Scottish Widows Stakeholder Pension

man and pregnant woman next to crib

This could be a Group Stakeholder pension that you have through your current job, or with a job you had in the past. Or an Individual Stakeholder pension you took out yourself, through an adviser or through a branch.
 

Here we explain:

  • More about what our Scottish Widows Stakeholder Pensions offer
  • How to review your investments
  • What you can do with your pension

WHAT THE SCOTTISH WIDOWS STAKEHOLDER PENSION OFFERS

WHAT THE SCOTTISH WIDOWS STAKEHOLDER PENSION OFFERS

  • You can view and manage your pension online 
  • There are no charges for switching funds or lifestyle options
  • There’s a range of ways you can take benefits from this pension.

Switching means moving the investment you have in one option to another.

REVIEW HOW YOUR STAKEHOLDER PENSION IS INVESTED

REVIEW HOW YOUR STAKEHOLDER PENSION IS INVESTED

Pensions play a vital role in helping you save for the future. But it can be hard to tell if you're saving enough. If you’ve not reviewed your pensions for a while, it’s a good idea to take some time to consider if they’re still right for you.

Here are two things you can do: 

  • Find out how much your pension is currently worth.

Every year we’ll send you an annual statement, which will tell you how much your pension is currently worth and what it could be worth at your selected retirement date. You can get an up to date valuation using our online services or, call us for a valuation on 0345 716 6777.  We’re available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

  • Review the funds or lifestyle strategy your pension is invested in – are they still suitable?  We show you these in your annual statement.

If your plan was taken out under an employer’s workplace pension scheme, your pension will be invested in that scheme’s default investment option unless you’ve told us to change it. This usually provides what’s known as a lifestyle strategy.

A lifestyle strategy automatically moves from higher-risk investments in the early years, when you can normally afford to take more risk, to lower-risk investments, as you approach your selected retirement date. 

With newer lifestyle options, as you move closer to your retirement date, the investments you’re in will depend on the retirement option you selected. This could be cashing in your pension savings, buying an annuity to provide a guaranteed income for life, or remaining invested to draw an income when you want.

You can invest in funds if you don’t want to invest in a lifestyle strategy.

You can find out more about these funds and other available funds at Scottish Widows Funds, Select Brand as Scottish Widows and select Category 

Pension Funds – Series 3: If you have an Individual Stakeholder Pension.

Pension Funds – Series CS9: If you have a Group Stakeholder Pension.
Scheme number starts with the letter “N”.
Plan number starts with the prefix “SW”.

Here you’ll find fund factsheets, which give information about each fund and its aim - what the fund is trying to achieve by how it’s invested.

It's important to:
  • Think about how much risk you’re willing or able to take with your investments as this can change over time. 
  • Remember the value of your investment isn’t guaranteed, it can go down as well as up. So, you might get back less than you invested.

 

Our Factsheet explainer (PDF, 260KB) is an interactive guide to what you can expect to find in each of the sections within the Fund’s Factsheet.

Understand what your retirement could look like

Look at your State Pension

Look at your State Pension

The State Pension could be a big part of your retirement income when you can get this, which could be in your late 60s. See what you'll get, at what age you'll get it and whether making up for any missed National Insurance contributions might get you more.

We also have some calculators to help you to consider whether you should be saving more and if you’re on track to reach your goals.

Your retirement age is when you want to start taking benefits from your pension and you don’t have to stop working to do this. You’re normally able to take your benefits anytime between the age of 55 and 75, although the minimum age is set to increase to 57 in 2028.

What you can do

Change what you're investing in

Change what you're investing in

View and manage your pension online with our mobile app and online services.

Or you can 

We’ll be happy to help you, but we can’t offer you financial advice or give you recommendations about what to invest in.

It’s a very good idea to get financial advice before you do this. Advisers will normally charge for advice.

Top-up your pension

Top-up your pension

You can still make a difference to your retirement by paying more into your pension. You can make single or regular payments to your plan. 

Remember, you get help from income tax relief on your payments too. This can make a difference to the income you receive when you’re ready to take your pension. 

Call us on 0345 716 6777. We’re available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 

Combine your pensions

Combine your pensions

You could bring all your pensions together into one plan, either with us or another pension company. We don’t charge for doing this. 

This may be useful, but you need to be careful that you don’t lose any guarantees or plan features you have on any pension you’re planning to transfer. It’s important to compare the fund charges and available investment options. 

Our free non advised online service might help you make an informed decision and you can use this if you’d like to transfer other pensions you have to your pension with us. 

To transfer a pension away, get in touch with the pension company to see if they can accept a transfer. If they can, they may be able to start the transfer request for you.

Take benefits from your pension

Take benefits from your pension

You’re able to take your benefits anytime between the age of 55 and 75, although the minimum age is set to increase to 57 in 2028. If you’re thinking about starting to take benefits from your pension visit our Retirement Options webpage for more information on the options available to you.

What next?

We hope you found this useful, for details about our other products go back to what you can do

Like to understand more about the basics?

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