Charles Stanley Direct pension drawdown hub: published fees, investment options and features. Updated for 2026. Guidance, not advice.
Estimated yearly cost at £250,000: £660 a year (monthly income, no share deals; Platform fee only — fund charges extra).
Position on cost: Ranks 11 of 18 fully priced platforms on cost at £250,000. Charles Stanley Direct against every DIY platform
Limited published information. Charles Stanley Direct publishes little detail on its drawdown charges.
| Drawdown admin fee | £60 a year Included in the yearly cost above |
|---|---|
| Regular income payments | Free |
| One-off (ad-hoc) withdrawal | £30 each |
| UFPLS payment | Not confirmed |
| Transfer out (exit fee) | £150 |
| Minimum pot | Not confirmed |
| Cash in the pension | Not confirmed |
Fees checked 23 Sept 2026. “Not confirmed” means the charge is not published or we have not verified it; it is never counted as free.
Sources: SIPP drawdown charges explained (PDF) · Online Investing rates and charges
Capital at risk. Comparison information only, not advice. Confirm charges on the provider’s own pages before you act.
Platform fees: 0.30% flat platform charge (minimum £60, capped at £600 a year); SIPP admin £100+VAT (waived over £30k); drawdown payroll £50+VAT a year; £25+VAT per ad-hoc withdrawal
Fund charges (Ongoing Charges Figure) apply on top of platform fees and depend on your chosen investments. Use our calculator above to see the total annual cost for your specific pot size.
Eligible claims may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). If a SIPP operator or investment firm fails, the limit is £85,000 per person per firm; a pension provided by an insurer is normally covered in full. FSCS pension protection
Source: Charles Stanley Direct site footer, checked 23 Sept 2026.
No new verified updates this month. We only list items we can cite from an official RNS, company newsroom or official blog.
Last verified: 8 Sept 2026.
Also compare: Vanguard, Interactive Investor, AJ Bell Youinvest, Hargreaves Lansdown, Fidelity Personal Investing, and all UK providers we track.
Free, impartial guidance: Pension Wise offers free appointments to people aged 50 or over with a defined contribution pension, and MoneyHelper’s investment pathways comparison tool compares drawdown providers’ ready-made options. Both are backed by the government.