Members Shariah equity fund

The shariah equity fund is designed for investing your pension savings in equities (shares in companies) in line with the requirements of shariah law and the principles of Islam. The shariah equity fund could be suitable if you’re willing to take investment risk to get higher returns and accept the higher risk of falls in value.

See how the plan works Watch the video

A cut-out of a mature brown man smiling and folding his arms looking directly at the camera

Unlike the six 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.

Islamic finance emphasises social responsibility, ethical investment and profit-sharing. Shariah law prohibits investment in areas such as alcohol, tobacco, weapons, gambling and adult entertainment. It also avoids types of investment that involve speculation, such as derivatives. The shariah equity fund is monitored by a group of shariah law experts, who screen the investments to make sure they comply with shariah law.

Important - investment and risk

This fund is higher risk than the now: shariah growth fund in the shariah plan.

There’s even more information, including the risk rating for the fund, in the fund factsheet.

See the fund factsheet
Waist-up shot of a granddaughter and grandmother walking with each other along a promenade next to a beach Waist-up shot of a granddaughter and grandmother walking with each other along a promenade next to a beach

Shariah equity fund explained

This video helps you understand how the shariah equity fund works, how your money is invested and how you can manage your pension savings in now:u. 

This video is currently disabled due to your consent settings. Please update your settings in the Preference Centre.

If you haven’t accepted cookies, you won’t be able to watch the video above. To view this video without accepting cookies, watch the video on YouTube.

Investment funds and performance

analytics-graph-bar

The value of investments can go down as well as up. How an investment fund has performed in the past doesn’t guarantee its future performance will be the same. For the latest information on how our investment funds are performing, visit our about our investment funds page.

Smiling young Indian man sitting at home while using laptop

Choosing an investment option that's right for you

Which investment option is right for you depends on a number of things including:  

  • when you want to retire 
  • how much investment risk you’re willing to take 
  • your personal beliefs 
  • the amount of savings you have built up 
  • how you plan to take your pension savings 
  • what other savings, investments and income you have, and how your pension savings fit in with these. 

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). 

Where can I get regulated advice?

Manage your pension in now:u

To see how your investments are doing or change your investment choice

Log in to now:u
Smiling woman in business attire facing the camera with arms crossed Smiling woman in business attire facing the camera with arms crossed

The obligation to pay Zakat on any returns or capital gains derived from investments in the 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 give any advice or guidance about 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. 

Frequently asked questions

See all support for members

We use ‘plan’ in the names of some of our investment options, such as the lump sum plan. These plans aim to help your pension savings grow over most of your working life, then aim to better protect their value as you get closer to taking your money out of now:pensions.

We invest your pension savings to help them grow over the long term. We invest them responsibly and sustainably to help reduce financial risks from things like climate change, which could have a negative impact on the economy and investments in the long term.  

If you’re in one of our investment plans, we prepare your pension savings 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. 

Learn more here.

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.  

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.

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 through investment 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.

The content on this website has been produced for information purposes only (and may be subject to change without notice) to provide you with fund information. It does not consider your personal circumstances and is not intended to provide you with investment, pensions or legal advice. Before you make any investment decisions, we recommend you consult an appropriately qualified independent financial adviser. NOW: Pensions Ltd and NOW: Pension Trustee Ltd don’t accept liability for any reliance on the information placed on the contents of this page.

Learn more

A man standing in a company office.

How we invest your savings

We invest your pension savings to help them grow and protect their value. And we invest them responsibly, with the aim of having a positive impact on the environment and our society.
Young man in the city

About our 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.
Mature friends walk down the street together with their luggage in hand looking for their vacation rental

Retirement planning

People put off retirement planning because they think it’s boring, too hard, or too far in the future. But, planning your retirement now means you’re more likely to get the kind of life you want in the future.
Mature man relaxing at home, sitting on the sofa sending text message with mobile phone. Lifestyle concept.

Statement of Investment Principles (SIP)

The Statement of Investment Principles (SIP) sets out how now:pensions invests members’ pension savings. The SIP includes the Trustee’s investment beliefs, objectives and policies.
Waist up view of a mature woman hiking on a hill. She is wearing casual sports attire on a summer's day at Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland. She is smiling and looking at the camera. Videos are available similar to this scenario.

Options for taking your savings at retirement

Find out what you can do with your now:pensions savings when it’s time to turn them into retirement income.