This is a generic term used to describe a switch from one investment to another. This could be an investment fund switch, an investment policy switch or a pension switch.
When it comes to pensions however, advisers can get confused between what constitutes a pension switch and what is a pension transfer.
To clarify therefore, a pension switch is where a retail client is transferring benefits from a personal pension or stakeholder pension scheme (where there has been no previous transfer from a defined benefits scheme) to another personal pension or stakeholder pension scheme.
There is no specific qualification requirement for advisers advising on pension switches.
FCA guidance can be accessed here
http://www.fca.org.uk/firms/financial-services-products/investments/pension-switching
Suitability reports must contain sufficient detail to justify any switch, including alternatives, disadvantages, risks, costs and charges.
(Now read ‘T’).
Tax Year End Update
Doug McFarlane Suitability 2024, Pension, transfer, Update
Our report writing software has been fully updated on 6th April 2024 to accommodate changes to allowances, rates and reliefs for the 2024/25 tax year. Full details can be found below: Pensions Existing ‘Lifetime Allowance’ wording removed and replaced with new ‘Lump Sum Allowance (LSA)’ and ‘Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance (LSDBA)’ wording. In […]