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Advice please re withdrawing 20K tax free allowance from Pension pots to invest in Premium Bonds.

9 replies

Joy31 · 13/04/2023 11:03

Is this a good idea, or should I leave the 20K where it is?
I like the idea that I could access the 20K easily if and when needed, plus the excitemment of being in the draw each month.

OP posts:
Facem81 · 13/04/2023 11:05

Are you retirement age?

ExcusesExcuses · 13/04/2023 11:08

Dumb idea. Pension pot will increase considerably more than premium.bonds

Joy31 · 13/04/2023 11:14

Thanks for replies.
@Face I'm 56 with no plans to retire early at this point.

OP posts:
MrsCat1 · 13/04/2023 11:20

As @ExcusesExcuses says. It's a bad idea.

Facem81 · 13/04/2023 11:29

Joy31 · 13/04/2023 11:14

Thanks for replies.
@Face I'm 56 with no plans to retire early at this point.

Can you even access it then?

nannynick · 13/04/2023 11:58

As you are age 55+ you can access a personal pension. You may be able to access a workplace pension but that will depend on the scheme rules - there are different types of workplace scheme so hard to say if you could or could not access.

With a defined contribution scheme, like a personal pension or SIPP, you can crystallise £80,000 of it, assuming there is at least that in it, and 25% of that, £20k could be taken out tax free. The other £60k would go to a drawdown pot - your provider may had additional fees for putting you in drawdown. You can usually leave the drawdown pot alone but check with provider.

So yes, it may be possible to do.

Why would you do it?

£20k in the pension has opportunity to grow. Over a long period, growth at 5% annual would be very conservative, 7% is probable and it could be higher. Over the last few years pensions have not performed well, so are down in value, so cashing in now locks in any loss. I would avoid locking in a loss.

Once out of the pension wrapper, it is cash and will lose to inflation. Premium Bonds may not give any return, or you may get average luck and get around 4% return, or you may get above average luck and get more.

I would leave the pension alone and see if the markets improve over the next few years before you access it. Unless you have a desperate need for the money.

Joy31 · 13/04/2023 15:02

@nannynick thanks for your detailed response. I have no urgent use for the 20K right now. I'll leave it where it is.

OP posts:
butterflycatcher · 14/04/2023 10:24

Keep it in your pension and keep compounding that interest. The final years are the most valuable and will earn you far more than the gamble of premium bonds. Check out James Shack on YouTube for some brilliant pension advice.

ChessieFL · 14/04/2023 12:52

Bear in mind that once you’ve started flexibly accessing your pension benefits, you’re then restricted how much you can contribute again in the future - anything more than £10k won’t get tax relief. This is called the Money Purchase Annual Allowance. Another reason it’s not a good idea to start drawing from pension pots if you don’t need to.

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