How do I set up a SIPP for someone who does not speak English and can’t use a computer

sj15

Having a nightmare here. Please help. 

As part of a pension sharing order for a divorce. I’m helping my mum to set up a pension. 

We called aviva to help us through it but they were not able to help as my
mum can’t use a computer. They wouldn’t talk to me. 

What pensions companies have branches to go in to? Are they all online?

I’ve asked aviva if I can be an authorised person and help her with it. They haven’t got back to me. 

Seems crazy and stressful as she needs an account but all I can see are online SIPPs. This is hard enough without this hassle. Court case has dragged on for years and there’s a new hurdle to every week. 

xylophone

It seems that you are going to be living with your mother for a while so will be able to assist.
She could grant you Power of Attorney.
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney
Did you try Hargreaves Lansdown as suggested in your other thread?

sj15

Hi Xylophone,
Thanks for your response again. We looked at Hargreaves and my mum hadn't heard of them. She was told about Aviva from someone she knows and we thought it's best to go with a household name. I have actually filled in the transfer form online on her behalf for Aviva despite the non progressive phone call. 

Probably daft of me as I'm guessing at some point they will want to talk to my mum and it will break down. I mean my mum can answer some basic questions but that's it. 

I am guessing with Hargreaves we would hit the same hurdle? Because it's part of a pension sharing order I'm guessing they will ring up to query things and it will break down there too. So frustrating.

I may have no choice but to do this power of attorney thing. Sounds like the only way if this aviva pension doesn't progress. But it can take 10 weeks for power of attorney and that's time we don't have right now. Not sure what else I can do.

AnotherJoe

Hargreaves Lansdown is a MASSIVE household name.

It is in the top 100 UK listed companies. Its only just smaller than Aviva.

You can open a SIPP online and fill a few forms in and in the past when I did some dealings on my wifes behalf with HL they asked her if that was OK, she said yes then passed the phone over to me.

You should though anyway have a POA if she cant speak English because this is going to crop up with numerous things.

Can she speak any English at all? Enough to be able to understand "are you OK if your daughter/son answers for you and say "yes" ?

xylophone

it's best to go with a household name.

Hargreaves Lansdown is not exactly a shoe string operation....... it is a Public Listed Company and a constituent of the FTSE 100!

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/indices/ftse-100/constituents/table?lang=en

I can't speak for Aviva but HL staff are well trained and helpful on the telephone.

sj15

AnotherJoe said:

Hargreaves Lansdown is a MASSIVE household name.

It is in the top 100 UK listed companies. Its only just smaller than Aviva.

You can open a SIPP online and fill a few forms in and in the past when I did some dealings on my wifes behalf with HL they asked her if that was OK, she said yes then passed the phone over to me.

You should though anyway have a POA if she cant speak English because this is going to crop up with numerous things.

Can she speak any English at all? Enough to be able to understand "are you OK if your daughter/son answers for you and say "yes" ?

Hi Joe, thank you for your advice.

She can speak very very basic English. I.e. she can state her name, address, DoB. She can definitely say she is happy for her son/daughter to speak on her behalf. It's just with pensions I am worried they will ask more than just the basics. Once the transfer is done we (or rather i) can do everything online I think, it's just getting past this hurdle that worries me.

Power of attorney sounds scary as hell. I'm not sure I even want that responsibility. I have to give it some thought. I have read there is a "Ordinary Power of Attorney" we can get from a solicitor which might be quicker than getting a full one. Do you know if pension companies will accept these and work with them? 

sj15

xylophone said:

it's best to go with a household name.

Hargreaves Lansdown is not exactly a shoe string operation....... it is a Public Listed Company and a constituent of the FTSE 100!

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/indices/ftse-100/constituents/table?lang=en

I can't speak for Aviva but HL staff are well trained and helpful on the telephone.

Oops sorry.
I actually only heard of them recently when I started looking in to investing. Probably says more about my lack of knowledge of these things than anything else. 

Thrugelmir

Is a SIPP the most suitable pension vehicle for her? 

dunstonh

We looked at Hargreaves and my mum hadn't heard of them.

She probably hasn't heard of most of the big players.   Just some of the old fashioned insurers.

She was told about Aviva from someone she knows and we thought it's best to go with a household name. 

Most Aviva pensions are placed via IFAs.

If she cannot handle online then would a local IFA that speaks her native tongue be useful? 

Brynsam

Why does she (or you) need to speak at all? You can do everything online for her, or print out hard copy forms, fill them in and get her to sign.

sj15

Thrugelmir said:

Is a SIPP the most suitable pension vehicle for her? 

Yes. Any reason why you would ask that? Have I missed something?
She has a pension sharing order to get some money (around £70k based on the CETV). She wants to dump it somewhere and then she wants to use £40-50k to get a property (combined with the monies from the matrimonial house when it was sold).

And then invest the rest of it and may add to it monthly until retirement (6 years from now). Would a Sipp not be suitable?