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Important information - A pension is meant for your retirement, so you can’t normally access your money until you’re 55 (57 from 2028). Pension and tax rules can change and tax relief depends on your circumstances. This information is not personal advice. Investments go down in value as well as up so you could get back less than you invest. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, we can put you in touch with one of our financial advisers.

What is a pension?

A pension is a long-term investment plan that you (and often your employer) pay into for later life.

It's there to help provide you with an income to live off when you retire or decide to work less. It also offers favourable tax treatment compared to some other ways of saving.

Learn more about pension basics

Know your pension

Your pension is there to help you make the most of your retirement. The better you know your pension, the more confident you'll be that you're saving enough for your future.

Our checklist can help you with ways to be on top of your pension, it's full of easy-to-use online tools and calculators.

See the checklist

See the checklist

The HL Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)

Take control of your retirement savings with the award-winning HL SIPP.

  • Peace of mind
    We're a financially secure FTSE-listed company, trusted by over 1.9 million clients. With over 40 years' experience in empowering people to save and invest for a brighter future. And have won over 200 awards, including Best Buy Pension 2024 by Boring Money Awards.

  • Great value for money
    The latest news, research and insight from our team of experts.

  • Invest how and where you want to
    Pick your own investments, select our Ready-Made Pension Plan, or pay a financial adviser to choose investments for you.

  • Flexibility at retirement
    With the HL SIPP, you're free to choose from all the main retirement options.

Combining your pensions

It’s important that you’re in control of your pension savings - particularly as you approach retirement. Depending on your needs and the kind of pension you have, it could make sense to consolidate and transfer to one easy-to-manage account, like your HL SIPP.

It’s important that you’re in control of your pension savings - particularly as you approach retirement. Depending on your needs and the kind of pension you have, it could make sense to consolidate and transfer to one easy-to-manage account.

Learn more about transferring

More about the HL SIPP

How much should I pay into my pension?

If you're a UK resident under 75, you can usually pay in as much as you earn, up to £60,000 a year, and get tax relief. You may be able to pay in more than £60,000 if you have unused allowance from previous years.

If you don't have any earnings, you can still pay in up to £3,600 a year and receive tax relief.

Remember, tax rules change and benefits depend on individual circumstances.

More about how much you should pay in

Is your pension on track?

Use our pension calculator to discover how much your pension might pay.

Try the calculator

Pension essentials

Types of pension

There are a number of different pension types in the UK. One way to categorise them is into private pensions, workplace pensions, and the State Pension. The type of pension scheme you have or are eligible for, will depend on your situation.

How to find old pensions

If you’ve moved jobs or changed address, you might have lost pension pots waiting to be found. Find out how to track yours down.

Pensions for children

If you’re looking for a way to help your children or grandchildren financially, paying into a pension can get them off to a great start.

Discover Junior SIPPs

Taking money from your pension

Money in your pension is locked away until you're 55 (57 from 2028). But any time after that, you can start receiving an income, even if you're still working. Explore the main options for accessing a pension, which you can mix and match to achieve a balance of secure and flexible income to suit your lifestyle.

Learn about your retirement options

HL Workplace Pension

Added value for your employees

Perfect for employers who want to offer modern and competitive workplace benefits, plus free financial education.

Discover the workplace Pension

Best UK pension provider 2024
Best UK Pension Provider
Investing in the Web's Global Broker Awards 2024
Best Buy Pension 2024
Best Buy Pension
Boring Money Awards 2024
Best Online Stockbroker 23/24
Best Online Stockbroker 3 Years Running
The Personal Finance Awards 2023/24

Help and support

Take a look at our most frequently asked questions for quick answers.

If you need more assistance or have specific questions, please contact us.