Pension Pulse

Pension Pulse: independent pension advice from Manchester

Pension Pulse is an independent financial advice firm based in Manchester (United Kingdom), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under number 1029743. The company presents itself as an alternative to traditional advice models, combining human advisers with specialist teams and technology to offer a regulated service accessible to a broader range of asset levels.

Advice services

The firm's service offering covers several areas:

• Pensions: analysis of the current situation, suitability of the strategy, consolidation of scattered plans and retirement planning.
• ISAs and savings accounts.
• Retirement planning, tax and insurance.
• Investment advice, with a specialist team and expertise in the field.

The firm handles common questions such as whether current savings are sufficient, whether it is advisable to consolidate scattered pensions, whether the plan is still suitable for the client's life stage or how drawing on the pension affects their tax position. Money remains tax-free while invested in the pension fund; when the client starts to withdraw it, the firm advises on current and future tax management.

Advice process

The process described by the company consists of three steps. First, the client books an appointment providing some basic details and choosing a time; the firm assigns the most suitable person. This is followed by a conversation free of jargon and pressure about the client's situation and goals. Finally, if the client decides to proceed, the firm gathers the data, assesses the position and presents a personal recommendation with the best available options. Seeing the recommendation does not oblige the client to engage the firm, and costs are explained clearly before any decision is made.

The team and its credentials

The firm highlights that its board has more than 100 years of accumulated experience and that it works with BlackRock, presented as the world's largest investment manager. According to its data, the team serves thousands of clients and maintains a 99% retention rate. On Trustpilot, the company has a rating of 4.9 out of 5, labelled 'Excellent'.

Accessibility and closing the advice gap

Pension Pulse frames its activity within the so-called 'advice gap': according to the data it cites, less than 9% of the UK population receives financial advice, 91% do not use it and 69% of those who do receive pension-related advice. In addition, 75% of over-45s do not have a clear plan for drawing on their pension or are not aware that they need to make a decision. The firm notes that the average assets of advised clients tend to be £250,000, while it serves people with as little as £20,000, without this implying a lower level of quality. It does not require a minimum pension amount to get in touch.

The company states that its average advice process is 82.1% faster than the industry benchmark, and attributes a 99.7% client retention rate to the combination of human advisers and technology.

Own initiatives

Pension Pulse runs two programmes. The 'Pension Clinics' are sessions aimed at company workforces to explain pensions in an accessible way and without pressure. The 'The Foundation' initiative allocates 1% of every pound received to projects in the UK that need it most.

Structure and compliance

Pension Pulse Ltd. is registered in England under number 15997449 and its registered office is at 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester, M2 3AB. The firm operates from Manchester and its opening hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:00, closed Saturdays and Sundays. For complaints, the company follows the timescales set by the FCA: acknowledgement within five days and final resolution or status letter within eight weeks, with the possibility of referring to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Location and contact

100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester, M2 3AB · Phone: 0161 711 1885 · Email: info@pensionpulse.co.uk