An expression of wishes tells your pension provider who you would like the beneficiaries of your pension to be in the event of your death. Multiple beneficiaries can be named, and you can state how much of your pension you want each to receive.
However, while many people complete an expression of wishes when they first open a pension, it’s easy to forget to update it as circumstances change or mistakenly believe this isn’t necessary as long you have a Will.
Consequences of not updating an expression of wishes
The best way to ensure your wishes are followed is to keep your expression of wishes up to date. If you don’t, there’s a risk your money may not end up where you wanted it to. Pension providers will normally pay out according to their clients’ wishes, but they have the flexibility to choose different beneficiaries if deemed appropriate.
Not updating your expression of wishes could therefore make the process of settling the death benefits more difficult and drawn out for potential beneficiaries at an already painful time.
How we can help
We can help with all aspects of your pension planning, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like further assistance updating your pension expression of wishes.
The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. The past is not a guide to future performance and past performance may not necessarily be repeated.
