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Are you saving enough?
Find out how much your lifestyle could cost when you retire and how to work out if your savings are on track.
Are you saving enough?Take 5 minutes to protect your family's future
Providing for our loved ones after we die is something many of us worry about. So it’s reassuring to know those who matter to you could get some help when you’re no longer around to support them.
The easiest way to ensure your loved ones are provided for when you die is by completing an Expression of Wish.
What is an Expression of Wish?
A valuable benefit of your Scheme membership is that a lump sum might be paid if you die before taking your pension. This is usually tax-free.
An Expression of Wish is a form you complete either online or in paper. By completing an Expression of Wish you tell the Trustee who you want your pension lump sum to go to in the event of your death in service. The Trustee considers the people or causes you have named in your Expression of Wish when deciding who to make any payments to.
Peace of mind for you and for your loved ones
If you don’t make a nomination, the Trustee may not know where to pay the money. This could mean the payment is delayed, and even taxed as a result.
It’s a difficult time when you lose someone, without added financial stress and disagreements between friends and family. So it’s a good idea to nominate to help prevent unnecessary worry.
Who can I add to my Expression of Wish?
You can add:
- An individual, or several people, such as family and friends
- Organisations or good causes
- Charities
Your Expression of Wish is completely confidential, so the people or organisations you have listed won’t know if you’ve added or removed them as a beneficiary. You can add as many people or ogranisations as you want to.
Make sure to keep your nominations up to date so they still reflect your wishes, particularly if your circumstances change. You could make a note in your diary to review your nominations every year or so.
How to make an Expression of Wish
To make an Expression of Wish, you can print off the online form and complete it.
An Expression of Wish is not the same as a Will
Your Expression of Wish shows where you’d like a lump sum from your pension to go if you die before you claim it, and this cannot be covered in your will. Many people think everything they own will be given out according to their will when they die. It’s important to remember that if you die, your pension is separate to the rest of your estate.
Who can complete an Expression of Wish?
Every member of the Scheme can complete an Expression of Wish, unless they’ve already been taking their pension for more than 5 years. We strongly encourage you to complete an Expression of Wish – it’s quick, easy, free and could make life for your loved ones much easier.
Matt Riley
Manager
Matt joined Zedra Governance Limited (formerly PTL) in January 2008 having previously worked for Mercer Limited, Hazell Carr and Prudential.
As a Manager for the company's Birmingham Office, Matt’s responsibilities include working closely with Client Directors and individually liaising with Employers, Trustees and Members to ensure the smooth running of their pension schemes. Matt’s current portfolio of clients covers ongoing, paid-up and winding-up schemes. In addition, Matt has experience of schemes that have transferred or are in the process of transferring to the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme. Matt also works closely with clients in relation to risk registers and internal controls.
Matt particularly enjoys resolving issues in a fair and pragmatic way ensuring that the right result is reached for the member or employer.
Sam Burden
Client Director
Sam Burden joined Zedra Governance (formerly PTL) in 2022. He is an Accredited Professional Pension Trustee (AMAPPT) and an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute (APMI)
Sam has more than 25 years’ experience in the pensions industry gained with WTW, KPMG, and Standard Life working with a wide range of pension schemes and sponsoring employers. His trustee appointments include DB, DC and hybrid pension schemes and he has experience of handling a broad range of projects relating to the management of pension schemes.
Beyond his pensions experience Sam is a former Birmingham City Councillor where he chaired the audit committee and a current charity trustee.
Payam Kazemian
Client Director
Payam Kazemian joined Zedra Governance Limited (formerly PTL Governance Limited) in 2021. He is an Accredited Professional Pension Trustee (AMAPPT) and an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute (APMI).
Payam has more than 17 years of experience in the pensions industry. Through his current role as a professional trustee, as well as previously as a pension’s de-risking and investment structuring expert at financial institutions including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, he has had overall responsibility for creating investment, de-risking, journey planning, and governance solutions for a wide range of UK DB pension schemes. He currently holds a number of board positions (as Chair of Trustees) and sole trustee in his professional trustee capacity. Payam has been involved with a number of pensions projects including pensions buy-in, pensions buy-out, GMP equalisation, investment strategy reviews, and dialogue with the pensions regulator. Payam looks to create and believes in a collaborative relationship between the sponsor, the trustee, and all other parties involved as this results in best member outcomes and helps deliver pragmatic solutions for scheme. Aside from his pensions experience, Payam holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Cambridge.
