Transfer an Existing Pension to the Invinitive SIPP

Transferring an existing pension into the Invinitive SIPP allows you to bring your retirement savings together within a single, flexible UK FCA-regulated platform.

Many people accumulate multiple pensions over time from different employers or providers. Consolidating these into one SIPP can make them easier to manage and monitor.

Before transferring, it is important to ensure that moving your pension is suitable for your circumstances. Invinitive Financial UK Ltd does not provide financial advice, but advisers can help assess whether a transfer is appropriate.

Start a transfer

Read our plain English Transfer Guide

How Pension Transfers Work

Transfer Guide

Pension transfers follow a regulated process between the existing scheme (the ceding scheme) and the new scheme (the receiving scheme).

The process is largely administrative and involves several steps to ensure the transfer is authorised and legitimate.

Below is an overview of how a typical transfer into the Invinitive SIPP works.

Open Your Invinitive SIPP

The first step is to complete onboarding with Invinitive.

During this process you will:

•Complete identity verification and client due diligence
•Confirm your personal details
•Provide details of the pension(s) you wish to transfer
•Confirm whether you wish to transfer cash or assets

Once your account is open we can begin the transfer process.

Check Origo Eligibility

Ask your current provider whether they participate in the Origo Transfer Service and whether your specific pension or scheme can be transferred electronically.

If your provider supports Origo and your pension is eligible, the transfer may follow a more streamlined electronic route. If not, proceed to Step 3 to request their manual transfer forms.

Transfer Forms from Your Existing Provider

After onboarding, you should request the transfer forms from your existing pension provider.

Most pension providers require their own transfer documentation to be completed before a transfer can proceed.

When you receive these forms, you will normally need to:

•Complete the member section of the form
•Review the declarations
•Wet sign the document

You should then scan and return the completed forms to us.

While electronic signatures are becoming more common, many pension providers still do not accept DocuSign or digital signatures, so a physical signature is often required.

Receiving Scheme Completion

Once we receive your signed forms:

•Invinitive will complete the receiving scheme section
•We will attach supporting documentation about the Invinitive SIPP
•The full transfer pack will be sent to your existing provider

This formally initiates the transfer request.

Cash Transfers vs Asset Transfers

When transferring a pension, there are usually two methods available.

Cash Transfer

A cash transfer is the most common option. Where both schemes support Origo Transfer Service and the transfer is in scope, it may follow a more connected electronic route. Not all cash transfers can use Origo, and some proceed manually.

Your existing pension provider will:

•Sell the investments in your portfolio
•Convert the holdings to cash
•Transfer the cash value to the Invinitive SIPP

Once the cash arrives, you can reinvest the funds within the Invinitive platform.

Cash transfers are typically simpler because no assets need to be re-registered.

Typical timescale: 4 to 8 weeks

In-Specie Transfer

An in-specie transfer moves the underlying investments directly without selling them. These transfers are usually more manual and often take longer than cash transfers.

Before this can happen:

•You must provide us with a recent valuation of your portfolio
•Invinitive must pre-approve the assets to ensure they can be held within the SIPP
•If approved, we will instruct your existing provider to transfer the assets

Asset transfers can take considerably longer because both providers must coordinate the movement of each holding.

Typical timescale: 8 to 16 weeks or longer

Additional Requests from Your Existing Pension Scheme

During the transfer process, the existing scheme may request additional information. Two common requests are:

Client Due Diligence Form

Some providers ask the member to complete a transfer due diligence questionnaire.

This normally asks questions about:

•Why you are transferring
•Who introduced the transfer
•Whether you received financial advice
•Your understanding of the risks

These forms usually go directly to you and must be returned to the ceding scheme.

MoneyHelper Guidance Appointment

Certain transfers may require confirmation that the member has received guidance from MoneyHelper, the UK government-backed pensions guidance service.

You will:

•Book a short telephone guidance appointment
•Receive a reference number or confirmation
•Provide this confirmation to the ceding scheme

This is designed to ensure members understand the transfer process and potential risks.

Completion of the Transfer

Once all requirements are satisfied, the ceding scheme will proceed with the transfer.

Cash Transfers

The existing scheme liquidates the portfolio
Funds are transferred to the Invinitive SIPP bank account
The money is credited to your account once received

Asset Transfers

The ceding scheme provides settlement instructions
Invinitive coordinates the transfer of each asset
Holdings are re-registered into the Invinitive SIPP

Once complete, the funds or assets will appear in your account and be available to manage on the platform.

Transfer Routes

Invinitive is now part of the Origo Transfer Service community. For eligible cash transfers where both schemes support Origo, this can help create a more connected electronic transfer journey. Some transfers will still proceed outside Origo and may require a more manual process.

Important

Being part of the Origo Transfer Service community can help with eligible electronic transfers, but it does not mean every pension can move through Origo or within the same timeframe.

Cash transfer through Origo

If your current provider supports Origo Transfer Service and your pension can be transferred electronically, a cash transfer may follow a more streamlined digital route.

Before starting, please ask your current provider:

•Whether they can process your transfer through Origo Transfer Service
•Whether your specific plan or policy can be transferred electronically
•Whether any provider-specific restrictions or checks apply

Cash transfer outside Origo / manual route

Some pensions still transfer outside Origo, or require a more manual route. These transfers can still proceed, but timescales are often longer and may depend on provider paperwork, disinvestment steps, internal reviews, and scheme-specific administration.

In-specie transfer

If you want to move assets without selling them, an in-specie transfer may be possible. This depends on the assets, the current provider, the receiving custody arrangement, and whether the positions can be re-registered. In-specie transfers are usually more manual and often take longer than cash transfers.

Why Pension Transfers Sometimes Take Longer

While many pension transfers complete smoothly, the timeframe can vary depending on the processes of the existing pension provider and the type of transfer being requested.

Most delays occur at the ceding scheme (your current provider) rather than the receiving scheme.

Additional Due Diligence Checks

Many pension providers now carry out enhanced checks to protect members from potential pension scams. This may involve:

•Transfer due diligence questionnaires
•Confirmation of advice or guidance received
•Verification of the receiving scheme
•Additional identity or anti-fraud checks

These steps are designed to protect your pension savings, but they can sometimes extend the transfer timeline.

Requests for MoneyHelper Guidance

Some pension providers require confirmation that you have spoken with MoneyHelper. If requested, you will need to complete a short guidance appointment and provide the reference number issued by MoneyHelper before the transfer can proceed.

Provider Administration Processes

Every pension provider has its own internal administration procedures. Some providers process transfers quickly, while others rely on manual processes or paper documentation, which can increase processing times.

Asset Transfers (In Specie Transfers)

•The assets must be compatible with the receiving platform
•Each holding must be re-registered
•Settlement instructions must be exchanged between providers

Frozen or Suspended Investments

If your pension contains investments that are suspended, gated, or no longer trading, the ceding scheme may not be able to sell them immediately. In these cases, the provider may need to:

•Delay the transfer until trading resumes, or
•Transfer the asset separately if possible

Our Role in the Transfer Process

Once the transfer request has been submitted, we will:

Monitor progress with the ceding scheme
Respond to any queries they raise
Coordinate settlement instructions where required
Keep you updated if additional information is needed

While we work to make the process as smooth as possible, the final transfer timeline is often dependent on the processing speed and requirements of the existing pension provider.

Need Help With a Transfer?

Our team manages the administrative side of the transfer process and will guide you through each stage, from requesting paperwork from your existing provider through to receiving your pension funds or assets into the Invinitive SIPP.

While we cannot provide financial advice, we are always happy to help explain how the transfer process works, what documentation is required, and what steps are involved.

If you are unsure whether transferring your pension is the right decision for your circumstances, you may wish to speak with a regulated financial adviser before proceeding.

Many clients choose to work with an adviser who can help with:

•Assessing whether a transfer is suitable
•Reviewing any existing benefits or guarantees
•Recommending an appropriate investment strategy
•Providing ongoing financial planning support

If you already have a financial adviser, they can work directly with us throughout the transfer process and manage the transfer on your behalf.

If you do not currently have an adviser but would prefer to obtain regulated advice, we may be able to introduce you to an independent financial adviser who is familiar with the Invinitive platform.

Whether you are working with an adviser or managing your pension independently, our team will ensure the transfer process is handled efficiently and professionally.

Important: Check Before You Transfer

Before transferring a pension, it is important to understand the potential benefits, risks, and implications of moving your retirement savings.

In some cases, transferring may mean you lose valuable features or protections in your existing pension. Examples may include:

•Guaranteed annuity rates
•Protected tax-free cash entitlements
•Early retirement ages
•Loyalty bonuses or special scheme benefits

If your existing pension includes any of these features, transferring could mean giving them up permanently.

For this reason, many people choose to speak with a regulated financial adviser before proceeding with a transfer.

Invinitive Financial UK Ltd does not provide financial advice, but advisers can help determine whether a transfer is suitable for your circumstances.

Pension Scams and Fraud Awareness

Pension scams remain a serious issue in the UK and internationally. Fraudsters often target pension holders by encouraging them to transfer their pension savings into investments that are inappropriate, high-risk, or entirely fraudulent.

Scammers can be very convincing and may use professional-looking websites, documentation and marketing materials to appear legitimate. Their goal is often to persuade individuals to transfer their pension to a scheme they control or to invest in unregulated or unsuitable investments.

Because pension savings are often one of a person's largest financial assets, it is important to take time to carefully check any transfer request or investment opportunity before proceeding.

Warning Signs of a Pension Scam

Some common warning signs include:

•Being contacted unexpectedly about your pension
•Being offered high or guaranteed investment returns
•Being encouraged to transfer your pension quickly
•Being offered cash incentives or early access to pension funds
•Being told you can access pension money before age 55 (57 from 2028)
•Being offered a "free pension review" by a firm you have never dealt with

If an offer sounds too good to be true, it often is.

Guidance from The Pensions Regulator

The UK pensions industry works closely with The Pensions Regulator to raise awareness of pension scams and help protect savers.

The regulator has published a short consumer leaflet explaining:

•How pension scams typically operate
•Warning signs to watch for
•Steps you can take to protect yourself

You can download the leaflet here:

The Pensions Regulator – Pension Scams Consumer Leaflet

This guide forms part of the regulator's wider efforts to help pension savers recognise and avoid scams before transferring their pension savings.

What To Do If You Suspect a Scam

If you believe you may have been contacted by a pension scammer or something does not feel right:

•Do not rush into making a transfer decision
•Seek guidance from MoneyHelper or a regulated financial adviser
•Check whether the firm is authorised on the Financial Conduct Authority Register
•Report suspected fraud to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting service

Taking time to check the details before transferring can help protect your pension savings and prevent financial loss.

Important Considerations Before Transferring

Before transferring a pension you should consider:

•Exit penalties or charges from your existing scheme
•Whether you will lose any guaranteed benefits
•Whether the investments will need to be sold
•The time it may take to complete the transfer

If you are unsure whether transferring is right for you, you should consider speaking with a regulated financial adviser.

Free Guide

Get our free Pension Transfer Guide

A plain English guide to the transfer process — Origo, timescales, what to expect, and more. Straight to your inbox.

Ready to transfer?

Start your transfer online or contact our team with questions.

Start a transfer Contact us