You can choose Income Drawdown (unsecured pension) as an alternative to an immediate annuity purchase.
With this arrangement, you should first take your tax-free cash element, (it cannot be taken later), and the balance remains in your selected pension fund. There is an exception to this in the case of phased drawdown, whereby your tax free cash and income requirements can be combined.
You can now draw down a chosen amount of between 0% and 100% of the calculated single person's annuity value for the remaining fund. The residual fund can be converted into an annuity when you choose to end the Income Drawdown arrangement.
Income Drawdown is definitely not a suitable option for all. It is essential that any individual obtains the appropriate level of advice before committing to this course of action. Investments can go down as well as up and are not guaranteed.
Minimum Term
Income is guaranteed to be paid until the death of the annuity holder, but it can also be modified to include any of the following options:
5-year guarantee - annuity ceases at death of annuitant, or after 5 years, whichever is the longer
10-year guarantee - annuity ceases at death of annuitant, or after 10 years, whichever is the longer
Joint life annuity - annuity ceases on the death of the second of two named annuitants
Spousal Benefits
Your spouse can be protected after your death, by choosing reduction to half benefit, reduction to two thirds benefit or full benefit.
Thus the annuity is adjusted to the new level at the death of the annuitant or at the end of the guarantee period (if selected), and continues until the death of the spouse.
Annuity Escalation
The annuity can either be paid at a fixed level or you can include an escalation at 3%, 5%, or at the % RPI (annual increase in retail price index). Thus you can choose to compensate for inflationary effects on your income. However the initial income level will be reduced if you choose escalation.
Purchased Life
A purchased life annuity is an annuity purchased with your own funds, instead of from a pension fund. It operates in the same way as a compulsory purchase annuity, but it has tax advantages.
The entire pension which you'll receive from a compulsory purchase annuity is treated as taxable income much as in the same way as income from employment would be.
However, when you buy a purchased life annuity, the part of the annuity income which is calculated as capital repayment to you, is free of tax.
Your consultant can assist you in making decisions for such investments, and would be happy to provide comparative illustrations of such options.