About workplace pensions
A workplace pension helps you to save for retirement through contributions taken direct from your salary
What is a workplace pension?
Generally speaking, all pension schemes are long-term savings plans. They help you to save money that can be used after you've stopped working full or part-time.
Most people qualify for some support from the government as they grow older, but a State Pension probably won’t cover all of your needs. This is why automatic enrolment – or auto enrolment – exists, encouraging you to save regularly by being a member of a workplace pension.
What is a workplace pension?
Generally speaking, all pension schemes are long-term savings plans. They help you to save money that can be used after you've stopped working full or part-time.
Most people qualify for some support from the government as they grow older, but a State Pension probably won’t cover all of your needs. This is why automatic enrolment – or auto enrolment – exists, encouraging you to save regularly by being a member of a workplace pension.
Who enrols me in a workplace pension?
Every employer in the UK has to offer a workplace pension scheme by law, and the business has to automatically enrol anyone who’s eligible. Each month, your employer will deduct a set amount from your salary before paying you. Your employer will also put money into the scheme, helping you to save for retirement. At the moment, as long as you qualify, the pension provider will add money from the government in the form of tax relief.
Alternatively, when you join a new employer, you could be invited to become a member of your employer's workplace pension scheme as part of your onboarding or joining process. You may already be a member of another pension scheme – either a private pension or a different employer’s workplace pension – but every time you change jobs, you’ll be invited to join the new employer’s scheme.
Being enrolled in a workplace pension is helpful. It means you’re saving for retirement automatically. Your employer has enrolled you in the Smart Pension Master Trust. It's a defined contribution scheme that pays money into a master trust.
Who enrols me in a workplace pension?
Every employer in the UK has to offer a workplace pension scheme by law, and the business has to automatically enrol anyone who’s eligible. Each month, your employer will deduct a set amount from your salary before paying you. Your employer will also put money into the scheme, helping you to save for retirement. At the moment, as long as you qualify, the pension provider will add money from the government in the form of tax relief.
Alternatively, when you join a new employer, you could be invited to become a member of your employer's workplace pension scheme as part of your onboarding or joining process. You may already be a member of another pension scheme – either a private pension or a different employer’s workplace pension – but every time you change jobs, you’ll be invited to join the new employer’s scheme.
Being enrolled in a workplace pension is helpful. It means you’re saving for retirement automatically. Your employer has enrolled you in the Smart Pension Master Trust. It's a defined contribution scheme that pays money into a master trust.
What are the other types of pension scheme?
The Smart Pension Master Trust is a defined contribution scheme. You'll also hear it called a workplace pension, but it's the contributions you make that determine which type of scheme it is.
The most common pension schemes in the UK are occupational pensions and personal pensions. Within those two categories, there are then several other arrangements. What's important, is that every pension helps you to plan for retirement by saving money from your salary.
In a pension scheme like ours, you and your employer both pay money in on a regular basis. You may also get tax relief on the contributions.
Defined contribution schemes
Defined contribution schemes are also known as money purchase schemes. In a defined contribution scheme, employers and employees put a known amount of money into the scheme. It's a fixed (defined) percentage of your salary. That money is then invested in stocks, shares, and other investments. When employees reach their retirement dates, they can then access those savings in different ways.
Master trusts in general are a type of defined contribution pension, run by a board of trustees. The trustees take responsibility for the scheme, the investments, and the way members are kept updated about their savings. They hold the money in trust for the scheme’s members, making sure it’s accessible when employees reach their retirement dates.
Group personal pensions
Group personal pensions are similar to personal pensions. Employers decide which company provides the pension, but employees have individual contracts with the pension provider.
Defined benefit pension schemes
A defined benefit pension scheme - which may include final salary and career average pension schemes (CARE schemes) - operates in a completely different way to defined contribution schemes and group personal pensions. The pension will be calculated using a person's salary and how long they've worked for their employer. The employer is responsible for funding the scheme so that it can pay everyone's pensions.
The advantage of a defined benefit scheme for members is that they are protected from investment risk, as the employer will need to make good any shortfall in investment performance.
The Pension Protection Fund is available to members of defined benefit pension schemes to provide compensation to members if their employer fails to succeed commercially and the scheme is underfunded.
Final salary pension schemes
A final salary pension scheme is a type of defined benefit pension. Members of these schemes get a defined amount of money that’s based on their final salary. If they retire earlier than planned, their salary may not be as high as it could have been and they may not get as much.
What are the other types of pension scheme?
The Smart Pension Master Trust is a defined contribution scheme. You'll also hear it called a workplace pension, but it's the contributions you make that determine which type of scheme it is.
The most common pension schemes in the UK are occupational pensions and personal pensions. Within those two categories, there are then several other arrangements. What's important, is that every pension helps you to plan for retirement by saving money from your salary.
In a pension scheme like ours, you and your employer both pay money in on a regular basis. You may also get tax relief on the contributions.
Defined contribution schemes
Defined contribution schemes are also known as money purchase schemes. In a defined contribution scheme, employers and employees put a known amount of money into the scheme. It's a fixed (defined) percentage of your salary. That money is then invested in stocks, shares, and other investments. When employees reach their retirement dates, they can then access those savings in different ways.
Master trusts in general are a type of defined contribution pension, run by a board of trustees. The trustees take responsibility for the scheme, the investments, and the way members are kept updated about their savings. They hold the money in trust for the scheme’s members, making sure it’s accessible when employees reach their retirement dates.
Group personal pensions
Group personal pensions are similar to personal pensions. Employers decide which company provides the pension, but employees have individual contracts with the pension provider.
Defined benefit pension schemes
A defined benefit pension scheme - which may include final salary and career average pension schemes (CARE schemes) - operates in a completely different way to defined contribution schemes and group personal pensions. The pension will be calculated using a person's salary and how long they've worked for their employer. The employer is responsible for funding the scheme so that it can pay everyone's pensions.
The advantage of a defined benefit scheme for members is that they are protected from investment risk, as the employer will need to make good any shortfall in investment performance.
The Pension Protection Fund is available to members of defined benefit pension schemes to provide compensation to members if their employer fails to succeed commercially and the scheme is underfunded.
Final salary pension schemes
A final salary pension scheme is a type of defined benefit pension. Members of these schemes get a defined amount of money that’s based on their final salary. If they retire earlier than planned, their salary may not be as high as it could have been and they may not get as much.
Instant changes to your
pension savings
You won’t need to check in on your pension savings every day. They're designed to be a long-term investment. But if you do need or want to get an update, then the secure Smart Pension makes it easy to get that information straight away. There’s no need to make a phone call or to wait for a letter.
Our app will give you real time information about your pension savings. It puts your future into the palm of your hand.
Instant changes to your
pension savings
You won’t need to check in on your pension savings every day. They're designed to be a long-term investment. But if you do need or want to get an update, then the secure Smart Pension makes it easy to get that information straight away. There’s no need to make a phone call or to wait for a letter.
Our app will give you real time information about your pension savings. It puts your future into the palm of your hand.
Instant changes to your
pension savings
You won’t need to check in on your pension savings every day. They're designed to be a long-term investment. But if you do need or want to get an update, then the secure Smart Pension makes it easy to get that information straight away. There’s no need to make a phone call or to wait for a letter.
Our app will give you real time information about your pension savings. It puts your future into the palm of your hand.
Smart Pension's fund choices
Smart All Stocks Index - Linked Gilts Index Fund
Aims to track the return of the FTSE Actuaries British Government Index Linked All Stocks Index, which features UK government bonds with returns linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI).
Smart Annuity Fund
Aims to invest in a way which matches the broad characteristics of investments underlying the pricing of a typical non-inflation linked annuity.
Smart Cash Fund
Aims to maintain capital and provide a return in-line with money market rates by investing in a range of money market securities denominated in sterling.
Smart De-risking Fund
This fund has been created so that it will typically suit most of our members who are approaching their target retirement age and would like a lower level of volatility than the smart growth funds.
Smart Ethical Global Equity Index Fund
Aims to track a filtered index, which excludes companies that operate in industries that breach certain ethical criteria.
Smart Future Fund
This fund aims to replicate the asset allocation, performance and risk profile of our Smart Growth Moderate fund, whilst incorporating additionalscreening criteria that revalues the weighting of each investment depending on their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) score. It aims to limit the additional risks associated with ESG factors.
Smart Growth Fund - Higher Risk
This fund carries a higher risk of fluctuation to your savings but has the potential for high growth, though this is not guaranteed
Smart Growth Fund - Lower Risk
This fund carries the lowest risk of loss but also reduced likelihood of a high return, but it may be suitable if you are concerned about volatility.
Smart Growth Fund - Moderate Risk
This fund has been created so that it will typically suit most our members, it has the medium level of risk of these funds.
Smart Income Fund
Aims to provide long-term investment growth up to and during retirement, to facilitate the drawdown of retirement income.
Smart Lower Risk Fund
This fund has been created so that it will typically suit most of our members who are approaching their target retirement age and would like an even lower level of volatility than the smart growth funds and the de-risking fund.
Smart North America Equity Index Fund
Aims to track the return of the FTSE World North America Index, which provides broad exposure to companies in the North American equity market.
Smart Overseas Bond Index Fund - GBP Hedged
Aims to invest in different types of bonds, including corporate and government bonds both in the UK and overseas.
Smart Sharia Fund
Aims to create long term appreciation of capital through investment in a diversified portfolio of securities which meets Islamic investment principles.
Smart UK FTSE 100 Equity Index Fund
Aims to track the return of the FTSE 100 Index, which contains the largest listed companies on the UK stock market.
Smart World (ex UK) Developed Equity Index Fund
Aims to track the performance of the FTSE Developed (ex UK) Index, which provides broad exposure to large and mid-cap companies in the developed world, excluding the UK.
Smart World Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund
Aims to track the return of the FTSE All-World Emerging Index, which provides access to key emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India and China.