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At a glance

Navigator steers your pension automatically based on your age, helping you make smart decisions. It aims to grow your pension when you're younger, then adds more stability as you approach retirement.

It’s designed to give you flexibility when making your retirement plans, so you don’t need to decide how or when you’ll retire until you’re ready.

Download Key Information

Highlights

  • When you're younger, your money's invested in our Adventurous Growth approach - with higher potential to grow your money in the longer term.
  • When you turn 51, we gradually start moving it into our Careful Defensive approach - for more stability, but with slower growth.
  • Our experts invest your money globally to give it more chances to grow and to spread the risk.

Remember, the value of investments can go up and down, so you may get back less money than you put in. Tax depends on your individual circumstances and the regulations may change in the future.

How your money's invested

Up until the age of 51, we invest your money in our Adventurous Growth approach. It’s higher risk but can generate higher returns – and you’ve got plenty of time to ride out the market ups and downs.

When you’re 51, we gradually move some of your money into our Careful Defensive approach each year until you’re 65. This blend of approaches keeps your money growing, while reducing those ups and downs ready for you to start taking it out. Best of all, it’s all done for you.

Percentage invested in each approach by age

Key:
0%
50%
100%
  • 40: 100%
    40: 0%
    40
  • 41: 100%
    41: 0%
  • 42: 100%
    42: 0%
  • 43: 100%
    43: 0%
  • 44: 100%
    44: 0%
  • 45: 100%
    45: 0%
    45
  • 46: 100%
    46: 0%
  • 47: 100%
    47: 0%
  • 48: 100%
    48: 0%
  • 49: 100%
    49: 0%
  • 50: 100%
    50: 0%
    50
  • 51: 97%
    51: 3%
  • 52: 94%
    52: 6%
  • 53: 91%
    53: 9%
  • 54: 88%
    54: 12%
  • 55: 85%
    55: 15%
    55
  • 56: 81%
    56: 19%
  • 57: 77%
    57: 23%
  • 58: 73%
    58: 27%
  • 59: 69%
    59: 31%
  • 60: 65%
    60: 35%
    60
  • 61: 60%
    61: 40%
  • 62: 55%
    62: 45%
  • 63: 50%
    63: 50%
  • 64: 43%
    64: 57%
  • 65: 36%
    65: 64%
    65
  • 66: 36%
    66: 64%
  • 67: 36%
    67: 64%
  • 68: 36%
    68: 64%
  • 69: 36%
    69: 64%
  • 70 years: 36%
    70 years: 64%
    70
40 70

Explore both approaches

Where your money’s invested

This approach aims for higher potential growth over the longer term. Our experts review the mix of investments regularly.

Here’s the detail at 31 December 2023

Higher risk

  • 18% - Shares (emerging markets)
  • 7% - Shares (UK)
  • 5% - Real estate investment trusts
  • 60% - Shares (overseas developed)
  • 0% - Bonds (emerging markets)
  • 3% - Bonds (high yield)

Lower risk

  • 3% - Cash
  • 0% - Short maturity bonds
  • 0% - UK Government bonds (Gilts)
  • 0% - Global government bonds
  • 1% - UK corporate bonds
  • 3% - Global corporate bonds
Key:
Higher riskShares (emerging markets): 18%
Higher riskShares (UK): 7%
Higher riskReal estate investment trusts: 5%
Higher riskShares (overseas developed): 60%
Higher riskBonds (emerging markets): 0%
Higher riskBonds (high yield): 3%
Lower riskGlobal corporate bonds: 3%
Lower riskUK corporate bonds: 1%
Lower riskGlobal government bonds: 0%
Lower riskUK Government bonds (Gilts): 0%
Lower riskShort maturity bonds: 0%
Lower riskCash: 3%
What do these terms mean?

How the fund invests

Your money is invested in a group of funds, rather than directly in stocks and shares. This is known as a fund of funds.

Top holdings

The following is up-to-date as of 31 December 2023.

  1. abrdn Sustainable Index World Equity Fund
  2. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Enhanced Units Fund
  3. iShares MSCI USA ESG Enhanced Fund
  4. iShares Continental European Equity ESG Index Fund
  5. iShares MSCI Japan ESG Enhanced Fund
  6. iShares UK Equity ESG Index Fund
  7. abrdn Sustainable Index American Equity Fund
  8. abrdn European Equity Tracker Fund
  9. Aberdeen Standard Liquidity Fund
  10. Amundi Index FTSE EPRA NAREIT Global Fund

What you could've earned already

The graph below gives you an indication of how much you could've earned, after charges, if you had invested £10,000 in this approach five years ago. Remember, past performance isn't a reliable guide to future performance.

Here's the detail at 31 December 2023.

Key:
£7.5k
£10k
£12.5k
£15k
£17.5k
  • Dec-18: £10,000
    Dec-18: £10,000
  • Jan-19: £10,445
    Jan-19: £10,418
    2019
  • Feb-19: £10,598
    Feb-19: £10,581
  • Mar-19: £10,865
    Mar-19: £10,848
  • Apr-19: £11,084
    Apr-19: £11,062
  • May-19: £10,909
    May-19: £10,911
  • Jun-19: £11,535
    Jun-19: £11,548
  • Jul-19: £11,823
    Jul-19: £11,851
  • Aug-19: £11,714
    Aug-19: £11,800
  • Sep-19: £11,744
    Sep-19: £11,784
  • Oct-19: £11,598
    Oct-19: £11,653
  • Nov-19: £11,668
    Nov-19: £11,759
  • Dec-19: £11,847
    Dec-19: £11,912
  • Jan-20: £11,885
    Jan-20: £12,051
    2020
  • Feb-20: £11,448
    Feb-20: £11,743
  • Mar-20: £9,610
    Mar-20: £10,089
  • Apr-20: £10,514
    Apr-20: £11,037
  • May-20: £11,244
    May-20: £11,765
  • Jun-20: £11,559
    Jun-20: £12,055
  • Jul-20: £11,593
    Jul-20: £12,174
  • Aug-20: £11,772
    Aug-20: £12,432
  • Sep-20: £11,946
    Sep-20: £12,545
  • Oct-20: £11,739
    Oct-20: £12,342
  • Nov-20: £12,667
    Nov-20: £13,176
  • Dec-20: £12,929
    Dec-20: £13,320
  • Jan-21: £12,898
    Jan-21: £13,424
    2021
  • Feb-21: £12,960
    Feb-21: £13,478
  • Mar-21: £13,327
    Mar-21: £13,750
  • Apr-21: £13,741
    Apr-21: £14,055
  • May-21: £13,769
    May-21: £14,054
  • Jun-21: £14,101
    Jun-21: £14,538
  • Jul-21: £14,117
    Jul-21: £14,576
  • Aug-21: £14,518
    Aug-21: £14,952
  • Sep-21: £14,126
    Sep-21: £14,659
  • Oct-21: £14,653
    Oct-21: £15,125
  • Nov-21: £14,668
    Nov-21: £15,095
  • Dec-21: £14,940
    Dec-21: £15,499
  • Jan-22: £14,336
    Jan-22: £14,866
    2022
  • Feb-22: £13,867
    Feb-22: £14,426
  • Mar-22: £14,367
    Mar-22: £14,992
  • Apr-22: £14,147
    Apr-22: £14,448
  • May-22: £13,899
    May-22: £14,404
  • Jun-22: £13,232
    Jun-22: £13,973
  • Jul-22: £13,924
    Jul-22: £14,519
  • Aug-22: £13,859
    Aug-22: £14,621
  • Sep-22: £13,075
    Sep-22: £13,962
  • Oct-22: £13,425
    Oct-22: £14,226
  • Nov-22: £14,017
    Nov-22: £14,457
  • Dec-22: £13,696
    Dec-22: £14,103
  • Jan-23: £14,357
    Jan-23: £14,785
    2023
  • Feb-23: £14,245
    Feb-23: £14,575
  • Mar-23: £14,146
    Mar-23: £14,692
  • Apr-23: £14,095
    Apr-23: £14,686
  • May-23: £14,058
    May-23: £14,703
  • Jun-23: £14,428
    Jun-23: £15,127
  • Jul-23: £14,711
    Jul-23: £15,393
  • Aug-23: £14,484
    Aug-23: £15,266
  • Sep-23: £14,292
    Sep-23: £15,110
  • Oct-23: £13,967
    Oct-23: £14,919
  • Nov-23: £14,569
    Nov-23: £15,540
  • Dec-23: £15,179
    Dec-23: £16,045
2018 2023

Dec 2018 to
Dec 2019		Dec 2019 to
Dec 2020		Dec 2020 to
Dec 2021		Dec 2021 to
Dec 2022		Dec 2022 to
Dec 2023
This fund18.5%9.0%14.8%-8.4%11.0%
Performance Comparator*19.1%11.8%15.5%-8.5%13.9%
This fund launched in November 2020. To help you compare it with other funds we have replicated the performance of the markets the fund invests in, to indicate what the performance may have been prior to its launch. The simulated return takes into account total annual charges of 0.45% and that the mix of assets are rebalanced once per month, but does not include the separate account fee of 0.30% per year.

*The fund doesn’t use a benchmark as a guide for investing or as a target to beat. But we do use a performance comparator which investors may want to compare the fund’s performance against. This comprises 80% shares and 20% bonds. Shares are represented by the MSCI All Countries World Index GBP, whilst bonds are represented by the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index – GBP Hedged. The fund invests differently to the performance comparator therefore returns will always be different. For example there are differences in the way the fund is built vs. the comparator, along with the cost of investing, which is included for the fund return, but not the comparator. You cannot invest in the performance comparator.

Source: Lipper, year on year, 31 December 2018 to 31 December 2023, bid to bid with net income reinvested.

Where your money’s invested

This approach aims for more stability, but with slower growth. Our experts review the mix of investments regularly.

Here’s the detail at 31 December 2023

Higher risk

  • 5% - Shares (emerging markets)
  • 1% - Shares (UK)
  • 1% - Real estate investment trusts
  • 7% - Shares (overseas developed)
  • 1% - Bonds (emerging markets)
  • 1% - Bonds (high yield)

Lower risk

  • 16% - Cash
  • 26% - Short maturity bonds
  • 16% - UK Government bonds (Gilts)
  • 21% - Global government bonds
  • 2% - UK corporate bonds
  • 3% - Global corporate bonds
Key:
Higher riskShares (emerging markets): 5%
Higher riskShares (UK): 1%
Higher riskReal estate investment trusts: 1%
Higher riskShares (overseas developed): 7%
Higher riskBonds (emerging markets): 1%
Higher riskBonds (high yield): 1%
Lower riskGlobal corporate bonds: 3%
Lower riskUK corporate bonds: 2%
Lower riskGlobal government bonds: 21%
Lower riskUK Government bonds (Gilts): 16%
Lower riskShort maturity bonds: 26%
Lower riskCash: 16%
What do these terms mean?

How the fund invests

Your money is invested in a group of funds, rather than directly in stocks and shares. This is known as a fund of funds.

Top holdings

The following is up-to-date as of 31 December 2023.

  1. Aberdeen Standard Liquidity Fund
  2. Vanguard UK Government Bond Index Fund
  3. abrdn Global Government Bond Index Fund
  4. abrdn Global Inflation-Linked Bond Tracker Fund
  5. Vontobel Fund TwentyFour Sustainable Short Term Bond Fund
  6. abrdn Short Dated Global Corporate Bond Tracker Fund
  7. abrdn Short Dated Global Inflation-Linked Bond Tracker Fund
  8. abrdn Sustainable Index American Equity Fund
  9. iShares MSCI EM ESG Enhanced Fund
  10. L&G ESG GBP Corporate Bond 0-5 Year Fund

What you could've earned already

The graph below gives you an indication of how much you could've earned, after charges, if you had invested £10,000 in this approach five years ago. Remember, past performance isn't a reliable guide to future performance.

Here's the detail at 31 December 2023.

Key:
£7.5k
£10k
£12.5k
  • Dec-18: £10,000
    Dec-18: £10,000
  • Jan-19: £10,126
    Jan-19: £10,014
    2019
  • Feb-19: £10,139
    Feb-19: £10,025
  • Mar-19: £10,310
    Mar-19: £10,038
  • Apr-19: £10,339
    Apr-19: £10,050
  • May-19: £10,427
    May-19: £10,064
  • Jun-19: £10,565
    Jun-19: £10,074
  • Jul-19: £10,706
    Jul-19: £10,088
  • Aug-19: £10,834
    Aug-19: £10,100
  • Sep-19: £10,799
    Sep-19: £10,112
  • Oct-19: £10,679
    Oct-19: £10,126
  • Nov-19: £10,651
    Nov-19: £10,138
  • Dec-19: £10,665
    Dec-19: £10,150
  • Jan-20: £10,814
    Jan-20: £10,164
    2020
  • Feb-20: £10,807
    Feb-20: £10,176
  • Mar-20: £10,323
    Mar-20: £10,184
  • Apr-20: £10,590
    Apr-20: £10,191
  • May-20: £10,771
    May-20: £10,198
  • Jun-20: £10,856
    Jun-20: £10,206
  • Jul-20: £10,938
    Jul-20: £10,214
  • Aug-20: £10,887
    Aug-20: £10,221
  • Sep-20: £10,945
    Sep-20: £10,228
  • Oct-20: £10,912
    Oct-20: £10,234
  • Nov-20: £11,134
    Nov-20: £10,241
  • Dec-20: £11,202
    Dec-20: £10,249
  • Jan-21: £11,161
    Jan-21: £10,256
    2021
  • Feb-21: £11,010
    Feb-21: £10,263
  • Mar-21: £11,068
    Mar-21: £10,271
  • Apr-21: £11,157
    Apr-21: £10,277
  • May-21: £11,204
    May-21: £10,284
  • Jun-21: £11,261
    Jun-21: £10,292
  • Jul-21: £11,406
    Jul-21: £10,299
  • Aug-21: £11,429
    Aug-21: £10,307
  • Sep-21: £11,290
    Sep-21: £10,314
  • Oct-21: £11,380
    Oct-21: £10,321
  • Nov-21: £11,448
    Nov-21: £10,328
  • Dec-21: £11,430
    Dec-21: £10,336
  • Jan-22: £11,246
    Jan-22: £10,344
    2022
  • Feb-22: £11,159
    Feb-22: £10,354
  • Mar-22: £11,045
    Mar-22: £10,366
  • Apr-22: £10,875
    Apr-22: £10,379
  • May-22: £10,783
    May-22: £10,394
  • Jun-22: £10,573
    Jun-22: £10,409
  • Jul-22: £10,784
    Jul-22: £10,426
  • Aug-22: £10,571
    Aug-22: £10,448
  • Sep-22: £10,150
    Sep-22: £10,472
  • Oct-22: £10,282
    Oct-22: £10,496
  • Nov-22: £10,505
    Nov-22: £10,527
  • Dec-22: £10,375
    Dec-22: £10,564
  • Jan-23: £10,606
    Jan-23: £10,599
    2023
  • Feb-23: £10,486
    Feb-23: £10,637
  • Mar-23: £10,593
    Mar-23: £10,682
  • Apr-23: £10,590
    Apr-23: £10,722
  • May-23: £10,500
    May-23: £10,768
  • Jun-23: £10,520
    Jun-23: £10,817
  • Jul-23: £10,603
    Jul-23: £10,864
  • Aug-23: £10,550
    Aug-23: £10,918
  • Sep-23: £10,447
    Sep-23: £10,971
  • Oct-23: £10,407
    Oct-23: £11,023
  • Nov-23: £10,660
    Nov-23: £11,075
  • Dec-23: £10,982
    Dec-23: £11,124
2018 2023
Virgin Money Defensive Fund comparisonDec 2018 to
Dec 2019		Dec 2019 to
Dec 2020		Dec 2020 to
Dec 2021		Dec 2021 to
Dec 2022		Dec 2022 to
Dec 2023
This fund6.6%5.0%2.1%-9.2%5.9%
Performance Comparator*1.5%1.0%0.9%2.2%5.5%
This fund launched in November 2020. To help you compare it with other funds we have replicated the performance of the markets the fund invests in, to indicate what the performance may have been prior to its launch. The simulated return takes into account total annual charges of 0.40% and that the mix of assets are rebalanced once per month, but does not include the separate account fee of 0.30% per year.

*The fund doesn’t use a benchmark as a guide for investing or as a target to beat. But we do use a performance comparator which investors may want to compare the fund’s performance against. This is the Bank of England Base Rate +0.75%, which represents an incremental return over and above cash savings, in keeping with the lower risk / defensive nature of the fund

Source Lipper, total return (income reinvested).

Key information

In our important documents you’ll see our Careful Defensive approach and Adventurous Growth approach, which refers to our Virgin Money Defensive Fund and Virgin Money Growth Fund 3. Before applying, please make sure you've read the following.

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