Research on aging, dementia and care in later life · free to read and cite
Free guidance from Pension Wise and MoneyHelper, or regulated advice you pay for? These guides explain the difference, what advice costs, how to check an adviser and how to protect yourself from scams.
Talk to an adviser before you choose →Aegon pension advice: Aegon's own helpline gives guidance, not regulated advice, and free Pension Wise guidance is usually open from age 50.
Are pensions protected in the UK? Mostly, but which safety net applies depends on the type of pension and on what has failed.
Pension advice from Halifax now means Lloyds: Halifax pensions are closed to new customers, and Lloyds Wealth advice has a £100,000 entry level.
MoneyHelper compares pensions with two free tools, one for annuity quotes and one for drawdown investment pathways; for charges it has a guide, not a tool.
Advice is optional for most money decisions, but LV=’s SIPP papers keep referring you to a financial adviser, and LV=’s own advice starts from £995.
You can manage a Royal London pension without an adviser, but Royal London does not give advice, and moving some guarantees needs it by law.
The pension transfer advice requirement: trustees must check you took advice before paying a transfer of safeguarded benefits worth over £30,000.
Aviva pension advice comes from Aviva Financial Advice, open to people with £300,000 or more saved, Aviva says; the first call and meeting are free.
Nest pension advice does not come from Nest, which says it can't give financial advice; free Pension Wise guidance and a regulated adviser fill the gap.
PensionBee financial advice does not exist: it says it provides none, so a transfer decision is yours. Here is what it does offer and where to turn.
Standard Life pension advice comes from its own FCA-regulated firm, for people 55 or older, or within 3 months of it, with £50,000 or more in pensions.
No list of equity release companies to avoid stays accurate for long, so check the firm itself: FCA permission, Council membership, legal advice and fees.
State Pension advice in the UK is free from DWP and Age UK; a regulated adviser matters when private pensions are involved too.
Free ill health retirement advice comes from your scheme, MoneyHelper, Pension Wise, a union or Citizens Advice; regulated advice is only needed for some d…
Pension transfer guidance on scams comes from MoneyHelper, not Pension Wise, and regulated advice is a separate legal step for some transfers.
USS offers free guidance but cannot give financial advice, so USS pension advice means a paid FCA-regulated adviser, which the law requires for some transf…
Pension advice cost varies by firm: MoneyHelper's fee guide (January 2026 copy) gives £75 to £350 an hour for financial advice, or a set or monthly fee.
Pension scams often begin with an unexpected offer to move or release your savings. Here is how they work, how to check a firm, and where to report one.
QROPS advice must come from an FCA-authorised UK adviser for some transfers. Here is when, what they check and how to verify one.
To find a pension adviser in the UK, search a directory by your location, then check the firm and adviser on the FCA's Financial Services Register.
Free pension advice mostly means free guidance: Pension Wise and MoneyHelper cost nothing, while a personal recommendation from a regulated adviser is paid…
To report a pension scam, tell Report Fraud (Police Scotland in Scotland) and the FCA. If money or a transfer is at risk, call your bank and provider now.
Are pension advisors worth it? Paid advice gives a personal recommendation that free guidance does not, for a fee; whether that pays off depends on your case.
If your employer has not paid your pension contributions, compare your payslip with your pension statement, raise it with them, then tell the Pensions Regu…
People's Pension adviser help: the scheme offers tools, guidance and a phone line, says it can't advise on transfers and points to regulated advisers.
A pension power of attorney lets a trusted person deal with someone else's pension. The paperwork depends on the nation, and each provider sets its own che…
The Pensions Ombudsman is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, with the money recovered from a levy on pension schemes. It is free to use.
What is the pension advice allowance? Up to £500 a tax year can go from a money purchase pension straight to an adviser, tax free, up to three times.
Yes. The Pensions Regulator oversees workplace pension schemes and the FCA regulates personal pensions; other bodies cover insurers, tax and complaints.
How long is a Pension Wise appointment? MoneyHelper says a phone appointment lasts up to 60 minutes, and an online one usually takes around 30 and can be p…
Pension Wise is free, impartial guidance from the government-backed MoneyHelper service that explains your options for taking a defined contribution pension.
Pension liberation means getting cash out of a pension before the minimum age, usually through a scheme built for it. It brings tax charges and scam risk.
NHS pension advice comes from different places: the scheme administrator for your record, MoneyHelper for free guidance, a regulated adviser for personal a…
Free Pension Credit advice comes from the DWP claim line, Age UK, Citizens Advice and Independent Age, and each helps in a slightly different way.
Police pension advice comes from your force's pensions team for figures, the Police Federation for background and a regulated adviser for a recommendation.
Are pension scheme accounts publicly available? Often yes: the public-sector schemes and many workplace schemes publish theirs, and you can ask for a copy.
Three short questions, no financial details to start. One FCA-authorised adviser firm can talk through your pension or equity release questions and explain your options, and how it is paid. Free to enquire, no obligation.