🏦 Pension Review in Brentwood

💭 Not sure how your pensions are doing, what you’re paying in fees or whether everything still fits your retirement goals? At Mortgage Broker Brentwood, we connect you with experienced advisers who review your existing pensions, trace old workplace pots and explain your options in plain English — so you can make confident decisions.

📍 We support clients across Brentwood, Shenfield, Hutton, Pilgrims Hatch, Ingatestone and Warley — helping you understand what you have today, what it costs and how it’s progressing toward your target retirement date.

💡 Why arrange a pension review?

• 👀 Visibility: See all your pensions in one place, including any “lost” pots from previous employers.
• 💰 Charges & performance: Understand the fees you pay and historic returns against appropriate benchmarks.
• ⚖️ Risk alignment: Check whether your investments still match your time horizon and risk tolerance.
• 🧾 Simplification: Consider consolidation to reduce admin and potentially lower costs (while protecting valuable benefits).
• 📈 Contribution strategy: Ensure your payments (and employer contributions) are working efficiently.
• 🎯 Near retirement: Compare income drawdown vs annuity and how/when tax-free cash may apply.

📋 What the review covers

• 📄 Plan details: Scheme type (workplace, personal, stakeholder, SIPP), current values and contribution levels.
• 💸 Fees & features: Platform/fund charges plus any safeguarded benefits or guarantees.
• 📊 Investments: Funds or model portfolios, diversification and suitability for your timeframe.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Beneficiaries: Keeping nominations up to date to reflect your wishes.
• 🧩 Gaps & overlaps: Spot concentration risks and duplicate holdings across pots.

🔄 Should you consolidate pensions?

Bringing pots together can simplify paperwork and sometimes lower fees. It isn’t always right — exit charges, guarantees (e.g., certain annuity rates) or scheme features may be worth keeping. Your review weighs the pros and cons for each pot before any change.

⏳ Approaching retirement: make it “fit for purpose”

If you’re within 5–10 years of retiring, we’ll test whether your investments and withdrawal plan align with your target age and income needs. You’ll see a clear comparison of drawdown vs annuity and how sequencing risk and market fluctuations could impact outcomes.

🤝 How we work with you

1. 📞 Discovery call: Understand your pensions, goals and timelines.
2. 📂 Information gather: We help collate statements, policy numbers and provider details — and trace old workplace pots.
3. 💼 Review & recommendations: An adviser analyses charges, features and investments, then explains options clearly.
4. 📝 Implement (if you choose): Any agreed changes are handled for you with regular updates.
5. 🔁 Ongoing check-ins: Optional annual reviews to keep everything on track.

🧾 What to bring

• 📃 Recent pension statements or a list of providers/policy numbers
• 🏢 Details of current and previous workplace schemes
• 📜 Any letters about guarantees or special features
• 🎯 Your target retirement age and income
• 💼 Recent payslip or contribution schedule (if contributing via salary)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Brentwood)

🔍 Can you help trace pensions from old employers?

✅ Yes — we’ll help locate previous workplace pots and collect the details needed for a full review.

⚖️ Is consolidating always the best move?

🧐 No. Consolidation can reduce fees and admin, but some pots include valuable guarantees that are worth keeping. The review checks this first.

💷 What’s the difference between drawdown and an annuity?

💡 Drawdown keeps your money invested and offers flexible withdrawals; an annuity provides guaranteed income. The best route depends on your goals and risk tolerance.

🔄 Can I change my investment funds?

📈 Often yes. Many schemes offer a range of funds or models. The review assesses whether your current mix remains appropriate.

📆 How often should I review my pensions?

🗓️ An annual review is common, with additional check-ins after life events and as you approach retirement.