Clergy pensions

Ecclesiastical has provided pension and retirement advice to clergy, and the wider church community since 1919 and Ecclesiastical Financial Advisory Services (EFAS) have provided fully independent financial advice about pension savings and planning for retirement since 2009. This means our advisers understand the church pension schemes and clergy circumstances and crucially, are not limited or restricted in the range of products or providers we can advise about or recommend. 

• Saving more for retirement and making the most of the benefit of tax relief on clergy pension contributions and additional voluntary contributions (AVCs). 
• Reviewing plans from previous employers or other non-church schemes to ensure they are still suitable.
• Advice about transferring all types of pension scheme, including defined benefit (salary linked) schemes. 
• Consolidating pension plans from several providers to one, for example, personal pensions, free-standing additional voluntary contribution schemes (FSAVC) and group personal pensions (GPP) etc.
• Suggesting other ways to achieve your retirement plans. 

• If it is possible to take early retirement. 
• The tax efficiency of different pension saving and retirement options.
• How to invest lump sums from pensions or other sources such as an inheritance.
• Ethical and socially responsible investment options.
• Financing your retirement home via a mortgage or remortgage - EFAS are specialist advisers when it comes to understanding the mortgage needs of people who live in employer-provided accommodation and who might need to extend a mortgage beyond their chosen retirement age.

• There are no upfront charges at all.
• There is no charge to you for the initial introductory meeting, which is carried out at our expense, either face to face in your home or over the phone on. 
• Our advice fee is dependent on individual client circumstances and the complexity of their situation. Your adviser will discuss this with you and agree the fee for the required work during the initial meeting. Our minimum charge for a retirement and pension review is £1500 and this includes all of the necessary research, advice report and implementation of the recommendations. 
• The Fees and charges applicable to your circumstances are agreed at the outset and become payable on presentation of our advice. There is no obligation until the fee is agreed with you.
• Fees for any ongoing review services are also agreed at the outset.