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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

  • 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.
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 31 March 2024

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 March 2024.

  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 MSCI Japan ESG Enhanced Fund
  5. iShares Continental European Equity ESG Index Fund
  6. iShares UK Equity ESG Index Fund
  7. abrdn Sustainable Index American Equity Fund
  8. abrdn European Equity Tracker Fund
  9. abrdn 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 March 2024.

Key:
£7.5k
£10k
£12.5k
£15k
£17.5k
  • Mar-19: £10,000
    Mar-19: £10,000
    2019
  • Apr-19: £10,262
    Apr-19: £10,269
  • May-19: £10,049
    May-19: £10,081
  • Jun-19: £10,516
    Jun-19: £10,554
  • Jul-19: £10,874
    Jul-19: £10,929
  • Aug-19: £10,714
    Aug-19: £10,819
  • Sep-19: £10,820
    Sep-19: £10,888
  • Oct-19: £10,628
    Oct-19: £10,696
  • Nov-19: £10,804
    Nov-19: £10,908
  • Dec-19: £10,921
    Dec-19: £10,998
  • Jan-20: £10,818
    Jan-20: £10,984
    2020
  • Feb-20: £10,307
    Feb-20: £10,562
  • Mar-20: £9,177
    Mar-20: £9,611
  • Apr-20: £9,800
    Apr-20: £10,324
  • May-20: £10,346
    May-20: £10,868
  • Jun-20: £10,690
    Jun-20: £11,165
  • Jul-20: £10,545
    Jul-20: £11,113
  • Aug-20: £10,859
    Aug-20: £11,458
  • Sep-20: £10,915
    Sep-20: £11,490
  • Oct-20: £10,748
    Oct-20: £11,268
  • Nov-20: £11,677
    Nov-20: £12,075
  • Dec-20: £11,919
    Dec-20: £12,297
  • Jan-21: £11,934
    Jan-21: £12,196
    2021
  • Feb-21: £11,927
    Feb-21: £12,210
  • Mar-21: £12,276
    Mar-21: £12,599
  • Apr-21: £12,669
    Apr-21: £13,014
  • May-21: £12,619
    May-21: £12,912
  • Jun-21: £12,979
    Jun-21: £13,368
  • Jul-21: £12,962
    Jul-21: £13,408
  • Aug-21: £13,333
    Aug-21: £13,787
  • Sep-21: £13,177
    Sep-21: £13,528
  • Oct-21: £13,321
    Oct-21: £13,891
  • Nov-21: £13,420
    Nov-21: £14,038
  • Dec-21: £13,682
    Dec-21: £14,207
  • Jan-22: £12,932
    Jan-22: £13,709
    2022
  • Feb-22: £12,735
    Feb-22: £13,392
  • Mar-22: £13,246
    Mar-22: £13,779
  • Apr-22: £12,953
    Apr-22: £13,318
  • May-22: £12,773
    May-22: £13,294
  • Jun-22: £12,147
    Jun-22: £12,727
  • Jul-22: £12,681
    Jul-22: £13,483
  • Aug-22: £12,791
    Aug-22: £13,490
  • Sep-22: £12,109
    Sep-22: £12,783
  • Oct-22: £12,173
    Oct-22: £13,063
  • Nov-22: £12,709
    Nov-22: £13,567
  • Dec-22: £12,537
    Dec-22: £13,005
  • Jan-23: £13,044
    Jan-23: £13,554
    2023
  • Feb-23: £12,969
    Feb-23: £13,379
  • Mar-23: £12,892
    Mar-23: £13,543
  • Apr-23: £12,904
    Apr-23: £13,537
  • May-23: £12,882
    May-23: £13,568
  • Jun-23: £13,131
    Jun-23: £13,911
  • Jul-23: £13,472
    Jul-23: £14,185
  • Aug-23: £13,211
    Aug-23: £14,038
  • Sep-23: £13,116
    Sep-23: £13,937
  • Oct-23: £12,723
    Oct-23: £13,647
  • Nov-23: £13,302
    Nov-23: £14,255
  • Dec-23: £13,903
    Dec-23: £14,814
  • Jan-24: £13,916
    Jan-24: £14,892
    2024
  • Feb-24: £14,256
    Feb-24: £15,470
  • Mar-24: £14,687
    Mar-24: £15,910
2019 2024

March 2019 to
March 2020		March 2020 to
March 2021		March 2021 to
March 2022		March 2022 to
March 2023		March 2023 to
March 2024
This fund-8.2%33.8%8.0%-2.7%14.0%
Performance Comparator*-3.9%31.1%9.4%-1.7%17.5%
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 0.45% 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 March 2019 to 31 March 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 31 March 2024

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

  • 17% - Cash
  • 22% - Short maturity bonds
  • 15% - UK Government bonds (Gilts)
  • 21% - Global government bonds
  • 4% - UK corporate bonds
  • 5% - 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: 5%
Lower riskUK corporate bonds: 4%
Lower riskGlobal government bonds: 21%
Lower riskUK Government bonds (Gilts): 15%
Lower riskShort maturity bonds: 22%
Lower riskCash: 17%
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 March 2024.

  1. abrdn 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 TwentyFour Sustainable Short Term Bond Fund
  6. abrdn Short Dated Global Inflation-Linked Bond Tracker Fund
  7. abrdn Short Dated Global Corporate Bond Tracker Fund
  8. abrdn Sustainable Index American Equity Fund
  9. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets 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 March 2024.

Key:
£7.5k
£10k
£12.5k
  • Mar-19: £10,000
    Mar-19: £10,000
    2019
  • Apr-19: £10,015
    Apr-19: £10,013
  • May-19: £10,087
    May-19: £10,026
  • Jun-19: £10,202
    Jun-19: £10,038
  • Jul-19: £10,349
    Jul-19: £10,050
  • Aug-19: £10,467
    Aug-19: £10,064
  • Sep-19: £10,454
    Sep-19: £10,076
  • Oct-19: £10,352
    Oct-19: £10,088
  • Nov-19: £10,346
    Nov-19: £10,100
  • Dec-19: £10,333
    Dec-19: £10,114
  • Jan-20: £10,460
    Jan-20: £10,126
    2020
  • Feb-20: £10,430
    Feb-20: £10,138
  • Mar-20: £10,032
    Mar-20: £10,147
  • Apr-20: £10,294
    Apr-20: £10,155
  • May-20: £10,440
    May-20: £10,162
  • Jun-20: £10,535
    Jun-20: £10,169
  • Jul-20: £10,578
    Jul-20: £10,177
  • Aug-20: £10,547
    Aug-20: £10,183
  • Sep-20: £10,586
    Sep-20: £10,190
  • Oct-20: £10,571
    Oct-20: £10,198
  • Nov-20: £10,777
    Nov-20: £10,205
  • Dec-20: £10,853
    Dec-20: £10,212
  • Jan-21: £10,835
    Jan-21: £10,219
    2021
  • Feb-21: £10,646
    Feb-21: £10,225
  • Mar-21: £10,723
    Mar-21: £10,233
  • Apr-21: £10,810
    Apr-21: £10,240
  • May-21: £10,834
    May-21: £10,247
  • Jun-21: £10,910
    Jun-21: £10,255
  • Jul-21: £11,040
    Jul-21: £10,262
  • Aug-21: £11,095
    Aug-21: £10,270
  • Sep-21: £10,961
    Sep-21: £10,276
  • Oct-21: £11,026
    Oct-21: £10,283
  • Nov-21: £11,093
    Nov-21: £10,291
  • Dec-21: £11,073
    Dec-21: £10,299
  • Jan-22: £10,886
    Jan-22: £10,307
    2022
  • Feb-22: £10,756
    Feb-22: £10,316
  • Mar-22: £10,718
    Mar-22: £10,329
  • Apr-22: £10,538
    Apr-22: £10,341
  • May-22: £10,490
    May-22: £10,356
  • Jun-22: £10,211
    Jun-22: £10,372
  • Jul-22: £10,448
    Jul-22: £10,388
  • Aug-22: £10,290
    Aug-22: £10,410
  • Sep-22: £9,859
    Sep-22: £10,432
  • Oct-22: £9,944
    Oct-22: £10,458
  • Nov-22: £10,145
    Nov-22: £10,489
  • Dec-22: £10,053
    Dec-22: £10,523
  • Jan-23: £10,252
    Jan-23: £10,561
    2023
  • Feb-23: £10,140
    Feb-23: £10,598
  • Mar-23: £10,236
    Mar-23: £10,641
  • Apr-23: £10,262
    Apr-23: £10,680
  • May-23: £10,182
    May-23: £10,728
  • Jun-23: £10,174
    Jun-23: £10,774
  • Jul-23: £10,258
    Jul-23: £10,825
  • Aug-23: £10,209
    Aug-23: £10,878
  • Sep-23: £10,120
    Sep-23: £10,928
  • Oct-23: £10,077
    Oct-23: £10,984
  • Nov-23: £10,343
    Nov-23: £11,035
  • Dec-23: £10,641
    Dec-23: £11,086
  • Jan-24: £10,548
    Jan-24: £11,144
    2024
  • Feb-24: £10,545
    Feb-24: £11,194
  • Mar-24: £10,704
    Mar-24: £11,246
2019 2024
Virgin Money Defensive Fund comparisonMarch 2019 to
March 2020		March 2020 to
March 2021		March 2021 to
March 2022		March 2022 to
March 2023		March 2023 to
March 2024
This fund0.3%6.9%0.0%-4.5%4.6%
Performance Comparator*1.5%0.9%0.9%3.1%5.9%
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 0.40% 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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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.

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