Get help with my pension
If you need help with your pension, the best place to start is usually your pension provider. They can help you understand how much you’ve saved, how your pension is performing, and what your retirement options might be.
At Smart Pension, we offer a range of online tools and guidance to help you make sense of your pension. If you have a question about your account, want to start increasing contributions or find out more about your retirement options, our customer care team will give you the support you need.
Want to find out who and what else can help you out? Here’s what you need to know.
Talk to your employer
Your workplace pension is an important part of your retirement, especially if both you and your employer are contributing towards it.
If you’ve got a workplace pension, ask your employer to explain how your scheme works, including how much is being paid in, and whether additional contributions are matched. Over time, these regular contributions, combined with investment growth, can build into a meaningful source of income for later life.
While there are other ways to save for retirement, such as personal pensions or SIPPs, it’s often worth understanding and making the most of your workplace pension first before exploring additional options.
Access free help from the government
Trusted government-backed services are available to support you with your pension-related queries.
MoneyHelper offers free, impartial information on pensions, savings, and debt, helping you understand your retirement options at every stage.
If you’re over 50, Pension Wise provides free, one-to-one appointments to talk through your retirement options, including how to access your pension and what tax you might pay.
These free services can be a useful next step if you’re looking for guidance beyond your pension provider and employer.
Bring everything together
When you have pension savings with different providers, it can be difficult to know where you stand or how close you are to your goals.
Bringing your savings together into one place can make it easier for you to understand your pension and take next steps.
With a single view, it’s easier to keep track of your savings, understand any fees you’re paying, and make informed decisions about your future. It can also reduce paperwork and the need to manage multiple accounts.
A single view to stay on track
Ease and clarity play important roles in long-term savings. When you have pension savings with different providers, it can be difficult to know where you stand or how close you are to your goals.
By contrast, having everything in one place can help you stay engaged with your savings and make small adjustments as needed, whether that’s increasing contributions, reviewing performance, or planning ahead.
It’s not about making big changes all at once, but about having the information you need to make choices that work for you over time.
Talk to an adviser
If you need advice tailored to your personal circumstances, you may want to speak to an independent financial adviser (IFA).
An IFA can be particularly helpful if you’re making bigger decisions, like how to take your pension, managing larger savings, or planning for later life. While there is usually a cost, it can help you feel more confident in your choices.
Planning for your retirement
There’s no single way to plan for retirement. It’s about finding an approach that works for you.
You might start by reviewing your current savings, using tools like a pension calculator, or bringing your pensions together to get a clearer picture of where you stand. From there, you can begin to think about how and when you might want to use your savings.
If you’d like to talk things through, our UK-based Retirement Support Team can help you understand your options. Whether you’re just starting to plan or getting closer to taking your pension, you can call us on 0330 174 0643 for guidance at a time that suits you.
A quick conversation can sometimes help you feel more confident about your pension and your future.
Taking your pension
As you approach retirement, your focus may shift from saving to using your pension. At this stage, understanding your options becomes even more important.
You may choose to take some of your savings as a tax-free lump sum, set up a regular income, or leave your money invested and access it gradually. There isn’t a single way to take your pension - it depends on your plans, your needs, and how you want your retirement to look.
Many people choose to take their pension in stages, rather than all at once. Doing this will allow you to balance income, flexibility, and ongoing investment growth.
Final thought
Getting help with your pension doesn’t have to be complicated. Starting with what you already have, your workplace pension can give you a strong foundation to build on.
Over time, bringing your pensions together, staying engaged with your savings, and understanding your options can make planning feel more manageable. With Smart Pension, you can move from saving to spending in one place, with the flexibility to take your pension your way, all from the same account.
Good to know
This information is for guidance purposes only and is not financial advice. If you need financial advice you can locate a regulated financial adviser on the MoneyHelper website. Where we provide links to third-party websites we are not responsible for their content, so it's important for you to carry out your own independent research.
