Product preference

By their nature, phased retirement plans have huge flexibility e.g. 1,000 segments.

Your provider should offer a good range of funds, and a SIPP facility ensures the widest choice (though you’ll pay for the privilege).

A very important feature is the administrative skills of the company providing the phased retirement wrapper. We also need to be sure that these high standards will prevail, and the more financially strong companies should provide this commitment.

Costs need to be reasonable. Plus, ideally, you wish to be with a provider that has typically competitive annuity rates, otherwise, every year you will need to exercise the OMO, which could be below the minimum for many annuity providers.

Beyond that, you must remember that, unless you intend retaining total control over the investment choices and ongoing monitoring, you must have an Adviser alongside with the skills to help identify a portfolio appropriate for you to start with, and ensure that you remain in the best possible investments from year to year - this is an area where we specialise.

Many thanks for sending me my valuation and monitoring guide. I think your service is top-notch....
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