Mass confusion over drawdown as half of retirees unaware they can vary income

•More than half of people in drawdown – equivalent to 307,000 - are unaware they can vary their income up and down, or stop it altogether, research for Zurich finds
•Fears a “critical gap in consumer awareness” is leaving drawdown investors at risk of taking an unsustainable level of income, especially if markets drop
•Double the number of people retiring without financial advice are in the dark over how drawdown works, placing them risk of poorer outcomes

Hundreds of thousands of DIY drawdown investors are unaware they can scale back or stop their withdrawals, putting them in danger of draining their retirement savings too rapidly, according to new research for Zurich.

Half (52%) of all over-55s taking an income in drawdown do not know they can reduce the value of their withdrawals, and more than half (56%) are unaware they can stop them – despite income flexibility being a defining feature of the product.

The findings, from a study of 2,000 people who have unlocked their savings since the 2015 pension reforms, highlight a “critical gap in consumer awareness”, which Zurich estimates could leave half of the 615,000 people in drawdown exposed if stock markets plunge.  

If shares tumble, investors risk falling into to a trap known as pound-cost-ravaging.  This is where, as stock prices drop, retirees are forced to sell more investments to achieve the same level of income, depleting the capital of their pot quicker, and reducing its future growth.

Alistair Wilson, Zurich’s Head of Retail Platform Strategy, said, “Investors taking a fixed level of income in drawdown could struggle to sustain their pots throughout retirement.  Drawdown gives people the flexibility to shift their income up or down as their spending needs change, or markets fluctuate, yet a staggering proportion of people are seemingly in the dark over the control they have.  If investment returns come to a sudden halt, savers need to be prepared to step on the income brakes.  People who are unaware they can slow down, or stop their income, could seriously damage their savings, and deplete their pots too soon.”  

Savers can protect their portfolio from pound-cost-ravaging by holding up to two years’ worth of living expenses in cash, which reduces the need to sell investments when prices are falling, giving them a chance to ride out short-term bumps in the stock market.  Alternatively, limiting withdrawals to the ‘natural’ income from share dividends or bonds leaves the underlying investment intact, giving it a better chance to regain lost ground when markets recover.

Zurich found significant differences between consumers who have sought advice and those who haven’t. Just 35% of non-advised consumers understood they could reduce their drawdown income, compared to 77% of people getting ongoing advice.  And some 33% of non-advised consumers were aware they could stop their drawdown income, versus 73% of those speaking to an adviser.  

Wilson, added, “Investors are making complex choices in drawdown without fully understanding how it works.  To overcome this critical gap in consumer awareness, it’s important that people engage with their savings in drawdown, ideally with the help of a financial adviser.”

Three steps to protect drawdown savings in a market crash

1.Diversify your investments

A well-diversified portfolio is a good defence against market falls.   By investing across a variety of different asset classes, sectors and regions, you can spread the risk much wider than when if all your investments are concentrated in a single area.

2.Build a cash buffer

Building up a cash buffer can protect against falling stock markets. If the worst happens, and the stock market crashes from its high, then having a reserve of cash gives you an income to fall back on. Holding one to two year’s cash means you won’t be forced to sell when prices are falling, thereby locking in losses. Instead of cashing in funds, you can dip into cash reserves, giving your pot a chance to regain lost ground.

3.And if it comes to the worst – turn off the taps

In drawdown you can turn off the income taps whenever you like. Selling funds after markets have fallen means there is no chance to make up losses, shrinking your pension fund and reducing its future growth.  If you can afford to, scale back your withdrawals or place them on hold until markets have recovered.  Alternatively, limit the level of withdrawal to the ‘natural’ income from share dividends or bonds. This leaves the underlying investment intact, giving it a better chance to recover when markets rise.  

-ENDS-

*FCA Retirement Income Data Bulletin September 2018 shows 435,769 people took out drawdown between April 2016 and March 2018.  If numbers grew at the same pace as October 2017 to March 2018 (90,504), Zurich estimates the population in drawdown would have increased by 181,008 between April 2018 and March 2019, resulting in 616,700 people in drawdown. https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/data/data-bulletin-issue-14.pdf

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2028 adults, who have accessed their DC pension since April 1st 2015, of which 1,191 are drawing a regular income in drawdown. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th - 29th April 2019.  The survey was carried out online.


For further information please contact: 
Chis Johnson, Media Relations Manager
07812 265 245, chris.1.johnson@uk.zurich.com