Standard Life pension drawdown hub: published fees, investment options and features. Updated for 2026. Guidance, not advice.
Estimated yearly cost at £250,000: £1,125 a year (monthly income, no share deals; Platform fee only — fund charges extra).
Position on cost: Ranks 15 of 18 fully priced platforms on cost at £250,000. Standard Life against every DIY platform
| Drawdown admin fee | None Included in the yearly cost above |
|---|---|
| Regular income payments | Free |
| One-off (ad-hoc) withdrawal | Free |
| UFPLS payment | Free |
| Transfer out (exit fee) | Free |
| 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: Personal Pension charges · Pension drawdown · Withdrawal options
Capital at risk. Comparison information only, not advice. Confirm charges on the provider’s own pages before you act.
Platform fees: 0.45% annual charge (Standard Life Personal Pension; plus ~0.10% fund charge), no dealing, switching or exit fees
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: Standard Life legal notice, 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.
20 Oct 2026
On 20 October 2026 Standard Life said it had concluded a £275 million buy-in with the Biffa Pension Scheme, securing benefits for 3,070 members. The transaction completed in September and covers 1,280 deferred members and 1,790 current pensioners and dependants.
16 Sept 2026
On 16 September 2026 Standard Life published research with WPI Economics on how UK workplace default funds might use private markets. The release says typical private-market allocations are around 2% to 4% today, and sets out a 2035 scenario in which larger schemes could allocate 15% to 30% during the growth phase of retirement saving.
7 Sept 2026
On 7 September 2026 Standard Life plc reported IFRS adjusted operating profit of £563 million for the first half of 2026, up 25% year on year, operating cash generation of £745 million, and assets under administration of £333 billion at 30 June 2026. It said the proposed £2 billion Aegon UK acquisition remains on track to complete around the end of 2026, subject to approvals.
Last verified: 2 Nov 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.