How does it work?
Pension schemes can prove extremely complicated and difficult to understand. Your own pension fund is unique to you. Therefore full details of your existing pension arrangements need to be obtained by our Adviser Support team.

Unless your current pension plan is able to release your benefits directly to you, it maybe necessary to transfer the pension fund to a new plan in order to release these benefits early. This could take time and could incur penalty charges.

One of our qualified pension specialists will contact you to obtain a detailed understanding of your personal objectives and circumstances, before explaining the options available to you, in addition to the advantages and disadvantages of releasing benefits from your pension now.
The adviser will then make a suitable recommendation, which will be sent to you in a comprehensive report detailing the advice given, the tax free lump sum available, the charges and fees and what the long term effect will be to your pension income at retirement.

Should you decide to proceed, we will arrange for your tax free lump sum to be paid directly to you as soon as possible, usually 8-10 weeks after the advice process. If required, the Adviser Support team will then arrange the implementation of the appropriate investment solution for the remainder of your fund.

How long does it take?
This depends on two factors. The first being how quickly we can obtain up to date information from your pension company, in addition to them releasing the funds if you decide to proceed.  The second is how quickly you return the required questionnaire forms to us during the process.  We will keep you informed of approximate timescales as your case progresses.  Pension release is not a quick fix to a short term financial problem.

IS PENSION RELEASE RIGHT FOR ME?

The most important fact to understand about early pension release is that it means you will forego part of your income later in your life - so it is not something to embark upon lightly. There is a cost. This can include the possibility that annuity rates maybe significantly different when you come to retire, as well as the loss of guarantees, benefits and discretionary increases from some schemes.

How much do we charge?
There is no charge to investigate your pension plan and inform you of your options. So it costs nothing to find out how much you are entitled to now before you decide whether to proceed. You will be fully informed of any charges and fees involved when your adviser writes to you with their recommendation. In the majority of cases, the fee is deducted from the tax free lump sum. If there is any reason for the fee to be paid in advance, you will be informed in writing with the reasons why. There is still no obligation to proceed at this point. Please refer to "Key Facts – about the cost of our services" if you request further information.

Are there any disadvantages?
Taking pension benefits early will reduce the amount you will receive in retirement, so it is not something to embark upon lightly. Pension release is likely to be suitable only for a limited range of consumers and circumstances which is why specialist advice is highly recommended.

Is pension release suitable for me?
If you are considering releasing pension benefits early, your objective maybe to obtain a tax free lump sum. Before you proceed, you must be satisfied that you have a genuine need for cash which justifies the loss of income you will suffer later in your life.
Our specialist pension adviser will inform you of the facts and figures involved, and other issues you need to consider before a final recommendation is made. However, you are the best-placed person to understand if your objective for cash is real (and therefore justification for the cost of early pension release) or not. Unless you have a genuine need, releasing pension benefits early is unlikely to be suitable for you.