Transfers

What you will find on this page

• Block transfers: Tax-free cash protection and protected pension age
• Defined Benefit transfers
• In specie transfers
• Our frequently asked questions
• Overseas transfers
• Pensions & Investment CPD hub
• Safeguarded benefits
• Transfers in drawdown: our top five frequently asked questions
• Transfers in ill-health

Block transfers: Tax-free cash protection and protected pension age

Protecting tax-free cash on transfer is, and always has been, one of the most popular queries we receive. More specifically, what happens if an individual who is entitled to tax-free cash of more than 25% is transferring to another plan?

• Tax-free cash protection on transfer
• Tax-free cash protection on transfer - some common questions

And we also look at when a protected pension age is kept or lost on transfer.

• Protected pension age
• Protected pension ages of 55 and 56

Defined Benefit transfers

Three things to think about

Advisers are receiving an increasing number of requests from clients looking to transfer their pension from defined benefit schemes to personal pensions. In this article we look at the 3 main topics we get questions on.

• DB transfers – three things to think about

FCA Defined Benefit Advice Assessment Tool

The FCA Defined Benefit Advice Assessment Tool can help adviser firms understand how the FCA assess the suitability of Defined Benefit (DB) pension transfer advice.

• Defined Benefit Advice Assessment Tool 

The FCA has produced a step-by-step guide which helps customers know what to expect when taking advice in connection with a transfer from a Defined Benefit scheme.

• Pension transfer advice: what to expect

In specie transfers

In specie transfers involve a transfer of assets between two pension schemes, and usually involve shares, property and/or funds.

• In specie transfers
• In specie transfers and contributions - what's the difference? 

Overseas transfers

What are the rules regarding transfers to overseas pension schemes?

• Overseas transfers

Pensions & Investment CPD hub

We have a number of online resources on pension transfers in our Pensions & Investment CPD hub

• Defined benefit advice assessment tool (DBAAT) - examples of unsuitability
• Gathering information for pension transfer advice
• Good with your money: Transferring out of your company pension - what are the pros and cons?
• Look before you leap webinar
• Pension switching: to switch or not to switch - that is the question
• Transfers in drawdown

Safeguarded benefits

The Pension Schemes Act 2015 introduced the concept of safeguarded benefits from 6 April 2015. It also placed a requirement on some individuals to take financial advice before they can give up safeguarded benefits. We take a look at what safeguarded benefits are and when an individual needs to take advice to give them up.

• Safeguarded benefits

Transfers in drawdown: our top five frequently asked questions

We look at transfers in drawdown in the latest in our series of top five FAQs on pensions technical topics.

• Transfers in drawdown: our top five frequently asked questions

CPD | Transfers in drawdown – In this webinar we consider whether the drawdown plan remains suitable to achieve the client's needs and objectives on an ongoing basis. We also cover some of the legislative aspects advisers need to be aware of, the Retirement Outcomes Review and the PROD rules (in the context of transfers in drawdown), and more.

• Transfers in drawdown

Transfers in ill-health

If someone transfers from one pension scheme to another at a time when they know they are in ill-health, HMRC may treat this as a transfer of value and it could be subject to inheritance tax. In this article we look at the options available. 

• Transferring pensions in ill-health

Our frequently asked questions

Here we look at some of the questions we are asked most often. 

• Transfers
• Safeguarded rights