Stakeholder Pension

Norwich Union's pension plans offer you a wide variety of funds in which to invest your pension payment. You'll want to choose a fund or funds that reflect your attitude to risk and return. Here we help you identify the level of risk/return you're comfortable with and find out which funds might be suitable for you.

Understanding your risk/return profile

Risk is one of the most important factors when it comes to investing your money for the future. The key is to find the right balance between the amount of risk you're willing to take and the potential return you're likely to get over your investment period.

If you have a long time before you retire, you might be prepared to take a bigger risk, but as you get closer to retirement you probably want to limit the amount of risk you take. With the help of your financial adviser, careful investment planning can help you to manage your risk/return effectively.

So what is meant by risk? All funds carry the risk that their value could drop below the original value you invest at. This risk can be measured by the 'volatility' of the fund, or the amount of 'ups and downs' in its value. Typically, the more the value of an investment fund fluctuates, the higher the potential may be for gains or losses - often referred to as its risk/return.

The risk/return ratings

We give each of our funds a risk/return rating, ranging from 1 (low) to 5 (high). Funds with a risk/return rating of 1 have a low risk of losing money but your money may not grow very much and may not even keep up with inflation. Funds with a risk/return rating of 5 have a higher risk of losing money but the potential for your money to grow is higher too.

You can spread the risk by investing in a range of funds with different risk/return ratings - this is called having a diversified portfolio. This means you're more protected if one of them starts to perform badly than you would be if you invested in just one fund. But, if you don't feel confident enough to choose a range of funds yourself, you can opt for one of our managed funds, which invests in a range of assets to provide you with diversification from one fund.

Bear in mind that all investments can go down in value as well as up and the amount of investment return you get isn't guaranteed.

Here we list the types of funds in the different risk/return categories, along with an outline of the personal attitude to risk/return they are most suited to.

1. Low risk/return

   Type of fund: Deposit-based or cash funds.

   Where you are not prepared to take any risk with your capital, although you should realise it may not safeguard your pension fund against the effects of inflation. Risk is an unavoidable part of investing. Even the cautious investor saving in a bank or building society account is exposed to the risk that the interest they receive may not be enough to match the increase in the cost of living. But by saving in a bank or building society account or deposit-based or cash fund, you know that your capital is secure and any interest, once earned, is guaranteed.

2. Medium to low risk/return

   Type of fund: With-Profit funds and fixed income funds investing in gilts and lower risk corporate bonds.

   Where your aim is to achieve greater returns over the longer term than interest paying accounts, you should be prepared to see small day-to-day fluctuations in the value of your fund and that its value could drop below the original value you invest at. You should consider funds that smooth the returns from a diversified mix of assets, but which aim to follow a relatively cautious approach to risk. Alternatively, pick a fund that invests in a range of fixed interest securities.

3. Medium risk/return

   Type of fund: Property funds, higher yielding bond funds, and managed funds that invest in a range of asset classes such as company shares, bonds, property and cash.

   Where your aim is to achieve better returns over the longer term than are available on more cautious investments, you should be prepared to accept some day-to-day fluctuations in the value of your fund and that its value could drop below the original value you invest at. You should consider funds that invest in a diversified mix of assets, including company shares and property or funds that invest in assets such as commercial property or high yielding bonds.

4. Medium to high risk/return

   Type of fund: Funds investing in company share of large and medium sized UK or European companies, or in a diverse mix of large international companies' shares.

   Where your aim is to achieve better returns over the longer term than are available on less speculative investments, you should be prepared to accept wide day-to-day fluctuations in the value of your fund and that its value could drop below the original value you invest at. You should consider funds that invest in a narrow mix of assets, for example, company shares mainly within the UK or European markets or a wider mix of international companies' shares.

5. High risk/return

   Type of fund: Funds following a specific investment theme, such as technology, or funds with a specific geographic focus outside the UK and Europe.

   Where your aim is to maximise returns over the longer term, you should be prepared to accept significant day-to-day fluctuations in the value of your fund and that its value could drop below the original value you invest at. You should consider funds that invest in a narrow mix of assets, for example, company shares within specific geographical markets or industrial sectors.

Your choice of Stakeholder Pension funds

See a full list of the funds you can invest in with a Norwich Union Stakeholder Pension.

Get a quote and apply online

It's easy to get an instant quote and apply online for a Norwich Union Stakeholder Pension Plan

Get a quote

Or you can call us free on 0800 068 6800*.

* Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am - 9pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm and Sunday 10am - 4pm. Any advice will only relate to the products of Norwich Union. Calls may be recorded and/or monitored.

WC03036 09/2008