Want to consolidate my pension pots. Is Vanguard a good choice?

LV_426

I now have 6 DC pension pots from previous employers, and I may be changing job very soon, so that's another one. 
So I really need to go through a consolidation process to at least simplify things. And Pete Matthews suggests that you only need one pension pot anyway. So where to go? Vanguard get mentioned a lot on here, so I'm thinking of selecting one of their funds to bring all this together. I do have a DB scheme too, but I'm not going to touch that.
Any advice welcome.

Albermarle

Whether Vanguard are a good choice of platform depends on 
What the total size of the pot will be ?
Are you happy only to be able to invest in Vanguard funds and ETF's
Will you be changing investments regularly or will it be buy and hold ?

Overall in any case  your portfolio choice , asset allocation etc will make more difference than the platform choice .

zagfles

Might be worth checking what your new employer's scheme is like, charges, investment options, lifestyling etc, and consider a transfer to that if suitable? If it allows transfers in, most do I think.

LV_426

Albermarle said:

Whether Vanguard are a good choice of platform depends on 
What the total size of the pot will be ?
Are you happy only to be able to invest in Vanguard funds and ETF's
Will you be changing investments regularly or will it be buy and hold ?

Overall in any case  your portfolio choice , asset allocation etc will make more difference than the platform choice .

No I won't be changing investments. It will be buy and hold. Pot size now roughly £300k, plus £80k in S&S ISA. I'm 55, hoping to retire in about 5 years or less.
I don't mind only investing in Vanguard funds, if they are the right choice. 

LV_426

zagfles said:

Might be worth checking what your new employer's scheme is like, charges, investment options, lifestyling etc, and consider a transfer to that if suitable? If it allows transfers in, most do I think.

It's NEST, so I definitely won't be transferring into that one.

Mistermeaner

I'm not sure vanguard offer draw down 

However as a place to pull together various pots for relatively low fees it would be ok - just  bung everything into the appropriate vls fund 

Depending on your db scheme you may want to check back here regards optimised draw down and fund choice 

L9XSS

Mistermeaner said:

I'm not sure vanguard offer draw down 

However as a place to pull together various pots for relatively low fees it would be ok - just  bung everything into the appropriate vls fund 

Depending on your db scheme you may want to check back here regards optimised draw down and fund choice 

Vanguard now offer drawdown from there SIPP.

jim8888

I've no complaints about Fidelity and hold Vanguard funds via that platform. I find their website easy to use to buy and sell investments and have no complaints on communication etc.. I'm just starting drawing down my SIPP through them and I quite like the way they split your fund so you can see how much of your pot you've chrystalised when taking a TFLS.  I think they're offering a cash back incentive at the moment for transferring pensions into them. Regardless of that incentive, I think they're worth looking at. I should also say that my biggest holding in Fidelity, by a country mile, is a Vanguard 80/20 Life Strategy fund, but Vanguard weren't offering a pension service directly when I made that choice!

LV_426

Thanks I'll look into Fidelity.

cloud_dog

With £300k+, wouldn't a lower capped or fixed rate provider be a better option, and would likely offer more choice to suit your strategy?  For £300k Vanguard would cost £450pa but it is capped at £375pa. Consider for example II, or AJ Bell or Fidelity using ETFs IF they fit your strategy.

Also, I know Fidelity do not apply a fee for drawdown, and I thin AJ Bell don't, but would need to double check.

LV_426

I have not invested in ETFs before. I'll have to do some research on that.