A self-invested personal pension (or SIPP) may be a good choice for you if you have some extra income that you would like to invest in your pension. A SIPP gives you the freedom to choose and manage your investments, as it acts like a “wrapper” holding them together until you retire and start to draw from your retirement fund.

If you are looking to open a SIPP, there is some advice to know that may come in handy. Here you can find some basic information about a SIPP, as well as some advice you may need to know before opening one.

SIPP Basics

When opening a SIPP an investor has two options to choose from: either an assisted SIPP, or an unassisted SIPP. An assisted SIPP takes advantage of the assistance of pension administrators, which could range from investment advice, research, or helping to establish and maintain investment goals. An unassisted SIPP, on the other hand, means that the investor is just using the administrator to conduct transactions.

The difference to a state pension is that state pensions are usually inactive, and the investor has little to no control over it. A SIPP requires the investor to take control of it and continue to be active in order for it to benefit them.

Choosing a SIPP

Perhaps the best SIPP pension advice available is to thoroughly research which option and provider is best for you. Each provider has different fees and rates attached to their pension schemes, which will affect how much your pension is eventually worth.

One of the advantages of having a SIPP is that it allows you to take advantage of a wider range of investment options. For example, a SIPP can give you access to listed and unlisted stocks and shares, investment trusts, property and property funds, cash, and gold bullion, just to name a few. You also have the ability to transfer existing pensions into a SIPP, however it is important to check whether any financial penalties could be imposed when you move your money.

SIPP Fund Recommendations

It is not easy to compare the best SIPP providers, and the best recommendation available is to research your options thoroughly, so that you can find the best one available for your investments and retirement goals. The more sophisticated your SIPP and the wider the range of your investments, the more it could potentially cost you to set up a SIPP and manage it.

It is critical to keep the various set-up, administrative, transfer, and annual management fees involved in mind with a SIPP. These fees will affect how much is in your SIPP, and therefore, how much is available to you when you retire. However, taking the time to research SIPP funds, ask questions, and find which option is best for you could end up benefiting you and your pension in the long run.

One of the best advantages of a SIPP, though, is that it allows you full control of your pension and your retirement.

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