Frequently Asked Questions
About this page
This page is aimed specifically at UK-regulated financial advisers. PensionBee only works with UK-based financial advisers who are directly regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and regulated firms listed on the FCA register. We do not work with any overseas advisers or firms. Please share a link to your relevant permissions on the FCA register with any transfer out requests.
About our service
What customer information can PensionBee provide to financial advisers who are directly regulated by the FCA?
PensionBee is set up to provide information on a one-off basis to advisers regulated by the FCA, as a response to a ‘Letter of Authority’. This is because our systems are highly automated and we cannot support an ongoing third party from a compliance standpoint, or guarantee that our level of service or communication will be the same. We do have a lot of requests from advisers seeking to use PensionBee for their clients so we are looking into this, but at this stage, we are simply not set up to accommodate third parties.
Does PensionBee facilitate adviser charging?
No, PensionBee is an an execution-only pension provider.
Can you explain the terms BeeHive, BeeKeeper and Nectar Collector?
The BeeHive is the online account of the customer where they can see their pension balance, make contributions, add beneficiaries and more. The BeeKeeper is the dedicated account manager of the customer. The Nectar Collectors are our pension administrators.
PensionBee at accumulation
What is the current value of the plan the customer is invested in?
The customer is able to find this by accessing the balance section of the BeeHive.
What was the start date of our mutual customer’s plan?
The customer can find this on the first Annual Statement, which shows under the my plan section of the BeeHive. Alternatively the balance section shows a full transaction history back to the start of the plan.
Does PensionBee provide projections?
We produce pre-sales and post-sales illustrations as well as Annual Statements. We do not provide bespoke projections. We have a pension calculator available in the BeeHive but this is not a statutory illustration.
Does PensionBee provide a list of all historic transactions?
Yes, this can be found under the balance section of the BeeHive.
Do you charge an initial setup fee?
No, there is no initial fee. Visit our fees page for more info.
What are the annual costs?
These vary by investment choice. Please see our fees page for a full summary. It’s important to note that the quoted annual management costs include both the wrapper charges and the fund charges.
What investment options are available to members?
Please visit our plans page for a full summary of all the options available.
What is the maximum number of plans that a customer’s pension can be split across?
Customers can choose one of the available plans. It’s not possible to pick more than one plan.
Are these funds illiquid or liquid?
All our investment plans are liquid.
Are any of your plans currently suspended or closed for clients looking to transfer out?
All of our plans are liquid and we do not currently have a property fund.
Do any of your plans have bonuses attached?
No, we do not offer any with-profits plans nor any other type of bonus.
Do any of your plans have life cover or accidental death cover attached?
No, because we have never offered these types of plans in the past.
Do any of your plans have guaranteed annuity rates or other guarantees attached?
None of our plans have any guarantees attached to them.
Do you have any lifestyle or target dated plans?
Our Tailored Plan is target dated. We do not offer lifestyling on any of our plans.
Are customers able to switch plans?
Yes, customers can switch between plans online under the plans section of the Beehive.
Is there a fee for switching plans or a limit on the number of fund switches per year?
We do not charge a fee for switching funds. There is no limit to the number of switches available.
Do your plans have multiple sections?
No they do not.
Are there any fees associated with the client making contributions?
None
What is the Allocation Rate on PensionBee pensions?
The Allocation Rate is 100%.
What are the ISIN codes of all of your plans?
Our plans are also available to view on Morningstar.
Tailored Plan
This plan has eight vintages, based on the year you retire. Retirement age is 65.
BlackRock Life LifePath Flexi Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXL05 / BFBFXL0. View on Morningstar.
BlackRock Life LifePath 2019-2021 Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXB07 / BFBFXB0. View on Morningstar.
BlackRock Life LifePath 2025-2027 Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXC14 / BFBFXC1. View on Morningstar.
BlackRock Life LifePath 2031-2033 Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXD21 / BFBFXD2. View on Morningstar.
BlackRock Life LifePath 2037-2039 Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXF45 / BFBFXF4. View on Morningstar.
BlackRock Life LifePath 2043-2045 Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXG51 / BFBFXG5. View on Morningstar.
BlackRock Life LifePath 2049-2051 Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXH68 / BFBFXH6. View on Morningstar.
BlackRock Life LifePath 2055-2057 Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXJ82 / BFBFXJ8. View on Morningstar.
BlackRock Life LifePath 2061-2063 Class O. ISIN: GB00BFBFXK97 / BFBFXK9. View on Morningstar.
Tracker Plan
MPF Balanced Index Sub-Fund. ISIN: GB00BD35QM61. View on Morningstar.
Pre-Annuity Plan
MPF Stlg Non-Gilts Bd Over 15 Yr Sub-Fund. ISIN: GB00BDCLK564. View on Morningstar.
4Plus Plan
MPF Dynamic Diversified Sub-Fund. ISIN: GB00BG217453. View on Morningstar.
Preserve Plan
MPF Stlg Liquidity Sub-Fund. ISIN: GB00BWDBJF10. View on Morningstar.
Shariah Plan
HSBC MPF Islamic Equity Index Sub-Fund. ISIN: GB00BF2SYC67. View on Morningstar. (This fund is lifewrapped by State Street MPF).
Impact Plan
BlackRock Life Impact Broad Equity Fund. ISIN: GB00BN091826.
Fossil Fuel Free Plan
FTSE TPI Global (ex Fossil Fuels) Equity Index Fund. The fund code is GPEH.
Are there any fee waivers or discounts?
There are no fee waivers or fee reductions.
Does waiver of premiums apply?
No.
Is bid offer spread applicable?
Please see our Transaction Costs Disclosure for further information.
What is the pension input period?
The pension input period runs in line with the tax year.
Transferring out of PensionBee
What is PensionBee’s transfer out process?
If the receiving provider is using Origo Options, they will need to request a transfer through the electronic system. Please ask them to search for PensionBee in order to avoid delays.
If the provider is not using Origo Options, they will need to email their transfer-in forms to [email protected]. These forms are not always complete and we may need further information to initiate a transfer.
PensionBee aims to transfer to other Financial Conduct Authority regulated personal pension companies on Origo Options within 14 days. Our average transfer out time to other Financial Conduct Authority regulated providers is 10 days. The majority of the industry has subscribed to this service. Transfers to other providers may take longer and additional due diligence may be required. Whilst identification is not usually required, this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Does PensionBee allow partial transfers out?
Yes we do. These should be requested by the receiving provider on Origo Options.
Is PensionBee part of a block or bulk transfer?
PensionBee transfers pensions on an individual basis and this is not part of a bulk or block transfer.
Do we charge any early exit fee/transfer out fees?
There are no penalties or fees for transferring out at any point.
PensionBee at retirement
What is the customer’s retirement date?
We assume a retirement age of 65 for all customers.
Is the small pot options available when encashing?
This is not available.
Do we offer the uncrystallised fund lump sum option?
We offer flexi-access drawdown only.
Can members go into a flexi-access drawdown plan directly with the scheme?
Yes, flexi-access drawdown is available.
Would this require an internal transfer?/does the client need to move this existing plan to go into drawdown?
No internal transfer is required.
Can a regular monthly income be set up?
Not currently but this will be available in the near future.
Are there any restrictions on the number of ad hoc withdrawals in a year?
There are no restrictions, so the member can opt to take a withdrawal every month if they so wished.
Is there a minimum withdrawal amount?
No.
Are there any ad-hoc withdrawal fees?
No.
What are all associated charges with the client designating funds into drawdown?
PensionBee does not charge extra fees on pension drawdown. However, if the funds have been with PensionBee for less than a year and the customer withdraws it in full, then a full withdrawal fee of £150 applies. This fee will also be charged should the value of the account be less than the £150 fee at the point of withdrawal.
Can you take more than 25% protected tax free cash?
No, we don’t offer more than 25% protected tax free cash.
What would the annual management charge be once the member is in drawdown?
The annual management charge would not be affected.
What funds are available to customers once they are in drawdown?
These can be found on our plans page.