Your pension investments, your choice
With Smart Pension, you’re in control of how hands-on you want to be.
- Expertly-managed vs self-managed investing
You can let our experts handle the investments through ‘We do it for you’, or, if you prefer more control and choice over how your savings are invested, we offer a ‘Do it yourself’ fund range.
Investment view
Explore the investment options available to you and see how your pension savings are invested.
You can learn more about each fund, understand the level of risk involved and choose the option that’s right for your retirement goals.
Assets under management
Funds to choose from
Total return over 5 years to 31/12/2025*
Pre-built investment strategies
*Based on the Smart Sustainable Growth Fund. Read our investment report for further detail.
We do it for you
If you’d prefer experts to manage your pension investments, this option is designed to make saving for retirement simple and straightforward. Your employer will choose an investment strategy for you, unless you choose otherwise, based on their pension scheme setup.
Expertly managed
Our investment experts actively manage your pension savings, helping your investments adapt to changing markets over time.
Designed for retirement
Your investments automatically adjust as you get closer to retirement, gradually moving into broadly lower-risk assets.
Backed by leading investment managers
Our funds are managed by leading firms including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and DWS Group, helping support the long-term growth of your savings.
Switch anytime
You can switch investment strategies at any time, including options that align with religious beliefs or lifestyle preferences.
Simple and straightforward
Best suited to members who want an easier, more hands-off approach to investing.
Seven investment strategies
Your employer will choose one of our seven investment strategies based on their pension scheme setup.
Do it yourself
If you prefer to take a more active role in your pension investments, you can choose how your savings are invested by selecting from a range of individual funds. This option is designed for members who want greater control and flexibility over how their pension is invested.
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Choose your own funds
Choose from 22 different funds, including options focused on different goals, industries and investment approaches.
Match your risk level
Select funds that reflect how much investment risk you’re comfortable taking, from more cautious to growth-focused approaches.
Invest around your values
Choose investments that align with what matters to you, including specialist options like our Halal Investment Strategy.
Greater control
Build an investment approach that reflects your own financial goals, values and retirement plans.
Adjust anytime
You can move between funds and update your selections over time as your circumstances change.
Designed for experienced investors
Best suited to members who want a more active role in managing their pension investments.
Investing with purpose
Our investment approach considers both financial performance and long-term sustainability. We believe responsible investing supports better long-term outcomes, and aim to always make a difference.
Learn more about investing
Find out more about investments and grow your pension the way you want.
Find more historic investment performance information in your Smart Pension account or contact us.
Investing when you retire
Use our retirement option, Smart Retire, to keep your pension savings invested while taking a flexible retirement income.
Our flexi-access drawdown option lets you withdraw money as needed while helping you manage your savings across different stages of retirement.
Flexible income pot
Invest your savings to support flexible income in retirement.
Rainy day pot
Keep your savings invested in a long-term growth fund.
Later life pot
A low-risk investment option designed to reduce short-term market fluctuations.
Inheritance pot
Investing in a medium to long-term fund, so you can buy an annuity.
Our investment approach
A pension investment is how your pension savings grow over time, typically by investing in a mix of assets like companies (equity), bonds and infrastructure.
Market volatility refers to the ups and downs in investment values over time. While your pension value may fluctuate in the short term, it should be invested with a long-term goal of supporting your retirement. The aim is to balance short-term movements with long-term growth potential. Read more on volatility.
Yes. Your pension value may rise and fall in the short term. Over time, though, pensions are built for long-term growth. You should check your retirement target, retirement date, and investments to make sure they still suit your plans and risk comfort.
No. Your pension is automatically invested for you using the default approach selected by your employer. If you invested in this, you should still make sure your retirement age and target are right for you.
You can fully manage your own investments by selecting from a variety of options with our self-select funds in your account. This gives you the flexibility to invest your pension savings your way.
Yes, you can review and change your investments at any time in the Smart Pension app or your online account.
Charges vary based on the selected investment choice you make. Full details of all charges are in your account.
Yes. We offer a range of pension funds across different regions, asset classes and exclusions, including options that comply with Islamic law.
These funds can help you align your pension with your personal, ethical, religious or lifestyle preferences. We also use stewardship activities, such as voting and engaging with companies, to encourage better business practices.
We welcome member feedback, which helps inform our policies. You can view our policies and contact the Trustee.
There are no additional charges for investing your pension. Small transaction costs may arise when investments are bought or sold, or when funds are changed. These costs are reflected in fund performance and reported annually in the Trustee's Chair's Statement.
