Investments
Retirement Account
Strong multi-asset options, robust governance
Actively managed multi-asset portfolios, established track record, robust governance.
Our three portfolio ranges are designed to help your clients achieve a variety of their goals.
- A competitive charging structure that’s easy to explain to your clients
- The reassurance of an established track record
- Robust governance framework designed around helping to deliver good customer outcomes
- Independently risk-rated by a number of market leading risk profiling companies to help you choose the right options for your client's needs
- Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations built into our Multi Asset Portfolio Funds.
We believe asset allocation has the biggest impact on long-term performance. Our investments focus on long term strategic asset allocation. Our experienced asset allocation team monitor, review and manage asset allocation, with the goal of ensuring our funds continue to meet their objectives and aims.
Our multi-asset portfolios can be used in any combination of investment options within Retirement Account, meaning they are versatile for a wide range of clients and their retirement needs.
Our Guide to Multi-Asset Portfolios (PDF, 455KB) gives an overview of the fund ranges and independent risk ratings. This guide also provides links to individual fund Factsheets. To support your client conversations, our Client Guide (PDF, 592KB) helps your clients understand our multi-asset portfolios.
Responsible Investment
We are committed to making sure that our customers' money is invested responsibly. Read more about why we believe ESG factors can have a financial impact on investment portfolios and how we incorporate them into our decision-making.
Read our approach to Responsible Investment:
Multi-asset solutions at passive fund prices.
- At just 0.1%* Pension Portfolio Funds offer cost effective passive solutions while benefitting from active asset allocation
- Range of eight risk-rated funds
- Robust design and strong governance framework
- ESG built in - invests in the BlackRock ACS Climate Transition World Equity Fund which backs business well placed to transition to a low-carbon economy.
See our Pension Portfolio Funds Quarterly Update for our latest performance, asset allocation and our outlook for the next quarter
Managing significant volatility to help a drawdown client’s pension pot last longer.
- At 0.2%* Retirement Portfolio Funds are specifically designed for sustainable income
- Our innovative Dynamic Volatility Management process manages significant volatility to help pension pots last longer
- They offer growth potential without expensive guarantees or complex hybrid designs
- Range of four risk-rated funds with active asset allocation and passive components.
- ESG built in - invests in the BlackRock ACS Climate Transition World Equity Fund which backs business well placed to transition to a low-carbon economy.
Broad range of asset classes with specialist fund managers.
- At 0.4%* Premier Pension Portfolio funds offer active asset allocation and extensive diversification.
- Aim to provide growth for broadly the same level of volatility as our equivalent established Pension Portfolio Funds
- They give your clients competitively priced access to wider choice and specialist fund management, including smart beta and absolute return strategies to increase potential for good returns
- Range of eight risk rated funds with active and passive components
- ESG built in - invests in the BlackRock ACS Climate Transition World Equity Fund and the Impax Global Equity Opportunities Fund. Both back business well placed to transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.
See our Premier Pension Portfolio Funds Quarterly Update for our latest performance, asset allocation and our outlook for the next quarter.
Premier Pension Portfolio Funds Quarterly Update (PDF, 429KB)
Premier Pension Portfolio Funds Summary (PDF, 67KB)
*Current Total Annual Fund Charge within Retirement Account. This may change in the future.
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Personal Pension providers must offer "investment pathways" to non-advised customers when they crystallise some or all of their funds and move into Income Drawdown, or complete a Drawdown to Drawdown transfer.
Although this requirement is primarily aimed at non-advised customers, our investment pathway solutions are also available to your drawdown clients.
For clients taking flexible income, we have used our expertise to design four investment pathways solutions in which they can invest the remainder of their pension pot. Each pathway is aligned to one of the ways in which your clients might want to use their pension pot in the next five years.
Scottish Widows PathwaysCustomer need I have no plans to touch my money in the next five years I plan to use my money to set up a Guaranteed income in the next five years I plan to start taking my money as long-term income in the next five years I plan to take all my money out in the next five years Pathway solution Pathway 1 - Leave invested Pathway 2 - Buy annuity Pathway 3 - Long-term income Pathway 4 - Take money Why we think this solution may be appropriate Potential for long-term growth by investing mainly in fixed income securities and equities, with a slightly higher emphasis on fixed income securities Maintain the annuity purchasing ability of your pension fund, which it does by investing mainly in long-dated UK fixed interest securities Potential for long-term growth by investing mainly in fixed income securities and equities, with a slightly higher emphasis on fixed income securities Potential for growth above that for a cash fund, whilst aiming to maintain the value of a pension fund. Investing primarily in fixed interest securities with a small amount of equities Fund we currently use Pension Portfolio Four Pension Protector Fund Pension Portfolio Four Pension Portfolio C Fund charge (TAFC)* 0.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% *Total Annual Fund Charge
You can find out more here (PDF, 499KB) -
Our rigorous approach to governance includes oversight by an external, independent governance committee of investment experts.
- Our well-established internal governance framework (PDF, 369KB) is headed up by our Insurance Investment Strategy Committee and Unit-Linked Investment Management Committee.
- Our Fund Manager Assessment (PDF, 498KB) team carry out due diligence on all our funds focusing on customers’ needs, our proposition and our governance framework.
- We use input from independent modelling experts such as Moody’s Analytics to help shape and review our multi-asset ranges.
- Our asset allocation (PDF, 1MB) team take the vital asset allocation decisions for our multi-asset portfolio funds. They decide strategic long-term and medium asset allocation, and oversee the implementation of shorter-term tactical asset allocation.
- Find out more about our approach to investing (PDF, 1MB).
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We regularly review our products to make sure they deliver fair value and continue to meet the needs of their target market. We’ve developed statements to help with your due diligence process, including your regulatory disclosure requirements under Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFiD) and Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD)
- Multi-Asset Portfolio Funds Target Market (PDF, 1MB)
- Retirement Account Target Market (PDF, 163KB)
- Retirement Account Scottish Widows Pension Fund Charges (PDF, 348KB)
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For clients requiring more sophisticated investments, we offer a whole of market choice and specialist services.
- The Scottish Widows Pension Fund range has 150+ funds managed by 20+ leading fund management firms.
- Our Fund Supermarket gives access to approximately 3,400 funds from over 140 different managers, with no minimum investment required.
- Our online Portfolio Management Service helps you to create and manage your own ‘Adviser Portfolios’ from Scottish Widows Pension Funds and Fund Supermarket funds.
- You can find out more about these options, and other services including Share Dealing and Discretionary Fund Management here.
Investment Risks
- Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your client’s Retirement Account can invest in a range of investments which carry different levels of risk.
- Their value can go down as well as up, and may fall below the amount(s) paid in.