Transfer Your Hargreaves Lansdown Pension | Guide & Process 2026
Complete guide to transferring your Hargreaves Lansdown pension. Fees, timelines, process steps and what to check before you transfer. Updated for 2026.
10 min readUpdated April 2026
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Hargreaves Lansdown Pension Transfer: Overview
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) is the UK's largest investment platform with over 1.8 million clients and £140 billion in assets under administration. Their SIPP is one of the most popular in the UK, known for its extensive fund range, award-winning research, and exceptional customer service. HL is a FTSE 100 company.
Fees and Charges
Hargreaves Lansdown pension charges: 0.45% on the first £250,000, reducing for larger pots. Always request a transfer value illustration before proceeding, as older policies may have different fee structures or exit charges that could affect your transfer value.
Fund Options
Over 3,500 funds plus shares, ETFs and bonds. When transferring, you will need to choose new funds with your receiving provider. Consider whether your current fund selection aligns with your retirement goals and risk tolerance before and after the transfer.
Transfer Process and Timeline
The typical transfer timeline for Hargreaves Lansdown is 4-6 weeks for standard transfers. To initiate a transfer, contact your new pension provider with your Hargreaves Lansdown policy details. They will submit a formal transfer request. During the transfer, your investments may be temporarily held in cash, so timing can affect your returns.
Important: Before transferring any pension, check for valuable guarantees such as guaranteed annuity rates, guaranteed minimum pensions, or protected tax-free cash. These benefits cannot be replaced once surrendered. If your Hargreaves Lansdown pension has a transfer value above £30,000 and includes defined benefits, you are legally required to take independent financial advice.
Pros of Hargreaves Lansdown
Largest UK investment platform with excellent reputation
Outstanding customer service rated consistently highly
Comprehensive research tools and fund analysis
Widest fund range available
User-friendly platform and mobile app
Cons of Hargreaves Lansdown
Higher platform fees than many competitors
0.45% charge expensive for larger pots
Fund dealing charges apply on some transactions
Not the cheapest for passive/index fund investors
Who Is Hargreaves Lansdown Best For?
Hargreaves Lansdown transfers are ideal for investors who value top-tier customer service, comprehensive research tools, and the widest possible fund range. Particularly suited to active investors who regularly review and adjust their pension investments.
Transfer checklist: Before you transfer, gather your policy number, check for exit charges, confirm any guarantees, compare fees with your new provider, and ensure the receiving scheme can accept the transfer type. Allow 4-6 weeks for standard transfers for the process to complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply for an HL SIPP online and select the transfer option. Provide your existing pension details and HL will manage the entire process. Most transfers complete in 4 to 6 weeks. HL covers transfer-out fees charged by your old provider up to £500 on transfers over a certain value.
HL charges a platform fee of 0.45% on the first £250,000, 0.25% on the next £750,000, 0.10% on the next £1 million, and no charge above £2 million. Shares are held for free but dealing costs £11.95 per trade, reducing with frequency.
HL is more expensive than some competitors, particularly for larger pots. However, many investors consider the premium justified by the quality of service, research, and platform experience. For pots under £100,000, the fee difference is modest in absolute terms.
Yes, HL offers full flexible drawdown through their SIPP. You can take tax-free cash and draw income as needed. Their drawdown service includes tools to model income sustainability and allows you to invest your drawdown pot across their full fund and share range.
Yes, you can transfer a workplace pension to HL once you have left the employer. For active workplace pensions, check with your employer whether partial transfers are permitted. HL can receive transfers from virtually any UK pension scheme.
HL consistently wins awards for customer service. Their Bristol-based helpdesk is staffed by knowledgeable advisers who can assist with transfers, investments, and general queries. They also offer a paid advisory service for more complex pension decisions.
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