What to gather before a pension consolidation meeting — Blue Haven guides

Bringing incomplete paperwork to a pension meeting wastes the hour. Advisers cannot compare charges or guarantees without the scheme’s own documents, and clients often underestimate how many old employers still hold pots in their name.

Start with a full list of schemes

Write every workplace and personal pension you remember, including AVCs and any SIPP opened after a previous transfer. Check old P60s, annual benefit statements, and the government Pension Tracing Service if an employer has changed name. Note the policy number and administrator for each.

Documents that usually matter

Ask each administrator for the latest valuation, the scheme booklet or key features, the transfer-out pack (if available), and confirmation of any guaranteed annuity rates or protected tax-free cash. For defined benefit schemes, request a cash equivalent transfer value and a written summary of survivor benefits.

Tax wrappers and recent contributions

Bring evidence of pension contributions in the current and prior tax year — useful when annual allowance or carry-forward may apply. If you have used flexi-access drawdown elsewhere, say so early; the Money Purchase Annual Allowance can change what a consolidation recommendation looks like.

What can wait

You do not need a perfect lifetime contribution history on day one. Priority goes to current valuations, charges, and safeguarded benefits. Blue Haven sends a tailored checklist after discovery so you are not gathering documents we will not use.