Strategic lifestyle profiles
What are they?
Strategic lifestyle profiles (SLPs) have been designed to make investing for retirement easier.
There are two main stages in the SLPs:
- Growth stage - usually when you're more than 10 years from retirement
Your money will be invested in funds that aim to increase the value of your pension savings over time. - Approaching retirement stage - usually when you're less than 10 years from retirement
Your pension savings will gradually be moved into carefully selected funds designed to prepare them for how you plan to take your money in the future.
It is important to make sure the retirement date we have for you is correct. You can update it online if you need to.
Remember, as with any investment, the value can go down as well as up and and may be worth less than what was paid in.
SLPs might be a good choice if:
- You don’t want to select your own funds
- You want an option where your money is managed on your behalf as you approach retirement
- You want an option that prepares your pension savings for how you want to take your money when you retire
Choosing your SLP
To find the SLP that's most appropriate for you, follow these simple steps:
- Decide how you want to take your money when you retire
- Decide how you want your money to be managed
- If you've chosen an Active Plus, Passive Plus or MyFolio Managed option, decide which risk level is right for you
1. Choose how you want to take your money
We offer four types of SLPs reflecting the main options you have at retirement:
Universal SLPs - if you want the flexibility to take your money the way you want or if you want to use it to take a flexible income (also known as drawdown)
More about the Passive Core Universal SLP
Annuity SLPs - if you want to take your full tax-free lump sum and set up a guaranteed income for life (an annuity) with the rest
Lump Sum SLPs - if you want to take all your money as a lump sum or a series of lump sums
Active Retirement SLPs - if you want to use your money to take a flexible income (also known as drawdown) through Standard Life's Active Retirement investment option.
More about the Active Retirement SLPs
If you're not sure how you want to take your retirement income, one of our Universal SLPs may be the most appropriate option. You'll then have the flexibility to take your money the way you want when you retire.
You can easily move into another SLP at any time.
2. Choose how you want your money managed
Active Plus and Passive Plus options
These initially invest in one of our risk-based funds. They give you a choice of risk levels and investment styles, and all include a range of investments, such as stocks and shares (equities), bonds, property and money market instruments. They can also include other specialist investments to give even more diversification, reduce the likelihood of significant ups and downs in value, and help deliver returns.
The funds are managed by a team of investment experts at Aberdeen Standard Investments. With the Active Plus funds, this team can decide how much is in each type of investment to try to take advantage of any market opportunities they’ve identified.
Active Plus funds invest mainly in actively managed Standard Life funds.
Passive Plus funds invest mainly in index-tracking (passive) funds managed by Vanguard Asset Management.
Passive Core option
This initially invests in the Passive Core Pension Fund, which in turn invests in index-tracking (passive) funds. It mainly includes stocks and shares (equities) from around the world, but may also include bonds, property shares and money market instruments.
3. Choose a risk level you’re comfortable with
Each of the Active Retirement, Passive Plus and MyFolio Managed SLPs are designed to closely match a different risk level - I being the lowest risk and V the highest. So you need to work out how much risk you’re comfortable taking.
We don't offer any risk level I Universal or Active Retirement SLPs as we don't believe they're appropriate if you're only prepared to take a small amount of risk with your investments. If you feel this is the right risk level for you, you can choose one of our risk level I Annuity or Lump Sum SLPs instead.
If you're not comfortable taking any investment risk at all, then SLPs aren't a suitable option for you.
If you’re not sure what your attitude to investment risk is, you can use our risk questionnaire to help you.
Risk level I - lower risk
This option is designed for people who are conservative with their investments. They prefer taking a small amount of risk to achieve modest or relatively stable returns. They accept there may be some short term periods of fluctuation in value.
Risk level II - lower to medium risk
Risk level III - medium risk
This option is designed for people with a balanced attitude to risk. They don’t seek risky investments but don’t avoid them either. They are prepared to accept fluctuations in the value of their investments to try and achieve better long term returns. Their investments may be subject to frequent and at times significant fluctuations in value.
Risk level IV - medium to higher risk
This option is designed for people who are relatively comfortable with investment risk. They aim for higher long term returns and understand that this can also mean some sustained periods of poorer performance. They are prepared to accept significant fluctuations in value to try and achieve better long term returns.
Risk level V - higher risk
This option is designed for people who are very comfortable with investment risk. They aim for high long term investment returns and do not overly worry about periods of poorer performance in the short to medium term. Ordinarily these portfolios can be subject to the full extent and frequency of stock market fluctuations.
Important documents
To help you make an informed decision we've provided you with important information that you should read. You should print or save copies of these documents for future reference.
Read this guide for more information about the DB (UK) DC Pension Plan.
This document provides more details about the Standard Life Master Trust.
The appropriate summary document (to your membership class) is to be read along with the Member outline document.
The appropriate summary document (to your membership class) is to be read along with the Member outline document.
Read this guide for more information on the different ways you can pay into your pension, and the tax benefits and tax charges which can apply.
Information about tax relief, limits and your pension (PDF, 99KB)
Complete this form to nominate lump sum death benefit payments.
This form is used to request for the scheme to pay the Annual Allowance Charge.
