💼 Pension Review in Southend-on-Sea

🤔 Unsure how your pensions are performing, what fees you’re paying or whether your plans still match your retirement goals? At Mortgage Broker Southend, we connect you with experienced advisers who can review your existing pensions, locate old workplace pots and explain your options in clear, practical terms.

📍 We support clients across Southend, Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff, Thorpe Bay, Shoeburyness, Chalkwell, Southchurch and Prittlewell — helping you see exactly what you hold, what it costs and how it’s tracking toward your target retirement date.

✨ Why arrange a pension review?

• 🔎 Clarity: Bring all of your pensions into one clear picture, including any “lost” pots from previous employers.
• 📊 Charges & performance: Understand total fees and how investments have performed versus suitable benchmarks.
• ⚖️ Right risk level: Check whether your investment mix still fits your time horizon and risk tolerance.
• 🧾 Simplification: Explore sensible consolidation to reduce admin and potentially lower costs (while preserving valuable benefits).
• 💷 Contribution strategy: Confirm your payments (and employer contributions) are working efficiently.
• 👵 Near retirement: Compare flexible drawdown vs guaranteed income (annuities) and how tax-free cash may apply.

📂 What the review covers

• 📑 Plan details: Scheme type (workplace, personal, stakeholder, SIPP), current values and contributions.
• 💰 Fees & features: Platform/fund charges and any safeguarded benefits or guarantees.
• 📈 Investments: Funds or model portfolios, diversification and suitability for your timeline.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Beneficiaries: Up-to-date nominations so benefits can be paid according to your wishes.
• 🧩 Gaps & overlaps: Identify concentration risk or duplicate holdings across pots.

🔄 Should you consolidate pensions?

Combining pots can streamline paperwork and sometimes reduce fees. It isn’t always right — exit penalties, guarantees or scheme-specific features may be worth keeping. Your review weighs the pros and cons for each pot before any change.

🎯 Approaching retirement: fit for purpose

If you’re within 5–10 years of retiring, we’ll check whether your investments and withdrawal plan align with your target age and income needs. You’ll get a plain-English comparison of drawdown and annuities, plus how sequencing risk and market volatility can affect outcomes.

🤝 How we work with you

1. 📞 Discovery call: Understand your pensions, goals and timescales.
2. 🗂️ Information gather: We help collate statements, policy numbers and provider details — and trace old workplace pots.
3. 🔍 Review & recommendations: An adviser analyses charges, investments and features, then explains options clearly.
4. ⚙️ Implement (if you choose): Any agreed changes are managed for you with regular updates.
5. 📆 Ongoing check-ins: Optional annual reviews to keep your plan 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 (Southend)

🔎 Can you help trace pensions from old employers?

Yes — we’ll help locate previous workplace pots and gather the details needed for a complete review.

⚖️ Is consolidating always the best option?

Not necessarily. While consolidation can reduce costs and admin, some pots carry valuable guarantees that are worth keeping. The review checks this first.

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

Drawdown keeps investments in the market and offers flexible income; an annuity converts some or all of your pot into guaranteed income. The right route depends on your priorities and risk tolerance.

📈 Can I change how my pension is invested?

Often yes. Many schemes offer a menu of funds or models. The review assesses whether your current mix remains suitable.

📆 How often should I review my pensions?

An annual review is common, with extra check-ins after major life events and as retirement gets closer.