Like many investment decisions, though, the timing of a pension transfer is crucial, and it's for this reason that you shouldn't transfer your pension without consulting a pensions expert. There are several factors to take into consideration when you are thinking about transferring your pension:

Why do you want a pension transfer?

For most people, thoughts of pension transfer occur when they are moving jobs. The majority of companies offer pension schemes as part of their benefits package, and although you are unlikely to see the details of the new scheme before you join, the fact that a good pension scheme acts as an incentive to prospective employees. If you start work at a new company and join the pension scheme, what happens to your old pension?

In many cases, you can transfer your pension in order to take advantage of better annual management rates, or better benefits than your current scheme offers. This means that the money you have invested will be working harder for you when it comes to retirement. Alternatively, you may want to transfer your contributions to a scheme where you can continue to contribute throughout the rest of your working life, ensuring a continuity of benefits and a more valuable pension pot when you reach retirement.

When should you transfer your pension?

Every pension transfer in the UK falls under FSA regulation, and you should only transfer your pension after you have taken independent specialist advice. The pensions market is notoriously complex and, in order to ensure that you are getting the best deal, you need to speak to a pension transfer advisor who knows the market well and can give you the advice you need.

Don't rush into transferring your pension. If you get it wrong, you could end up with an inferior pension scheme to the one you came out of, and you could end up paying higher charges to transfer, or a higher annual charge than you need to. Make sure you have done some research on the types of pension that may suit you best, and that you consider all the pros and cons of transfer before you commit yourself.