Getting your retirement savings into one place

If you have retirement saving accounts with previous employers, you can normally transfer them into your current retirement savings account in the Plan. There could be benefits to combining your retirement savings accounts, including:

saving money: charges may be lower.
having more choice: investment options may be better.
having more access and support: such as online access that helps you track and manage your investments in real time.
saving time: dealing with fewer pension providers can save valuable time whenever you want to make changes.

But having your retirement savings in one place might not be right for everyone. If you are considering transferring another pension arrangement into The Tesco Retirement Savings Plan, we recommend you read our Guide to pension transfersOpens in new tab.

Be scam smart

Pension scams are on the increase and your pension can be lost in moments. Scammers can look and sound credible no matter how savvy you are, so be aware of the warning signs.

Scam tactics often include contact out-of-the-blue, promises of high or guaranteed returns, free pension reviews, early access to your pension and pressure to act quickly. To find out more about how pension scams work, how to avoid them and what to do if you suspect a scam, please read the ScamSmart leaflet (PDF)Opens in new tab and visit Financial Conduct Authority’s ‘ScamSmart’ websiteOpens in new tab.

How to transfer other retirement savings plans

If you know the name of your previous retirement savings (or pension) provider, you can use our free pension transfer service, provided by My Future Now (MFN).

It's a simple way to combine all your retirement savings in one place, making it easier to plan your retirement income and potentially save on pension management charges.

You can set up the transfer online from your laptop, tablet or mobile and there's no obligation to proceed.

My Future Now is part of Legal & General Workplace Savings.

What to do next

Go to My Future NowOpens in new tab to find out more about the service and begin the transfer process. You will need your National Insurance number, the name of the pension provider and the policy number (if you have it).

We will then check the paperwork to make sure the pension can be transferred.

We'll keep you up to date at all times and the whole process usually takes up to five weeks to complete.

Watch the video for information about combining pensions into one place and how to get help tracking down lost pensions.

Transcript

My Future Now helps you combine your pension pots, making it easier for you to manage your pension savings through one online account.

It might even save you money on lower fees and charges.

If you've got a Legal & General pensions account, or once you've set yours up, to start combining your pensions, we'll just need a few details.

Your current address, your National Insurance number and your Legal & General pension policy number.

We'll make it easy for you to decide about transferring your pensions.

On our website we give you a timeline on the process and a list of pension types for you to check if yours is eligible for transfer.

Just tell us what you know about your existing pensions and we'll do the rest.

Once you've registered to transfer your pensions, we'll need your pension provider and policy number, if you know it.

If you can't locate your policy number, don't worry, we can contact the pension provider on your behalf.

We'll tell you everything you need to consider before you transfer, about any charges, if you can change your mind, and about any retirement investment options.

We'll show you a summary of your details for you to check and provide a declaration so you can confirm you're happy for us to work on your behalf.

You can easily authorise the transfer using our E signature function, then submit your request and we'll do the rest.
If you know your policy details, transfers usually take two to five weeks.

If you're unsure, you can still proceed and we'll ask your previous provider to send us your policy number, but this can take between 4 to 16 weeks.

If you'd like to combine your pension pots with My Future Now, log in and get started today.

Getting advice

There are a few things you need to consider before you decide to combine your retirement savings accounts. For example, consider the charges for each plan, whether there are any penalties for transferring, whether there are any benefits or guarantees you might lose if you move your money and what options are available at retirement.

We would always recommend taking financial advice to make sure that transferring is the right thing for you. Financial advisers usually charge a fee for their services, but it will be personal to you and your circumstances. Please see Guidance and financial adviceOpens in new tab for further information on the options available to you.

We will only accept a transfer payment from a retirement (or pension) scheme that has safeguarded benefits or is invested in a With Profits Fund, if you have received financial advice that recommends you make the transfer.

Safeguarded benefits include some sort of guarantee about the rate of secure pension income that you, or your survivors, might receive. Examples include:

Defined benefit (DB) schemes, also referred to as final salary schemes
Schemes with a guaranteed annuity rate
Schemes with a guaranteed minimum pension

You may be able to transfer from a DB pension scheme without advice if the value of your transfer is under £30,000. You should be aware of the risks of transferring from a DB pension scheme and understand the consequences of doing so. Please contact our helpline on 0345 070 0090Opens in new tab for further information.

Call charges will vary, and we may record and monitor calls.

We also cannot accept a transfer from a plan that is in income drawdown or flexi-access drawdown. You can check if any of these apply to you on your most recent pension statement from your previous provider.