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Is Navigator right for you?

Navigator automatically steers your pension based on your age.

It’s right for you if:

  • You’re prepared to take a bit more risk to grow your pension when you’re younger, and less when you’re older.
  • You want your pension to stay invested during your retirement and when you’re taking money from it.
  • Your retirement’s a long way off and you haven’t quite decided how and when to retire.

It’s not right for you if:

  • You want to take all your pension on a fixed day, either as cash or to buy an annuity.

Highlights

Apply now for a Navigator pension

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 30 September 2024

Higher risk

  • 20% - Shares (emerging markets)
  • 7% - Shares (UK)
  • 5% - Real estate investment trusts
  • 59% - Shares (overseas developed)
  • 0% - Bonds (emerging markets)
  • 5% - Bonds (high yield)

Lower risk

  • 1% - Cash
  • 0% - Short maturity bonds
  • 0% - UK Government bonds (Gilts)
  • 0% - Global government bonds
  • 1% - UK corporate bonds
  • 2% - Global corporate bonds
Key:
Higher riskShares (emerging markets): 20%
Higher riskShares (UK): 7%
Higher riskReal estate investment trusts: 5%
Higher riskShares (overseas developed): 59%
Higher riskBonds (emerging markets): 0%
Higher riskBonds (high yield): 5%
Lower riskGlobal corporate bonds: 2%
Lower riskUK corporate bonds: 1%
Lower riskGlobal government bonds: 0%
Lower riskUK Government bonds (Gilts): 0%
Lower riskShort maturity bonds: 0%
Lower riskCash: 1%

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 30 September 2024.

  1. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Enhanced UCITS ETF
  2. abrdn Sustainable Index World Equity Fund
  3. iShares Continental European Equity ESG Index Fund
  4. iShares MSCI USA ESG Enhanced Fund
  5. abrdn Sustainable Index American Equity Fund
  6. iShares UK Equity ESG Index Fund
  7. iShares MSCI Japan ESG Enhanced Fund ETF
  8. abrdn Asia Pacific ex-Japan Tracker Fund
  9. Amundi Index FTSE EPRA NAREIT Global Fund
  10. Virgin Money Climate Change 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 30 September 2024.


Key:
£7.5k
£10k
£12.5k
£15k
£17.5k
  • Sep-19: £10,000
    Sep-19: £10,000
    2019
  • Oct-19: £9,823
    Oct-19: £9,821
  • Nov-19: £9,985
    Nov-19: £10,012
  • Dec-19: £10,093
    Dec-19: £10,092
  • Jan-20: £9,998
    Jan-20: £10,077
  • Feb-20: £9,525
    Feb-20: £9,687
  • Mar-20: £8,482
    Mar-20: £8,810
  • Apr-20: £9,057
    Apr-20: £9,459
  • May-20: £9,562
    May-20: £9,954
  • Jun-20: £9,879
    Jun-20: £10,223
    2020
  • Jul-20: £9,746
    Jul-20: £10,171
  • Aug-20: £10,036
    Aug-20: £10,484
  • Sep-20: £10,088
    Sep-20: £10,511
  • Oct-20: £9,933
    Oct-20: £10,305
  • Nov-20: £10,790
    Nov-20: £11,040
  • Dec-20: £11,013
    Dec-20: £11,240
  • Jan-21: £11,026
    Jan-21: £11,146
  • Feb-21: £11,019
    Feb-21: £11,156
  • Mar-21: £11,341
    Mar-21: £11,507
  • Apr-21: £11,703
    Apr-21: £11,881
  • May-21: £11,656
    May-21: £11,783
  • Jun-21: £11,988
    Jun-21: £12,196
    2021
  • Jul-21: £11,971
    Jul-21: £12,230
  • Aug-21: £12,313
    Aug-21: £12,573
  • Sep-21: £12,167
    Sep-21: £12,333
  • Oct-21: £12,300
    Oct-21: £12,660
  • Nov-21: £12,392
    Nov-21: £12,792
  • Dec-21: £12,635
    Dec-21: £12,942
  • Jan-22: £11,942
    Jan-22: £12,486
  • Feb-22: £11,759
    Feb-22: £12,195
  • Mar-22: £12,232
    Mar-22: £12,542
  • Apr-22: £11,960
    Apr-22: £12,118
  • May-22: £11,795
    May-22: £12,089
  • Jun-22: £11,215
    Jun-22: £11,569
    2022
  • Jul-22: £11,710
    Jul-22: £12,253
  • Aug-22: £11,811
    Aug-22: £12,256
  • Sep-22: £11,180
    Sep-22: £11,609
  • Oct-22: £11,240
    Oct-22: £11,861
  • Nov-22: £11,735
    Nov-22: £12,314
  • Dec-22: £11,577
    Dec-22: £11,800
  • Jan-23: £12,045
    Jan-23: £12,296
  • Feb-23: £11,976
    Feb-23: £12,134
  • Mar-23: £11,905
    Mar-23: £12,276
  • Apr-23: £11,916
    Apr-23: £12,267
  • May-23: £11,896
    May-23: £12,287
  • Jun-23: £12,126
    Jun-23: £12,593
    2023
  • Jul-23: £12,441
    Jul-23: £12,838
  • Aug-23: £12,200
    Aug-23: £12,701
  • Sep-23: £12,112
    Sep-23: £12,607
  • Oct-23: £11,748
    Oct-23: £12,342
  • Nov-23: £12,284
    Nov-23: £12,887
  • Dec-23: £12,840
    Dec-23: £13,389
  • Jan-24: £12,852
    Jan-24: £13,457
    2024
  • Feb-24: £13,166
    Feb-24: £13,975
  • Mar-24: £13,564
    Mar-24: £14,367
  • Apr-24: £13,395
    Apr-24: £14,039
  • May-24: £13,516
    May-24: £14,326
  • Jun-24: £13,902
    Jun-24: £14,690
  • Jul-24: £13,926
    Jul-24: £14,746
  • Aug-24: £13,974
    Aug-24: £14,802
  • Sep-24: £14,143
    Sep-24: £14,865
2019 2024

September 2019 to
September 2020
September 2020 to
September 2021
September 2021 to
September 2022
September 2022 to
September 2023
September 2023 to
September 2024
This fund0.9%20.6%-8.1%8.4%16.9%
Performance Comparator*5.1%17.3%-5.9%8.6%17.9%
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, 30 September 2019 to 30 September 2024, 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 30 September 2024

Higher risk

  • 5% - Shares (emerging markets)
  • 4% - Shares (UK)
  • 1% - Real estate investment trusts
  • 6% - Shares (overseas developed)
  • 2% - Bonds (emerging markets)
  • 3% - Bonds (high yield)

Lower risk

  • 17% - Cash
  • 21% - Short maturity bonds
  • 10% - UK Government bonds (Gilts)
  • 16% - Global government bonds
  • 10% - UK corporate bonds
  • 5% - Global corporate bonds
Key:
Higher riskShares (emerging markets): 5%
Higher riskShares (UK): 4%
Higher riskReal estate investment trusts: 1%
Higher riskShares (overseas developed): 6%
Higher riskBonds (emerging markets): 2%
Higher riskBonds (high yield): 3%
Lower riskGlobal corporate bonds: 5%
Lower riskUK corporate bonds: 10%
Lower riskGlobal government bonds: 16%
Lower riskUK Government bonds (Gilts): 10%
Lower riskShort maturity bonds: 21%
Lower riskCash: 17%

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 30 September 2024.

  1. abrdn Liquidity Fund
  2. abrdn Global Government Bond Index Fund
  3. L&G ESG GBP Corporate Bond 0-5 Year Fund ETF
  4. Vanguard UK Government Bond Index Fund
  5. abrdn Short Dated Global Inflation-Linked Bond Tracker Fund
  6. Vontobel TwentyFour Sustainable Short Term Bond Fund
  7. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Enhanced UCITS ETF
  8. abrdn Global Inflation-Linked Bond Tracker Fund
  9. abrdn Short Dated Global Corporate Bond Tracker Fund
  10. abrdn Sustainable Index UK Equity 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 30 September 2024.


Key:
£7.5k
£10k
£12.5k
  • Sep-19: £10,000
    Sep-19: £10,000
    2019
  • Oct-19: £9,902
    Oct-19: £9,943
  • Nov-19: £9,897
    Nov-19: £9,963
  • Dec-19: £9,884
    Dec-19: £9,950
  • Jan-20: £10,005
    Jan-20: £10,087
  • Feb-20: £9,978
    Feb-20: £10,110
  • Mar-20: £9,597
    Mar-20: £9,800
  • Apr-20: £9,847
    Apr-20: £10,056
  • May-20: £9,986
    May-20: £10,177
  • Jun-20: £10,078
    Jun-20: £10,269
    2020
  • Jul-20: £10,119
    Jul-20: £10,344
  • Aug-20: £10,089
    Aug-20: £10,342
  • Sep-20: £10,127
    Sep-20: £10,377
  • Oct-20: £10,112
    Oct-20: £10,338
  • Nov-20: £10,308
    Nov-20: £10,521
  • Dec-20: £10,382
    Dec-20: £10,578
  • Jan-21: £10,364
    Jan-21: £10,513
  • Feb-21: £10,185
    Feb-21: £10,383
  • Mar-21: £10,257
    Mar-21: £10,409
  • Apr-21: £10,341
    Apr-21: £10,494
  • May-21: £10,364
    May-21: £10,495
  • Jun-21: £10,438
    Jun-21: £10,607
    2021
  • Jul-21: £10,561
    Jul-21: £10,718
  • Aug-21: £10,615
    Aug-21: £10,756
  • Sep-21: £10,485
    Sep-21: £10,633
  • Oct-21: £10,549
    Oct-21: £10,663
  • Nov-21: £10,613
    Nov-21: £10,748
  • Dec-21: £10,594
    Dec-21: £10,730
  • Jan-22: £10,415
    Jan-22: £10,521
  • Feb-22: £10,290
    Feb-22: £10,363
  • Mar-22: £10,253
    Mar-22: £10,230
  • Apr-22: £10,080
    Apr-22: £9,932
  • May-22: £10,034
    May-22: £9,917
  • Jun-22: £9,766
    Jun-22: £9,708
    2022
  • Jul-22: £9,994
    Jul-22: £10,012
  • Aug-22: £9,842
    Aug-22: £9,784
  • Sep-22: £9,428
    Sep-22: £9,415
  • Oct-22: £9,510
    Oct-22: £9,424
  • Nov-22: £9,702
    Nov-22: £9,675
  • Dec-22: £9,613
    Dec-22: £9,497
  • Jan-23: £9,802
    Jan-23: £9,740
  • Feb-23: £9,695
    Feb-23: £9,582
  • Mar-23: £9,787
    Mar-23: £9,768
  • Apr-23: £9,812
    Apr-23: £9,803
  • May-23: £9,736
    May-23: £9,768
  • Jun-23: £9,728
    Jun-23: £9,804
    2023
  • Jul-23: £9,809
    Jul-23: £9,841
  • Aug-23: £9,762
    Aug-23: £9,809
  • Sep-23: £9,677
    Sep-23: £9,651
  • Oct-23: £9,635
    Oct-23: £9,555
  • Nov-23: £9,890
    Nov-23: £9,890
  • Dec-23: £10,174
    Dec-23: £10,215
  • Jan-24: £10,086
    Jan-24: £10,207
    2024
  • Feb-24: £10,083
    Feb-24: £10,221
  • Mar-24: £10,235
    Mar-24: £10,349
  • Apr-24: £10,138
    Apr-24: £10,166
  • May-24: £10,165
    May-24: £10,276
  • Jun-24: £10,312
    Jun-24: £10,397
  • Jul-24: £10,398
    Jul-24: £10,564
  • Aug-24: £10,476
    Aug-24: £10,661
  • Sep-24: £10,559
    Sep-24: £10,767
2019 2024
Virgin Money Defensive Fund comparisonSeptember 2019 to
September 2020
September 2020 to
September 2021
September 2021 to
September 2022
September 2022 to
September 2023
September 2023 to
September 2024
This fund1.3%3.5%-10.1%2.7%9.2%
Performance Comparator*3.8%2.5%-11.5%2.5%11.6%
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 comprises 85% bonds and 15% shares. 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, total return (income reinvested).
Performance comparator changes

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.

Apply for Navigator pension

Know enough about Navigator and just want to get going?

Ready to apply?

Use our quick and easy calculator to see how bright your financial future could be.

Prefer to be in the driving seat?

If you want to take the controls and follow your own investment route to retirement, our Self-Drive Pension could be the right choice for you.

Find out more about our Self-Drive pension
Prefer to be in the driving seat - Self-select pension

Got a question?

We've got the answer.

Yes. It’s a good idea to review your pension and how it's invested every so often. Once your pension is open, you can switch between Navigator and Self-Drive pension easily. Just sign in to Online Service and follow the on-screen instructions.

Use the app or sign in to Online Service and track the performance of your investments – we update your account balance every day. You'll also get a statement every six months.

Our charges are up to 0.75% in total each year, based on the value of your account. This is made up of two clear and simple charges.

An Account Charge, which is 0.30% of your investments. This is collected from your account by cashing in a small number of investment units each month.

An Annual Management Charge, which is up to 0.45% of your investments. This is collected by making a small adjustment to the unit price of your investment each day.

Find more information about our funds and charges.

View more questions and answers