Open Market Option

Having built up your pension savings, when you wish to take your benefits, your existing pension provider will usually offer you a Pension Annuity, but you do not have to purchase your annuity from the company used to build up the fund. You have the right to take the Annuity from any provider you wish. This is called the "Open Market Option".

Annuity rates vary greatly between insurance companies. Whilst your existing provider may offer you an annuity income, this may well not be the best available. You can therefore exercise your Open Market Option and shop around to see what rates or arrangements other insurance companies can offer.

The best rate, and therefore the amount that you will receive for the remainder of your life and possibly your spouse's or civil partner's life, could be as much as 50% higher than the worst.

If you have an Occupational Money Purchase Pension, the trustees of the scheme may buy your Pension Annuity for you. However, you can also exercise your 'Open Market Option' to find a better alternative.

We can find you the best rate with only a few basic details from you, and for which there is no charge. Complete our quick enquiry form or call our Freephone number.

Download our comprehensive pension options guide by clicking on the above image.

Financial Advisers

Jonathan Walker
Jonathan is the director and joint owner of the Pension Drawdown Company.

Robert Bolton
Robert is a practising Barrister and is also fully qualified as a Diplomaed Financial Adviser.

Bob Diamond
Bob is a Pension Specialist who has been with the company since its incorporation in 1996. Bob has been a financial adviser since 1989.

Andrew Ross
Andrew is a diplomaed financial adviser with a history in banking.

Roger Easterbrook
Roger is a diplomaed financial adviser with a background in Executive Search.

Click here for more team members.

Market Monitor

Updated: 14th May 2012

Heavy selling following the elections in Europe and banking woes in Spain resulted in markets ending the week lower. Weekend elections in Greece and France set a volatile tone and reminded investors that politics really matter in financial markets; political wrangling in Athens to form a government resulted in threats to unravel the country's bailout deal and raised the prospect of Greece exiting the euro area.

Global stocks had their longest losing period in six months during the week and the euro its worse run of daily reverses since 2008.

However, Thursday marked a turning point as investors cautiously returned to markets and risk assets showed resilience following $2bn trading losses at JPMorgan Chase (which also occurred on Thursday). In addition, the Michigan survey of US consumer confidence, which rose to a four-year high in May, also helped to provide support and end the week on a more upbeat note.

The increasingly gloomy outlook for the global economy sent commodity prices to their second week of losses, and gold retreated to four month lows. Weakness in the global economy drove demand for safe-haven government bonds, which pushed German bunds and UK gilts to record lows, while peripheral eurozone debt came under heavy selling pressure.

Important information: This update is intended to be for information purposes only.

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