Benefits Guru Workplace Pension Rating 2025

Default Investment & ESG Strategy:

Standard Life offer a wide range of funds on their platform consisting of own, multi-manager, ethical and ESG and funds. They have a range of default investment options, the core default fund being the Sustainable Multi Asset Universal SPL, which can be customised by advisers. This includes the name and asset allocation and customised factsheets. Standard Life monitor their fund volatility, objectives and suitability on a quarterly basis.

Support Services:

Standard Life offer very good support services to both the adviser and employer. This includes dedicated teams to support scheme set up, transfers, new joiners and leavers. They offer call centre (working hours only), web-based and online services. Standard Life offer full training to all parties and the system implementation process takes from 1-6 months, depending on scheme requirements, which is monitored by a dedicated implementation team. 

Member App & Portal:

Standard Life offer their members a portal and a ‘true’ app which both include all the features and functionality a user would expect form an online service. The app also has full transactional capability which supports most (90%) of the same features and functionality as the online member portal. Both the portal and app include a secure messaging functionality which also allows for documents to be uploaded and shared. Members can also consolidate their pensions online and via the app and charges are clearly displayed in £/p as well as %’s.

Digital, Blended & Guided Retirement:

Standard Life offer a comprehensive retirement experience with FCA-compliant investment pathways, personalised drawdown guidance, and annual statements. Members can access a blended solution combining drawdown and annuity, structured via pot-based design and integrated within the existing pension. Digital retirement advice is available via a third-party (Aberdeen), with no minimum case size and full FCA regulation. The platform supports scenario modelling, automated processing, and tailored journeys for multi-stage retirement.

Auto-Enrolment Functionality:

Standard Life will provide all relevant member communications, have no restrictions in terms of staff turnover and have automated systems in place to monitor employee earnings and enrol them once they meet the AE contribution threshold. Their systems will handle multiple payrolls, staging dates and all pay frequencies as well as having CSV integration with a wide range of payroll providers (including Sage and Iris). In under 1 hour their system is capable of processing over 5,000 employee records. They offer a range of reports and services to assist the employer and adviser with certification, scheme assessment and compliance.

Life Events and Goal Based Planning:

Standard Life support goal-based planning with tools for setting and tracking financial goals, including calculators and budgeting integrations. Members can link savings vehicles, receive personalised nudges, and view external accounts via Open Finance. While life moment coverage is limited, the platform offers interactive tools and supports joint goal setting and scenario modelling.

Salary Exchange Support:

Standard Life offer a Salary Exchange tool for employers, with support for contribution modelling, scheme data capture, and secure opt-in/out processes. The tool is own-built, free to use, and supports detailed pension data import. Employers receive templates and guides, and members can view contribution details across channels.

Individual & Bulk Pension Transfers:

Standard Life has a more streamlined process from restructuring as they already have an understanding of the client structure and client data. Members are fully informed in the transfer process of any loss of benefits from the existing scheme. Standard Life will work with Advisers and Employers to create a Direct Offer solution to assist in transferring scheme benefits from previous group pension plans. There is no minimum pension amount and the majority of transfers are completed using the Origo Standard.

Value for Money & Member Outcomes:

Standard Life demonstrates strong digital engagement, with consistent member access and regular login activity. Members benefit from segmentation and personalised guidance, supported by a secure and well-integrated digital platform. While active planning behaviours such as fund switching and pension transfers are low, the proposition supports a wide range of tools and calculators, with the Retirement Income Modeller being the most frequently used. Death benefit nominations are moderate, and digital completion rates are high, reflecting a well-optimised member experience.

Member AI Tools & Operating Efficiencies:

Standard Life has embedded AI and automation across its infrastructure and member services. While there is no dedicated large-scale automation project, AI and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) are used for payroll validation and internal development. The call centre benefits from live transcription and real-time vulnerability flagging. Predictive analytics are used to forecast activity spikes and member outcomes, with behavioural modelling to assess transfer risk. AI-powered guidance includes personalised nudges, video content, and interactive tools. A generative AI chatbot supports transactional tasks and escalation to human agents. Adviser-facing tools are limited, but scheme-level analytics are available via the portal.

Our annual ratings are designed to assist advisers, providers and employers in their decision-making process and highlight which providers have the greatest strengths in different areas of their pension propositions.

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