Taking back control of your UK pensions as an expat
13th February 2026
This week we completed another UK pension transfer for a client. It is always a satisfying piece of work. Not because of the paperwork, which is rarely straightforward, but because it represents something more important: control.
For many British expats, UK pensions are the one financial asset that has quietly followed them around the world. Since the introduction of automatic enrolment in 2012, employers have been required to enrol eligible staff into a workplace pension. While it has always been possible to opt out, most people did not. As a result, millions of small and mid-sized pension pots were created as employees moved from job to job.
According to research from the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), an estimated £31.1 billion was sitting in forgotten or unclaimed UK workplace pension pots as at September 2024. That figure alone tells you how common this issue is.
For many British expats, UK pensions are the one financial asset that has quietly followed them around the world. Since the introduction of automatic enrolment in 2012, employers have been required to enrol eligible staff into a workplace pension. While it has always been possible to opt out, most people did not. As a result, millions of small and mid-sized pension pots were created as employees moved from job to job.
According to research from the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), an estimated £31.1 billion was sitting in forgotten or unclaimed UK workplace pension pots as at September 2024. That figure alone tells you how common this issue is.
If you are a UK expat, it is highly likely that you have at least one old workplace pension somewhere. In many cases, clients either:
Left alone, these pensions simply drift. They remain invested in default funds, often with no clear alignment to your current risk tolerance, retirement goals or wider financial plan. They may be perfectly acceptable. They may not. The key issue is that most people simply do not know.
Why this matters for retirement planning
A UK pension is not just a dormant account. It is usually one of the largest long-term assets you own. For expats in particular, it can become the backbone of a global retirement strategy.
When pensions are consolidated and properly reviewed, several benefits emerge:
Most importantly, it allows us to model realistic retirement scenarios. At Brigantia, we build financial plans around detailed cashflow modelling, and without accurate pension data, that modelling is incomplete. Once we know what exists, where it is, how it is invested and what it may deliver over time, we can make informed decisions rather than assumptions.
- Genuinely forgot about it after leaving an employer
- Intended to “deal with it later” and never did
- Are aware of it but have not reviewed the investment strategy or performance in years
Left alone, these pensions simply drift. They remain invested in default funds, often with no clear alignment to your current risk tolerance, retirement goals or wider financial plan. They may be perfectly acceptable. They may not. The key issue is that most people simply do not know.
Why this matters for retirement planning
A UK pension is not just a dormant account. It is usually one of the largest long-term assets you own. For expats in particular, it can become the backbone of a global retirement strategy.
When pensions are consolidated and properly reviewed, several benefits emerge:
- Clear visibility of total retirement assets
- Alignment of investments with your time horizon and objectives
- Easier income planning in retirement
- Improved coordination with other assets such as ISAs, offshore bonds or property
- Potential cost efficiencies
Most importantly, it allows us to model realistic retirement scenarios. At Brigantia, we build financial plans around detailed cashflow modelling, and without accurate pension data, that modelling is incomplete. Once we know what exists, where it is, how it is invested and what it may deliver over time, we can make informed decisions rather than assumptions.
The problem with delay
Pension transfers and consolidations are rarely quick. Providers vary widely in their efficiency. Some still operate with legacy systems and manual processes. Identity verification, discharge forms, scheme checks and, where relevant, regulatory considerations can extend timelines significantly.
This is why we consistently advise clients not to leave this until “a year or two before retirement”. By then, options may be narrower, and time pressure increases the risk of rushed decisions.
Starting the process early gives you flexibility. It allows time to:
Taking back control
The objective is not to transfer for the sake of transferring. In some cases, leaving a pension where it is may be appropriate. In others, consolidation can materially improve clarity, efficiency and long-term outcomes.
What matters is that the decision is deliberate, not accidental.
If you are a UK expat and have changed jobs since 2012, there is a strong probability that you have money sitting in one or more workplace schemes. Given the PPI’s estimate of £31.1 billion in forgotten pots, this is not a niche issue. It is mainstream.
The first step is simple: establish what you have, where it is, and how it is performing. From there, we can determine how it fits into your overall retirement strategy.
Pensions are long-term assets. The earlier you bring them back into view, the more strategic options you create.
Pension transfers and consolidations are rarely quick. Providers vary widely in their efficiency. Some still operate with legacy systems and manual processes. Identity verification, discharge forms, scheme checks and, where relevant, regulatory considerations can extend timelines significantly.
This is why we consistently advise clients not to leave this until “a year or two before retirement”. By then, options may be narrower, and time pressure increases the risk of rushed decisions.
Starting the process early gives you flexibility. It allows time to:
- Trace old schemes
- Assess charges and performance
- Consider guarantees or special features
- Decide whether consolidation is appropriate
- Integrate the pension into a structured retirement plan
Taking back control
The objective is not to transfer for the sake of transferring. In some cases, leaving a pension where it is may be appropriate. In others, consolidation can materially improve clarity, efficiency and long-term outcomes.
What matters is that the decision is deliberate, not accidental.
If you are a UK expat and have changed jobs since 2012, there is a strong probability that you have money sitting in one or more workplace schemes. Given the PPI’s estimate of £31.1 billion in forgotten pots, this is not a niche issue. It is mainstream.
The first step is simple: establish what you have, where it is, and how it is performing. From there, we can determine how it fits into your overall retirement strategy.
Pensions are long-term assets. The earlier you bring them back into view, the more strategic options you create.
