to your chosen retirement age – you don't make any of these investment choices.
- We will automatically move your money/rebalance your fund on set dates, regardless of what's happening in the markets and how the economy is doing at that time. As a result, your money may not be moved at the time that gives you the best return on your investment.
- These investment approaches work based on the age you've told us you want to retire at. If you decide to take your retirement benefits from your pension pot earlier or later than your chosen retirement age, it may be worth reviewing how your money is invested.
- If you intend to change the way you take your retirement benefits or how you invest your money, we recommend you speak to a financial adviser to go over your investment choices.
- If you're close to your chosen retirement age, there may be less chance for investment growth because you have less time to invest.
- Because we invest your money for growth in the early years, and aim to prepare for your retirement in later years, you could receive a lower return from the funds we move your money into than from the funds you were previously invested in. There's also a greater possibility that the investment returns on the funds we move your money to may not cover your charges.
- Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up, and is not guaranteed - you might get back less than the amount paid in.
- Whether a lifestage/lifestyle investment approach is right for you will depend on your individual circumstances, so we recommend you speak to a financial adviser.
- There's no guarantee that any of these strategies will prove beneficial to your pension pot.
Please make sure you read the essential guide to your company pension scheme alongside this page to understand how your pension plan works and the options available to you.
Risk
If you're choosing a new investment option, make sure it's suitable for your circumstances and the level of risk you're comfortable with.
We assign risk ratings and risk codes to each of our funds, so you can understand the risk you're taking when you invest in them. These are explained here. Details of the risk ratings and codes that apply to each fund can be found on the individual fund factsheets, which are available from our fund centre.
Your money might be invested in a default option (where your money is invested in a solution that has been chosen by your employer for your scheme for your retirement journey) when you first join the scheme, and your employer might also offer other investment options specific to their scheme. For details of what these investment approaches are, check the information they've given you about their scheme.
Nothing on this site is personalised advice or a recommendation. If you need a personalised recommendation based on your personal circumstances, you should seek financial advice. Your employer may have lined up a financial adviser that you can speak to. Alternatively, you can visit unbiased.co.uk to find an adviser in your area. An adviser may charge a fee for this service.
Here are your low-involvement investment options:
If you’re choosing an investment option, make sure it’s suitable for your circumstances and level of risk you’re comfortable with.
My Future Focus Universal Lifestage Approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for flexible access at your chosen retirement age, including:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown).
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum.
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity).
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
- Early years (up to 10 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in the Aviva My Future Focus Growth Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension. - From 10 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund, which continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to avoid large falls in the value of your pension pot by having a greater amount of money in less risky assets, such as government and corporate bonds.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far you are from your chosen retirement age at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the My Future Focus Universal Lifestage approach
As the chart above shows, the My Future Focus universal solution is made up of the My Future Focus Growth Fund and the My Future Focus Consolidation Fund. It enables you to ‘keep your options open’ and to decide later how you will take their retirement savings.
My Future Focus Target Drawdown Lifestage Approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
Please note: You will have a number of options available to you when you reach your chosen retirement age (even if you remain invested in this lifestage approach). However, this lifestage investment approach has been designed to prepare for the particular retirement option shown above.
This approach is not designed to prepare for:
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity) at your chosen retirement age.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
- Early years (up to 10 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in the Aviva My Future Focus Growth Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension. - From 10 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Focus Drawdown Fund, which continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to avoid large falls in the value of your pension pot.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far from your chosen retirement age you are at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the Drawdown approach
My Future Focus Target Cash Lump Sum Lifestage approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for:
- withdrawing all the money as a cash lump sum at your chosen retirement age. This is subject to tax and is currently possible from age 55 (57 from 6 April 2028).
Please note: You will have a number of options available to you when you reach your chosen retirement age (even if you remain invested in this lifestage approach). However, this lifestage investment approach has been designed to prepare for the particular retirement option shown above.
This approach is not designed to prepare for:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity) or
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
- Early years (up to 10 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in the Aviva My Future Focus Growth Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension. - From 10 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Focus Cash Lump Sum Fund, in preparation for taking your pension pot as a cash lump sum.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far from your chosen retirement age you are at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the Cash Lump Sum approach
My Future Focus Target Annuity Lifestage approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for:
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity) at your chosen retirement age.
Please note: You will have a number of options available to you when you reach your chosen retirement age (even if you remain invested in this lifestage approach). However, this lifestage investment approach has been designed to prepare for the particular retirement option shown above.
This approach is not designed to prepare for:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum or
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
- Early years (up to 10 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in the Aviva My Future Focus Growth Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension. - From 10 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund and the Aviva My Future Focus Annuity Fund, in preparation for buying an annuity at retirement.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far from your chosen retirement age you are at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the Annuity approach
Stewardship Lifestage Approach
The Aviva Stewardship Lifestage Approach uses the Stewardship Fund range, which was the first ethical fund range of its kind when it launched in the UK in 1984. It enables members to invest for their retirement while contributing to a sustainable future for the world around us. The Stewardship Funds are managed by Aviva Investors, benefiting from the ESG (environmental, social and governance) experience of an inhouse team of 26 dedicated responsible investment analysts.
You can find out more about our Stewardship philosophy by visiting www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/fund-centre/stewardship/.
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for flexible access at your chosen retirement age, including:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity)
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
Early years (up to 10 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in two funds (40% in the Aviva Stewardship International Equity Fund and 60% in the Aviva Stewardship Managed Fund), which aim to to provide growth in the size of your pension.
- From 10 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva Stewardship Bond Fund and the money in the Aviva Stewardship International Equity Fund gradually reduces. In this way, the approach before continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to help reduce large falls in the value of your pension pot.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far from your chosen retirement age you are at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the Stewardship approach
My Future Universal Lifestage Approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for flexible access at your chosen retirement age, including:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity)
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
- Early years (up to 15 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in the Aviva My Future Growth Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension. - From 15 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Consolidation Fund, which continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to avoid large falls in the value of your pension pot by having a bigger allocation to less risky assets, such as government and corporate bonds.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far from your chosen retirement age you are at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the My Future Universal Lifestage approach*
*As the chart above shows, the My Future Universal approach is made up of the My Future Universal Growth Fund and the My Future Universal Consolidation Fund. It enables customers to ‘keep their options open’ and to decide later how they will take their retirement savings.
My Future Target Drawdown Lifestage Approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
Please note: You will have a number of options available to you when you reach your chosen retirement age (even if you remain invested in this lifestage approach). However, this lifestage investment approach has been designed to prepare for the particular retirement option shown above.
This approach is not designed to prepare for:
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum or
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity) at your chosen retirement age.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
- Early years (up to 15 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in the Aviva My Future Growth Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension. - From 15 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Drawdown Fund, which continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to help reduce large falls in the value of your pension pot.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far from your chosen retirement age you are at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the My Future Drawdown approach
My Future Target Cash Lump Sum Lifestage approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for:
- withdrawing all the money as a cash lump sum at your chosen retirement age.
Please note: You will have a number of options available to you when you reach your chosen retirement age (even if you remain invested in this lifestage approach). However, this lifestage investment approach has been designed to prepare for the particular retirement option shown above.
This approach is not designed to prepare for:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity) or
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
- Early years (up to 15 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in the Aviva My Future Growth Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension. - From 15 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Consolidation Fund, which continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to avoid large falls in the value of your pension pot - From 5 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Cash Lump Sum Fund, in preparation for taking your pension pot as a cash lump sum.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far from your chosen retirement age you are at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the My Future Cash Lump Sum Approach
My Future Target Annuity Lifestage approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for:
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity) at your chosen retirement age.
Please note: You will have a number of options available to you when you reach your chosen retirement age (even if you remain invested in this lifestage approach). However, this lifestage investment approach has been designed to prepare for the particular retirement option shown above.
This approach is not designed to prepare for:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot or as a cash lump sum or
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
- Early years (up to 15 years before your chosen retirement age)
The approach invests in the Aviva My Future Growth Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension. - From 15 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Consolidation Fund, which continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to avoid large falls in the value of your pension pot. - From 5 years to your chosen retirement age
Your money gradually moves into the Aviva My Future Annuity Fund, in preparation for buying an annuity at retirement.
The exact fund split when you start investing depends on how far from your chosen retirement age you are at that time. The chart below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Chart showing how your money is moved between funds through the retirement journey in the My Future Annuity approach.
Global Shares Universal Lifestyle approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for flexible access at your chosen retirement age, including:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity)
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
This investment approach goes through two stages. You can only join this lifestyle approach if you have more than 10 years to your chosen retirement age.
Stage 1: up to 10 years before your chosen retirement age
In the early years, the approach invests in two funds (70% in the Aviva UK Equity Fund and 30% in the Aviva Global Equity Fund), which aim to provide growth in the size of your pension.
Stage 2: 10 years before your chosen retirement age
We invest all new payments in the Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund, which continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to avoid large falls in the value of your pension pot as you get closer to retirement.
During this time, we also gradually move the rest of your pension pot into this fund, month by month.
The table below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Stage 1 | Stage 2 |
---|---|
At the start (but only if you have more than 10 years before your chosen retirement age) | 10 years before your chosen retirement age (if you have been using this approach prior to this time) |
70% of new payments | All new payments |
Aviva UK Equity Fund | Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund |
30% of new payments | The rest of your pension pot |
Aviva Global Equity Fund | Moved monthly into this fund |
For more information visit our other investment options page.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Global Shares Annuity Lifestyle approach - Only available for Company Pension @ Aviva (Isle of Man 89 Plan) and '98 Series Group Personal Pension Isle of Man
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for:
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity) at your chosen retirement age
At your chosen retirement age you will have a number of retirement options (even if you remain invested in this lifestyle approach), however this lifestyle investment approach has been designed to prepare for the particular retirement option shown above.
This approach is not designed to prepare for:
- taking some of the money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown) or
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum or
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later
How it works
This investment approach goes through up to three stages, depending on how long you have left before your chosen retirement age when you start using it.
To find out whether this option is available under your plan, please visit our other investment options page or check your policy documents.
If you have more than 10 years before your chosen retirement age:
Stage 1: at the start
In the early years (up to 10 years before your chosen retirement age), the approach invests in two funds (70% in the Aviva UK Equity Fund and 30% in the Aviva Global Equity Fund). We do this to give you the potential for growth in the size of your pension.
Stage 2: 10 years before your chosen retirement age
Ten years before your chosen retirement age, we’ll invest any new payments into the Aviva Mixed Investment 40-85% Shares fund, and this will continue for the next five years.
During this time, we’ll also gradually move the rest of your pension pot into this fund, month by month. We do this to help lower the risk to your pension pot.
Stage 3: Five years before your chosen retirement age
At five years from your chosen retirement age, we’ll place:
- 75% of your new payments into, the Aviva Long Gilt Fund, which aims to rise and fall broadly in line with the cost of purchasing an annuity.
- 25% of your new payments into the Aviva Deposit Fund, in preparation for taking part of your pension pot as a cash lump sum. Investments in the Deposit Fund are subject to the negative impact of inflation and so a rise in prices and the cost of living.
We’ll also gradually move the rest of your pension pot into these two funds, month by month.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up, and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
We’ll write to you before we start moving your money – and you can change your investment choice at any time.
For more information visit our other investment options page.
How the approach works
Stage 1 At the start (but only if you have more than 10 years before your chosen retirement age) | Stage 2 Ten years before your chosen retirement age | Stage 3 Five years before your chosen retirement age (if you have been using this approach prior to this time) |
70% of new payments | All new payments | 75% of new payments |
Aviva UK Equity Fund | Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund | Aviva Long Gilt Fund |
30% of new payments | The rest of your pension pot | 25% of new payments |
Aviva Global Equity Fund | Moved monthly into this fund | Aviva Deposit Fund |
The rest of your pension pot | ||
Moved monthly at the same percentages into each fund |
If you have less than 10 years to your chosen retirement age, but more than five years when you join this lifestyle, you will start the lifestyle approach in stage 2.
You can’t join this lifestyle approach if you have five or less years to your chosen retirement age.
Mixed Investments Universal Lifestyle approach
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for flexible access at your chosen retirement age, including:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity)
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
This investment approach goes through two stages. You can only join this lifestyle approach if you have more than 10 years to your chosen retirement age.
Stage 1: up to 10 years before your chosen retirement age
In the early years, the approach invests in the Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension.
Stage 2: From 10 years to your chosen retirement age
We invest all new payments in the Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund, which continues to provide the potential for growth, but aims to avoid large falls in the value of your pension pot.
During this time, we also gradually move the rest of your pension pot into this fund, month by month.
The table below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Stage 1 | Stage 2 |
---|---|
At the start (but only if you have more than 10 years before your chosen retirement age) | 10 years before your chosen retirement age (if you have been using this approach prior to this time) |
New Payments | All new payments |
Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund | Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund |
The rest of your pension pot | |
Moved monthly into this fund |
For more information visit our other investment options page.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Mixed Investment Annuity Lifestyle approach - Company Pension @ Aviva (Isle of Man 89 Plan) and '98 Series Group Personal Pension Isle of Man
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could fluctuate. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for:
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity) at your chosen retirement age
At your chosen retirement age you will have a number of retirement options (even if you remain invested in this lifestyle approach), however this lifestyle investment approach has been designed to prepare for the particular retirement option, namely buying an annuity, as shown above.
This approach is not designed to prepare for:
- taking some of the money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later
How it works
This investment approach goes through up to three stages, depending on how long you have left before your chosen retirement age when you start using it. To find out whether this option is available under your plan please visit our other investment options page or check your policy documents.
If you have more than 10 years before your chosen retirement age:
Stage 1: at the start
To begin with, we invest all your payments into the Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund. We do this to give you the potential for growth in the size of your pension. This will continue until 10 years before your retirement.
Stage 2: 10 years before your chosen retirement age
When you’re 10 years from your chosen retirement age, we’ll invest any new payments into the Aviva Mixed Investment (0-35% Shares) Fund, and this will continue for the next five years. During this time, we’ll also move the rest of your pension pot into this fund, month by month. We do this to help lower the risk to your pension pot.
Stage 3: five years before your chosen retirement age
At five years before your chosen retirement age, we’ll invest 75% of any new payments into the Aviva Long Gilt Fund, which aims to rise and fall broadly in line with the cost of purchasing an annuity and the remaining 25% into the Aviva Deposit Fund, in preparation for taking part of your pension pot as a cash lump sum. Investments in the Deposit Fund are subject to the negative impact of inflation and so a rise in prices and the cost of living.
During this time, we’ll also move the rest of your pension pot into these two funds, month by month.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up, and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
We’ll write to you before we start moving your money – and you can change your investment choice at any time.
For more information visit our other investment options page
How the approach works
Stage 1 At the start (but only if you have more than 10 years before your chosen retirement age) | Stage 2 Ten years before your chosen retirement age(if you have been using this approach prior to this time) | Stage 3 Five years before your chosen retirement age(if you have been using this approach prior to this time) |
---|---|---|
New payments | All new payments | 75% of new payments |
Invested in the Aviva Mixed Investment(40-85% Shares) Fund | Aviva Mixed Investment (0-35% Shares) Fund | Aviva Long Gilt Fund |
The rest of your pension pot | 25% of new payments | |
Moved monthly into this fund | Aviva Deposit Fund | |
The rest of your pension pot | ||
Moved monthly at the same percentages into each fund |
If you have less than 10 years to your chosen retirement age, but more than five years when you join this lifestyle, you will start the approach in stage 2.
You can’t join this lifestyle approach if you have five or less years to your chosen retirement age.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up, and is not guaranteed and you might get back less than the amount paid in.
Stakeholder Mixed Investments Universal Lifestyle approach
This approach is only available to Aviva Stakeholder Pension Plan holders where no investment choice has been made. You cannot choose this investment approach.
Objectives
This approach aims to provide growth in the early years, although the value of your pension pot could go up and down. It is designed to prepare your pension pot for flexible access at your chosen retirement age, including:
- taking your money as and when you need it, either as cash sums or as flexible income (known as drawdown)
- withdrawing all the money in your pension pot as a cash lump sum
- buying an income for the rest of your life (known as an annuity)
- leaving your money where it is and making your choices later.
You can find more details about how you can take your pension benefits at www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/using-your-pension-money/.
How it works
This investment approach goes through two stages.
If you have more than five years before your chosen retirement age:
Stage 1: up to five years before your chosen retirement age
In the early years, the approach invests in the Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund, which aims to provide growth in the size of your pension.
Stage 2: five years before your chosen retirement age
We continue to invest all new payments in the Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund.
During this time, we also gradually move the rest of your pension pot into the Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund, month by month.
The table below shows how we’ll split your money between funds as you head towards your chosen retirement age.
Stage 1 | Stage 2 |
---|---|
At the start (but only if you have more than five years before your chosen retirement age) | Five years before your chosen retirement age (if you have been using this approach prior to this time) |
All payments | All new payments |
Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund | Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund |
| The rest of your pension pot |
| Moved monthly into the Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund |
If you have five years or less until your chosen retirement age when you start your plan, all your new payments will be invested into the Aviva My Future Focus Consolidation Fund. They won’t be invested in the Aviva Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) Fund.
For more information visit our other investment options page.
Please remember, the value of your pension pot can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. This means you might get back less than the amount paid in.
View our funds
Remember to read all the important information before visiting our fund centre and viewing the entire range.