The typical pension switch worth, as tracked by XPS’s Switch Worth Index, fell by 3% to a report new low in October as a result of declines in long-dated gilt yields.

The Index stood at £175,000 on the finish of the month – down 35% in comparison with the index excessive of £270,000 in December 2021.

Regardless of the current falls, the pension advisor and administrator stated switch values recovered in the course of the month from a low of £148,000 on 10 October as lengthy dated gilt yields hit their peak.

The sister XPS Switch Exercise Index reached its highest fee registered in 2022, exhibiting an annualised fee of 48 members per 100,000 have been transferring pensions to a different supplier throughout October. The determine suggests the quantity of switch exercise stays excessive.

XPS stated the excessive fee of pension switch exercise could also be an indication that some individuals are starting to attract down their pension to satisfy the rising value of residing.

Whereas exercise is excessive so is the danger of scamming. XPS stated 96% of circumstances reviewed by the XPS Rip-off Safety Service in October raised at the very least one rip-off warning flag, in response to XPS’s Rip-off Flag Index.

Though this was barely down in comparison with the earlier month, the index continues to spotlight that the majority circumstances reviewed raised flags, with abroad funding within the receiving scheme making up the bulk. This doesn’t imply a rip-off was tried, solely {that a} threat of scamming was seen.

Mark Barlow, head of member choices, XPS Pensions Group, stated: “Continued market volatility throughout October resulted in additional turbulence for switch values with the common values at their lowest stage since we began the Switch Worth Index.

“Regardless of these falls in values, we’re seeing a rise in members transferring in the course of the month. Such a rise in transfers could also be an preliminary signal that folks want to draw their pension extra flexibly to assist them reply to the present cost-of-living disaster.”

Helen Cavanagh, shopper lead, member engagement hub, XPS Pensions Group, added: “We welcomed the announcement that The Pensions Regulator, the Monetary Conduct Authority and the Cash and Pensions Service have joined forces to spotlight the elevated threat of scams.

“Throughout this time of financial uncertainty, members could also be extra weak to being exploited by scammers. With extra members seeking to switch their pensions, trustees ought to stay vigilant to the danger of scams and be sure that they’re performing to assist forestall suspicious transfers and shield members.”

XPS Pensions Group’s Switch Worth Index reveals the estimated Money Switch Worth of a 64-year-old member with a pension of £10,000 a 12 months with typical inflation will increase. The worth modifications over time with market actions. Mortality assumptions are reviewed periodically.

XPS Pensions Group’s Switch Exercise Index, reveals the annualised proportion of members that switch out of pension schemes administered by XPS. If replicated throughout all non-public sector, funded, UK, DB schemes this means that roughly 50,000 DB members go away their schemes every year.

XPS Pensions Group’s Rip-off Flag Index tracks the proportion of month-to-month transfers reviewed by the companies’ rip-off safety service which can be recognized as having warning ‘flags’ which point out that the member is vulnerable to being scammed. The flags monitored embrace each the DWP’s set listing of amber and crimson warnings and additional areas of concern recognized and monitored by XPS’ Rip-off Safety Service. The service is supplied to the trustees of roughly 350 occupational pension schemes. 

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