A Defined Benefit (DB) plan, is an occupational pension for which both an employer and employee make contributions into a pooled fund for the benefit all employees It provides a promised level of income to each employee based on the number of years employed and income e.g. two thirds of final salary. You do not have your own retirement pot but instead have a defined income.
To protect you from fraud and from making investments that may result in lower income from your pension, the UK’s tax authority – Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – will not allow trustees to transfer a DB pension with a value of £30,000 or more without the advice of a pension transfer specialist that is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
If you are thinking of transferring a DB plan to Canada, you should contact an expert recognized by the FCA – there are not many firms that have the proper licence. We recommend Jim Bell of Dominion Financial Management in the UK. Feel free to contact him directly or contact us and we will explain the process, discuss options and make a personal introduction if you wish. There is no charge for an initial discussion.
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If you live in Canada and intend to retire there too, there is little value of having a UK pension that allows you to take a tax free lump sum.
If you are going to retire in Canada and you have a Defined Benefit Pension in the UK, life might be better if you transfer the funds to Canada.
