Investec is an international banking and wealth management group that caters primarily to high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and professionals. Unlike mass-market providers, Investec’s pension services are deeply integrated into their broader wealth management and private banking ecosystem.
As of 2026, Investec (and its partner network, including the recently merged Rathbones operations) focuses on providing "high-touch" service, meaning you get access to dedicated investment managers rather than just a digital dashboard.
If you are wondering whether Investec is the right platform for your pension savings, get in touch below and one of our independent financial advisers will review this.
Get 100% independent pensions advice today
Our independent financial advisers have a deep working relationship with pension providers across the UK, including Investec.
Whether you want to transfer your pension to Investec or have an existing pension with then that you want to get the most out of, we can help.
The IFA's we work with can provide independent advice about pension transfers, reviews, drawdown, annuities and much more. Book your free initial consultation with them below:
Investec Pension Products
Investec does not typically offer a "standalone" retail pension. Instead, they provide sophisticated pension wrappers as part of a holistic wealth strategy:
1. The Investec SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension)
A SIPP designed for those with significant assets who want an actively managed retirement pot.
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Active Management: Your pension is managed by a professional investment manager who builds a portfolio tailored to your specific risk appetite.
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Asset Variety: Beyond standard funds, an Investec SIPP can often hold more complex assets, including specialised offshore investments and bespoke bond portfolios.
2. Private Bank Pension Solutions
For existing Investec Private Banking clients, the bank offers integrated retirement solutions that consider your business interests, property, and personal wealth alongside your pension.
3. Rathbones Partnership
Following the major merger between Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) and Rathbones, clients now benefit from an even broader range of multi-asset funds and specialised retirement planning services under a unified wealth management banner.
Putting an Investec Pension into Drawdown
Investec specialises in "managed decumulation" - helping you draw an income without exhausting your capital too quickly.
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Flexi-Access Drawdown: You can take your 25% tax-free lump sum and set up a flexible income stream. Because these accounts are actively managed, your investment manager can adjust your portfolio's "yield" to generate income naturally from dividends and interest.
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Sustainable Withdrawal Rates: Investec’s advisers use advanced cashflow modeling to ensure your withdrawal rate is sustainable, even during market downturns.
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Minimum Age: In line with current law, you can access these funds from age 55, rising to 57 in April 2028.
Alternatives to Drawdown
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Annuities: While Investec focuses on keeping your money invested, they can facilitate the purchase of an annuity if you decide you want the security of a guaranteed lifetime income.
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UFPLS (Lump Sums): Taking one-off payments directly from your pot.
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Trust-Based Planning: Often, Investec clients use their pensions as a tool for inheritance tax planning, leaving the pot untouched for the next generation.
Reviewing and Transferring Your Investec Pension
Reviewing an Existing Pot
If you have an existing Investec or legacy Rathbones pension, a 2026 review is essential to see how the merger has affected your fee structure and fund options. Many older "Scottish Equitable" or "Investec Wealth" pots have been migrated to newer, more efficient platforms that offer better digital tracking.
Transferring INTO Investec
Investec is a popular destination for those consolidating high-value pensions.
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In-Specie Transfers: They specialise in moving existing portfolios (shares, funds, bonds) over without selling them to cash, avoiding "out-of-market" risks.
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Process: The transfer is usually managed by your dedicated Investec contact, using the Origo network for speed, typically taking 2 to 4 weeks.
Transferring OUT of Investec
If you decide to move to a DIY platform like AJ Bell or Interactive Investor:
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The Process: You must initiate the request with your new provider.
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Exit Fees: Most modern Investec Wealth accounts do not charge exit fees, but you should check for "dealing charges" if your portfolio needs to be liquidated into cash before moving.
Pros, Cons, and Customer Reviews (2025-2026)
The Pros
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Dedicated Human Service: You have a named investment manager you can call directly.
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Complex Needs: Excellent at handling cross-border wealth and offshore tax requirements.
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Performance Focus: Access to institutional-grade research and private equity opportunities.
The Cons
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Higher Fees: The cost of active management is naturally higher than a "DIY" SIPP.
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Minimum Pot Size: Generally not suitable for those with less than £100,000–£250,000 in investable assets.
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Limited Direct Digital App: While their portal is good, it isn't as "slick" as purely digital fintech apps.
What Customers are Saying
"The transition after the Rathbones merger was smoother than I expected. My manager stayed the same, and the new reporting tools are much clearer." — Trustpilot Review, Jan 2026
"Investec isn't cheap, but the peace of mind of having someone manage the volatility for me is worth it. They caught a few tax pitfalls I would have missed." — Smart Money People, Dec 2025
How Our IFA Service Can Help
At Money Helpdesk, we connect you with Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) who can provide an objective, third-party view of Investec’s performance. While Investec managers are experts, they are "restricted" to their own strategies; our IFAs are truly independent.
Our IFA service helps you by:
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Fee Benchmarking: Comparing Investec’s management fees (often 1.0%+) against whole-of-market alternatives.
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Performance Audit: Analyzing whether your Investec manager is actually beating the benchmark after fees are taken into account.
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Conflict Management: Ensuring your broader financial plan isn't being skewed by one specific provider's products.
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Consolidation Strategy: Managing the transfer of legacy employer pensions into a high-net-worth environment.
Get started here for an impartial assessment of whether Investec is the right platform for your pension for an independent financial adviser (IFA).