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Permitted investments

Investments held in our self-invested pensions must meet our requirements for permissible assets. Occasionally legislation will affect particular asset types and render them unacceptable, where this is the case we reserve the right to disinvest.

Members can appoint an investment manager (subject to our due diligence) to run portfolios in their scheme. If so, we offer guidance on the administration requirements and acceptability of assets.

The asset classes that we allow are listed below; please contact us if you are in any doubt that your investment choice is allowable. Please also get in touch if you would like to appoint a discretionary fund manager or stockbroker to ensure it is approved.

Read about the suspension of in specie contributions.

Standard investments.

These standard investments can be held within our self-invested pensions. If the member has elected to simplify, just one portfolio can be held.

  • Cash
  • Cash funds
  • Deposits
  • Exchange traded commodities
  • Government & local authority bonds and other fixed interest stocks
  • Investment notes (structured products)
  • Shares in Investment trusts
  • Managed pension funds
  • National Savings and Investment products
  • Permanent interest bearing shares (PIBs)
  • Physical gold bullion
  • Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
  • Securities admitted to trading on a regulated venue
  • UK commercial property
  • Units in regulated collective investment schemes

Non-standard investments

The following non-standard investments are allowable. We will perform additional due diligence on these investments before we will allow them in the Full SIPP.

  • Fixed term bank accounts with terms of more than 30 days
  • Exempt Property Unit Trusts (EPUTS)
  • Unauthorised Unit Trusts
  • Unregulated Collective Investment Schemes (UCIS)
  • Qualified Investor Schemes
  • Securities in Special Purpose Vehicles
  • Limited Partnerships
  • Trust-based property syndicates
  • Hedge funds
  • Offshore bonds
  • Unlisted equities (UK and non-UK)
  • Unlisted Futures, Options and Warrants
  • Unlisted Corporate Bonds
  • Unlisted Loan Notes

Unacceptable investments.

While we aim to offer the widest range of investment opportunities possible, some assets cannot be held in our self-invested pensions. Including:

  • Tangible moveable property including: plant and machinery, wind turbines, solar panels, antiques, fine wine, furniture, jewellery and gemstones, oriental rugs, rare books and stamps, vintage cars, works of art, Krugerrands and yachts
  • Residential property (including ground rent)
  • Secured or unsecured loans to connected or unconnected third parties
  • Carbon credits
  • Harvestable commodities and plantations
  • Landbanking
  • Life settlements
  • Contracts for difference
  • Precious Metal investments – gold, silver, platinum, copper etc apart from investment grade gold bullion
  • Certain types of property

Read more on the Embark Property site.

BORROWING TO INVEST

An added benefit of a self-invested pension is the ability to borrow to buy assets, like commercial property, or to pay benefits.

Find out more

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Self-invested pensions can purchase and hold commercial property, offering the potential for capital growth and regular income.

Find out more

INVESTING VIA THE EMBARK PLATFORM

A Third Party Investment Account (TPIA) on the Embark platform is a low cost and efficient way for clients to invest their pension savings.

Embark Platform website

pre-approved investment providers.

We have links with stockbrokers, fund supermarkets and platforms. By utilising the services of our preferred partners you can benefit from reduced fees. Below are just a few examples of the providers we work with.

Get in touch to find out more.

EMBARK PLATFORM

Advisers need to have a registered account in order to apply. Email Embark platform directly.

Embark platform website

BROOKS MACDONALD

Advisers need a registered account to apply. Please contact Brooks Macdonald on 020 7499 6424.

Brooks Macdonald website

INVESTEC PRIVATE BANK

Contact the our sales support team on 01722 443742 or email us for an application form.

Investec website

STOCKTRADE

Contact the our sales support team on 01722 443742 or email us for an application form.

Stocktrade website