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Consolidating multiple pensions- do I need to pay for advice?

Hello, having had a portfolio career- I have multiple pensions from a variety of providers including Teachers Pension and Nest, as well as Scottish Widows and Standard Life, amongst others. 
Would it be to may advantage to consolidate these and if so, am I best paying for advice?

Comments

  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 121,155 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Would it be to may advantage to consolidate these and if so, am I best paying for advice?
    The choice is between DIY and IFA (disregard FAs).    If you can DIY well, then you can save money.  If you DIY badly, it can be a costly mistake.     It mirrors any task in life where you either DIY or pay to get someone to do it for you.

     I have multiple pensions from a variety of providers including Teachers Pension and Nest, as well as Scottish Widows and Standard Life, amongst others. 
    You would disregard the TPS as an option for transferring out but it could be an option for transferring in if you have recently joined.


    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • Marcon
    Marcon Posts: 15,823 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    dunstonh said:

    You would disregard the TPS as an option for transferring out but it could be an option for transferring in if you have recently joined.


    You could only transfer your TPS benefits to another defined benefit scheme - hence the comment above.

    If you are currently a TPS member and want to transfer in benefits from one or more of your other schemes, you can only do so if you complete the transfer in process within 12 months of joining (or re-joining) TPS.
    Googling on your question might have been both quicker and easier, if you're only after simple facts rather than opinions!  
  • Albermarle
    Albermarle Posts: 30,906 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper
    If you want to consolidate any Defined Contribution ( DC ) pensions you have ( which is probably most of them - but not the TPS) then this is reasonably easy to do yourself without any cost. You could consolidate into an existing one, or a completely new one. You would need to research charges etc.
    However you would have to decide which investment funds to pick for the new pension, although most have a range of ready made funds to choose from for inexperienced investors.

    Some people prefer to employ an IFA to do this for them, but of course there is a cost for that and it depends if the amounts involved are enough for an IFA to be interested.

    In case it helps this explains what a DC pension is.
    Defined contribution pension schemes | MoneyHelper

    The TPS is a Defined Benefit ( DB scheme) 
    Defined benefit pensions | MoneyHelper
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