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Investing your pension
When you open a Retirement Account with Scottish Widows online, they take out the hassle of choosing individual funds and have designed investment choices to suit you. Firstly you need to think about is how you feel about the risks associated with investing i.e. are you a cautious, balanced or adventurous investor?
If you’re not sure of your risk appetite or how to take your pension at retirement, you can choose the default option. This is a balanced Governed Investment Strategy (GIS) that targets flexible access at retirement. This could suit a typical customer and reflects what we most commonly see in terms of risk appetite and retirement options. The default strategy is not personalised to you, and it may not meet your needs at retirement, so please consider this when making a decision about your investment options.
If you’re unsure what to choose, you can always seek financial advice. There will be a charge for this service.
What are my options?
The below table shows you how each Governed Investment Strategy (GIS) could potentially perform and whether it is right for you. A GIS is a type of investment that automatically adjusts how your pension is invested over time, gradually moving into lower risk funds as you get closer to your retirement.
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Investment choice |
How your pension pot could perform |
|---|---|
Investment choiceCautious You’re cautious with your investments and don’t feel comfortable taking much risk with your money. |
How your pension pot could performYou can expect your pension pot to have some ups and downs in value. While there’s potential for some growth, there’s also potential for some losses. |
Investment choiceBalanced You’re a balanced investor and feel comfortable taking some risk with your money for, potentially, more reward. |
How your pension pot could performYou can expect your pension pot to go up and down in value. While there’s potential for growth, there’s also the potential for losses. |
Investment choiceAdventurous You’re an adventurous investor and feel comfortable taking high risk with your money for, potentially high rewards. |
How your pension pot could performYou can expect your pension pot to have a lot of sharp ups and downs in value. While there’s potential for high growth, there’s also potential for significant losses. |
Default option
Our default investment strategy is a balanced Governed Investment Strategy (GIS) that targets flexible access at retirement.
How your pension is invested?
Depending on how you feel about the risk you want to take, they will invest your pension in one of their Governed Investment Strategies.
Governed Investment Strategies are the only choice available when you apply for a Retirement Account online. If you would like to look at other options for investing, you should seek independent financial advice. Please be aware you will be charged for this service.
Your questions answered
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A GIS is a type of investment that automatically adjusts how your pension is invested over time. It gradually moves your investment into lower risk funds as you get closer to your chosen retirement date.
Get more details about how your money is invested. Download the GIS guide (PDF, 1,212KB).
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Your money is typically invested in shares (known as 'equities') and bonds. With shares invested within the UK, emerging and developed markets overseas.
Shares are considered riskier investments than bonds, so a portfolio investing in a large percentage of shares will carry more risk than one investing in a larger percentage of bonds.
Get more details about how your money is invested. Download the guide (PDF, 1,212KB).
If you don’t feel comfortable making an investment choice yourself, you can speak to Scottish Widows for guidance or, if you’re looking for advice, our financial advice service offered by Schroders Personal Wealth or alternatively an Independent Financial Adviser (unbiased) . Bear in mind Financial Advisers will charge for the advice they give.