Members About our investment funds
Your investment options are made up of a number of investment funds. An investment fund is a pot of money used to buy, and hold, investment ‘assets’. Assets include things like equities (company shares), bonds (loans to companies or the government) and cash. We have a number of investment funds that are designed to do different things.
Important – investment and risk
You should be aware that the value of investments can go down as well as up. How a fund has performed in the past is no guarantee of its future performance.
The now: growth fund is part of the pension journey for:
- the lump sum plan
- the drawdown plan
- the annuity plan
The now: retirement countdown fund is part of the pension journey for the lump sum plan.
The now: drawdown destination fund is part of the pension journey for the drawdown plan.
The now: annuity destination fund is part of the pension journey for the annuity plan.
The now: higher risk growth fund is part of the pension journey for the higher risk plan.
The now: higher risk destination fund is part of the pension journey for the higher risk plan.
The now: lower growth fund is part of the pension journey for the lower growth plan.
The now: lower growth destination fund is part of the pension journey for the lower growth plan.
The now: shariah growth fund is part of the pension journey for the shariah plan.
The now: shariah destination fund is part of the pension journey for the shariah plan.
This is a standalone fund. It’s not part of any of the investment plans.
Please note that the obligation to pay Zakat on any returns or capital gains derived from investments in the shariah growth fund, shariah destination fund and shariah equity fund is the sole responsibility of the individual investor. now:pensions does not calculate, collect, or pay Zakat on behalf of investors, nor does it provide any advice or guidance regarding Zakat obligations. Investors are advised to consult with a qualified religious scholar or a regulated financial adviser to determine their specific Zakat responsibilities based on their individual circumstances.
A reminder on financial advice
now:pensions can’t give you investment advice. If you’re not sure if a plan or fund is right for you, it’s a good idea to talk to a financial adviser who’s regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The government-backed MoneyHelper website has a list of regulated financial advisers.
Frequently asked questions
See all support for membersYou have a now:pensions account that you and your workplace put money into. Your money is invested in one of our investment options.
In the investment plans, the money is invested with the aim of helping it to grow then preparing it for retirement, including reducing investment risk.
We also offer a shariah equity fund. Unlike the investment plans, the shariah equity fund doesn’t move into investments designed to prepare your money for retirement, including reducing investment risk, as you near your planned retirement age.
The way your now:pensions account is invested depends on the following things.
- Your planned retirement age. This is your State Pension age unless you’ve told us something different or changed it in now:u. It can affect how your savings are invested as you get closer to taking your money. Log in to now:u to check your planned retirement age.
The investment plans invest in different funds. The funds can invest in different assets such as equities (shares in companies), bonds (loans to companies or governments, with a promise to repay the loan plus interest at a later date), and other assets like cash and commodities (gold and industrial metals, for example). Learn more about our funds.
The value of your now:pensions account when you reach your planned retirement age will depend on a number of things.
- How much you and your workplace pay in over the years.
- How your investments perform.
- The age you start to take your money out of now:pensions.
- The costs and charges that come out of your account over the years.
- Any costs for selling your investments when you start to take your money out of now:pensions.
When you join now:pensions, your savings are invested in our lump sum plan. You stay in the lump sum plan if you don’t choose anything else. So if you’re sure you’ve never chosen another investment option, you’ll be in the lump sum plan.
To check which plan you’re in, log in to now:u and go to Investment. You’ll see the plan you’re currently invested in.
Log in to now:u and go to Investments.
Your investment plan shows the plan your pension savings are currently invested in.
Below this you can see:
- Investment change – how the value of your pension savings has changed since you joined now:pensions
- Current value of your pension savings – this is updated regularly and the value will go up and down in line with the value of the plan you’re invested in
- Money in and out – how much money has been paid in, and any money that’s been paid out, of your pension savings.
Choose See details to look at:
- the charges you pay us to manage your pension savings
- your current planned retirement age
- a breakdown of the investments in your plan.
See about our investment funds for more information.
It’s impossible to say. Investment values can’t be guaranteed. But you can check regularly how your investments are doing by logging in to now:u and going to Investment.
The value of your investments can go down as well as up. Past performance doesn’t mean future performance will be the same.
now:pensions can’t give you investment advice. If you’re not sure if a plan or fund is right for you, it’s a good idea to talk to a financial adviser who’s regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Learn more here.
