Figuring out how to invest in a SIPP could be a stepping stone towards a more financially secure retirement. 

Did you know that, according to an industry report published in 2023, 46% of UK adults are making contributions to private pensions?¹ 

If you’re worried you may be missing the boat, a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) could open up a world of possibilities for your pension investments, allowing you to choose from a diverse range of options. 

In this article, we demystify the process of investing in a SIPP, helping you navigate this powerful tool to enhance your financial future.

Our team at EveryInvestor has written this informative, factual guide by compiling research from various industry sources. Our content undergoes strict quality and compliance checks and is regularly updated. 

Remember, SIPPs can lose value, just like any other investment.

Let’s get started…

What’s a SIPP?

A SIPP is a pension plan in the UK that allows investors to control their retirement funds, offering the freedom to invest in a wide range of assets beyond traditional pension options.

What Steps Do I Need to Take to Invest in a SIPP?

Investing in a Self-invested Personal Pension (SIPP) requires a few critical steps.

Start by evaluating your retirement goals and financial capacity to determine the best investment strategy.

It’s then crucial to thoroughly research SIPP providers to find one that offers the flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and investment options that align with your strategy.

After selecting a provider, setting up your SIPP account is typically done online.

The process involves providing personal information, including your National Insurance number, and deciding on your initial investment and future contributions.

It’s essential to keep in mind that SIPPs are long-term investments, and your capital is at risk.

Therefore, regular reviews of your SIPP to ensure it remains aligned with your financial goals are vital.

You can start investing in a SIPP either by starting from scratch with a bank payment or by transferring your existing pension into your SIPP.

Start From Scratch

If you decide to start from scratch, you can either make a lump sum contribution or regular payments to obtain your SIPP started.²

Depending on your provider, your lump sum contribution could be as little as £100 (or £80 with an added £20 in tax relief), and if you decide to set up a monthly Direct Debit, you could contribute as little as £25 (or £20 plus tax relief) per month.³

Transfer Your Pension

If you have existing pensions, you can consolidate them into a SIPP, streamlining your retirement savings and gaining greater investment freedom.⁴

You’ll need to consider any potential loss of benefits or early-exit charges if you do decide to consolidate your pensions under a SIPP umbrella.

Before you sign up and start depositing your money, however, you’ll have to draw up a clear plan for your SIPP investments, so let’s take a look at the steps involved in that process.

What Should You Know Before You Invest in a SIPP?

Before you invest in a SIPP, you’ll have to do a certain amount of analysis and planning.

Remember, SIPPs are designed for investors who are at least somewhat comfortable making their own investment decisions, so you’ll have to consider your goals and needs very carefully.

Here are the steps you’ll need to take before putting money into a SIPP:

• Determine your investment objectives
• Assess your risk tolerance
• Evaluate your investment knowledge
• Research potential SIPP providers
• Understand the investment choices within SIPPs

Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps.

How Should You Determine Your Investment Objectives?

Determining your investment objectives requires defining what your short and long-term financial goals are, as well as clarifying your retirement lifestyle aspirations and their associated costs.

Establishing Short-Term & Long-Term Financial Goals

Establishing short-term and long-term financial goals involves a careful assessment of your overall financial situation and your retirement plans. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Assess your current financial situation.
• Set specific and measurable goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART). 
• Identify short-term goals like paying off high-interest debts, establishing an emergency fund, or making specific contributions to your SIPP.
• Establish long-term goals like determining how much you want in your SIPP to achieve your desired retirement lifestyle.

Once you’ve ticked off these items on your planning list, consult a financial advisor who’ll be able to help you analyse your financial situation, identify potential roadblocks, and create a personalised SIPP investment strategy to meet your objectives.

Your Desired Retirement Lifestyle & Associated Costs

Your desired retirement lifestyle and associated costs are the blueprints on which you should build your savings goals.

Think about things like travel, pastimes, medical costs, and any other significant costs you anticipate during your retirement years.

Don’t forget

The cost of living will most likely be a major factor when it comes to your retirement budgeting, so make sure you take potential rises in inflation into account.

How Do You Assess Your Risk Tolerance?

Assessing your risk tolerance and comfort level with market fluctuations is a critical step in creating a portfolio that meets your financial objectives. 

Remember that risk tolerance is a personal assessment for which there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and risk tolerance may change over time.

Learn More: Are SIPPs Risky?

How to Determine Your Investment Risk Profile

Determining your investment risk tolerance involves factors such as your age, financial situation, and risk preferences.

Here are some steps to help you:

• Educate yourself about different types of investment risk, including market risk, inflation risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk.
• Determine your investment timeframe, as a longer time in the market generally means you’ll be able to bear more risk and be able to recover from market downturns.
• Evaluate financial goals and timeframes, as your risk tolerance may be influenced by the urgency to reach those goals.
• Reflect on past experiences, as your reactions during past market downturns can provide insights into how you may handle similar situations in the future.
• Take a risk tolerance questionnaire or quiz (offered by many financial institutions) to help you find out how comfortable you’d be with different levels of investment risk. 
• Consider emotional factors: If you find yourself becoming anxious or stressed during market downturns, you may have a lower risk tolerance.

Don’t forget to consult a financial advisor who’ll be able to consider your financial goals, risk preferences, and overall financial situation to help you develop a suitable investment strategy.

Understanding How Risk Tolerance Guides Investment Decisions

Understanding how risk tolerance guides investment decisions will help you make a balanced investment plan that matches your risk appetite with what you end up investing in. 

This may help you limit possible losses while trying to maximise your returns.

What if my risk tolerance is high?

Investors with a high risk tolerance are typically more comfortable with investments that have higher potential returns but also higher potential losses, such as stocks or commodities. 

If your risk tolerance is high, you may opt for a SIPP heavily weighted in these asset types.

And if my risk tolerance is low?

Low-risk investors may favour more secure investments like bonds or cash that have a lower potential for high returns but also a lower risk of loss. 

If your risk appetite’s low, your SIPP would likely be more balanced towards these safer assets.

In other words

Understanding your risk tolerance can help you make appropriate investment decisions within your SIPP, ensuring your are comfortable with the level of risk involved while striving towards your retirement goals.

How Should You Evaluate Your Investment Knowledge?

Evaluating your investment knowledge is crucial before making any financial decisions. 

A sound understanding of investment principles and concepts empowers you to make informed choices, assess risks, and potentially maximise returns.

Basic Investment Literacy

Make sure you have a grasp of core concepts such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), diversification, risk, return, and asset allocation. 

Tip

Consulting an online glossary of investment terms can be an easy way to familiarise yourself with these concepts. 

Exploring Opportunities for Enhancing Financial Education

Ongoing education in investment strategies and financial planning will empower you to navigate complex markets confidently.

You could:

• Stay updated with financial news.
• Read investment books and resources.
• Attend investment seminars or webinars.
• Engage in investment forums and discussions.
• Consider enrolling in courses: 
• Consult with financial advisors.
• Practise virtual trading.

By thoroughly evaluating your investment knowledge, you can identify areas for improvement and take the necessary steps to enhance your understanding. 

How Do You Go About Researching Potential SIPP Providers?

Researching potential SIPP providers is one of the crucial steps on your journey. 

When reading up about all the different companies that offer SIPPs, keep in mind certain key factors and make sure you understand the fees and services they offer.

Key Factors to Consider

When selecting a SIPP provider, factors like fees, investment options, customer service, and reputation should be carefully researched to find the most suitable fit for your unique circumstances.

To compare these elements, consult provider websites, where you’ll be able to obtain the necessary data. 

Understanding the Fees Charged & Services Offered by Different Providers

Understanding the fees charged and services offered by different providers will help you as you try to optimise your pension savings.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the major names in the market.

AJ Bell 

AJ Bell has an app and a user-friendly platform with a diverse range of investment options, and it offers excellent educational resources for new investors.

The platform levies a 0,25% custody charge on shares and funds up to £250,000, £9,95 per share deal (or £4,95 if you’re a frequent dealer), and £1,50 per fund deal.⁵

Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown has an app that allows you to view your investments and make deals. 

The company employs a tiered fee structure when it comes to SIPP account fees, starting at 0,45% for portfolios up to £250,000 and gradually decreasing for larger portfolios. 

Share deals are also charged according to a tiered structure: Deals cost £11,95 if you made up to nine trades the previous month, £8,95 if you made between 10 and 19, and £5,95 if you made 20 or more.⁶ 

Vanguard 

Vanguard has an app and offers ready-made pension portfolios to take some of the stress out of investing.⁷ 

This provider charges a yearly fee of 0.15% on investments up to £250,000, while accounts exceeding this value are charged a flat rate of £375 per year.

Fund transaction costs range from 0,01% to 0,86%.⁸ 

Fidelity 

Fidelity has an app and offers Select 50, a basket of funds picked by experts that Fidelity members can choose to invest in.⁹

Online share deals are charged at £7,50, and Fidelity charges a platform fee of 0,35% that drops to 0,20% for portfolios between £250,000 and £1 million. 

After your first £1 million, you won’t be charged any further platform fees beyond the 0,20% levied on the first £1 million.¹⁰

How Do You Understand Investment Choices Within SIPPs?

Understanding investment choices within SIPPs requires a good overview of the range of available investments and how to diversify your portfolio for maximum growth.

Overview of the Range of Investments Available in a SIPP

To get an overview of the range of investments available in a SIPP, consult a variety of SIPP providers’ websites to find out what each firm offers.

SIPPs offer a vast array of investment options, including commercial property, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate investment trusts (REITs).¹³

Remember

Each type of investment carries its own risks, so make sure you understand the potential benefits and drawbacks of every product you invest in.

How to Diversify Your Portfolio to Minimise Risk

A well-diversified portfolio reduces risk exposure by spreading investments across various asset classes, safeguarding against market volatility.

Here are a few ideas: 

• Do not just stick to one type of asset, but rather invest in a mix of stocks, bonds, ETFs, and even commercial real estate.
• Invest in both domestic and international markets to spread your risk across different economies.
• Spread your investments across different sectors such as technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and more.
• Include a mix of small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap stocks in your portfolio. (‘Cap size’ refers to the total value of a company as perceived by the stock market.)  

Remember, the goal of diversification is not to maximise returns but to limit risk while maintaining the potential for a reasonable return.

What Should You Do Once You’ve Done Your SIPP Research?

Once you’ve done your SIPP research and determined your own risk tolerance and investment objectives, you can select a provider and start setting up your SIPP.

Setting Up a SIPP

Setting up a SIPP involves completing the necessary paperwork or online application and choosing the desired investments according to your established financial objectives.

Once you’ve opened a SIPP, you’ll be able to fund it by doing a bank transfer or debit card payment or by transferring an existing pension into it. 

Remember

Transferring an existing pension may attract early-exit fees, and you may end up losing certain benefits. 

Once you’ve set up your SIPP, you’ll have to manage it.

Managing & Reviewing Your SIPP

Regularly monitoring your SIPP portfolio ensures it remains aligned with your investment goals, and adjustments can be made as needed.

Ongoing SIPP management involves several key activities:

• Regularly reviewing the performance of your investments in relation to your retirement goals.
• Changing the contents of your portfolio from time to time to stay at the risk level for your needs.
• Ensuring your are contributing enough to meet your retirement goals and making the most of your annual tax-free allowances.
• Keeping up-to-date with changes to pension rules and tax legislation that could affect your SIPP.
• As retirement nears, planning how to draw down your pension in the most tax-efficient manner.
• Regularly reviewing and managing the costs associated with your SIPP, including platform and transaction fees.

Each of these steps requires a certain level of financial knowledge and commitment, highlighting the importance of staying informed or seeking professional advice when necessary.

Common Questions

In Conclusion

Investing in a SIPP offers a potentially robust and flexible path towards securing your financial future. 

By following the steps outlined in this guide, from selecting the right provider to diversifying your investments and managing contributions, you can create a well-balanced and personalised pension portfolio. 

Remember to assess your risk tolerance, set clear investment goals, and regularly review your SIPP to adapt to changing circumstances. 

With a clear understanding of how to invest in a SIPP, you can embark on your journey to build a stable and prosperous retirement.

Learn More: What Can a SIPP Invest In?