The world's biggest manager, three ways into your pension
BlackRock runs more money than any other asset manager on earth, and its funds reach UK pensions through three distinct routes: the iShares index trackers that dominate platform best-buy lists, the MyMap ready-made multi-asset range, and the LifePath target-date funds that sit as the default in a large share of UK workplace schemes. Each route suits a different kind of saver, so it is worth knowing which one you are actually buying.
BlackRock pension fund options compared
| Fund / range | Type | Risk level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyMap 7 | Multi-asset, equity-heavy | High | Long-horizon growth in one fund |
| MyMap 6 | Multi-asset | Medium-high | Growth with modest bond ballast |
| MyMap 5 | Multi-asset | Medium | Balanced middle-ground savers |
| MyMap 4 / 3 | Multi-asset, bond-tilted | Low-medium / Low | Nearing or in retirement |
| MyMap 5 Select ESG | Multi-asset, ESG-screened | Medium | Sustainability-minded one-fund investors |
| iShares Overseas Index / global trackers | Equity index funds | High | DIY portfolio building blocks |
| iShares Corporate/Gilt index funds | Bond index funds | Low-medium | The defensive side of a DIY portfolio |
| LifePath (e.g. 2050, 2060) | Target-date fund | Glides down over time | Workplace savers who want zero decisions |
No performance numbers appear above by design: they go stale fast, and past performance does not guarantee future returns. Check the latest factsheet for current figures and exact charges.
MyMap: the low-cost ready-made range
MyMap funds are numbered by risk – broadly 3 (cautious) up to 7 (adventurous) – and assemble iShares trackers into a globally diversified portfolio that is rebalanced and volatility-managed for you. Their headline appeal is price: the published OCF is among the very lowest of any UK multi-asset range (verify the current figure on the factsheet, as it can vary by share class). Like HSBC Global Strategy, MyMap targets a volatility band rather than a fixed equity split, so allocations flex with market conditions. ESG-screened versions exist at several risk levels for savers who want a sustainability tilt without building it themselves.
iShares trackers: the DIY route
If you prefer assembling your own allocation, BlackRock's iShares index funds and ETFs cover essentially every market: global and regional equities, gilts, corporate bonds, property securities and more. A classic two-fund pension pairs a global equity tracker with a bond index fund in whatever ratio matches your timeline. Our guide to the best pension index funds compares the main candidates across providers, including the iShares options.
LifePath: the workplace default
LifePath funds carry a year in their name – LifePath 2050, LifePath 2060 and so on. You pick the fund nearest your expected retirement year and it does everything else: equity-heavy while you are young, then automatically gliding towards a more defensive mix as the date approaches. If your workplace pension defaulted you into LifePath, you are already using BlackRock; the main check is whether the target year matches when you actually plan to retire, since retiring much earlier or later than the fund's date can leave the glidepath mistimed.
Who each route suits
- Hands-off, cost-focused: MyMap – pick the number matching your risk appetite.
- Fully hands-off workplace saver: LifePath – just confirm the target year is right.
- DIY investor: iShares trackers as building blocks.
- ESG-minded: the MyMap Select ESG versions.
How to hold BlackRock funds
MyMap and the iShares fund range are stocked by most mainstream SIPPs and platforms – compare wrappers in our best SIPP providers guide, and remember platform fees stack on top of fund OCFs. LifePath is generally accessed through workplace schemes rather than bought directly. Alternatives worth a look include Vanguard's ranges (our Target Retirement review covers the closest LifePath rival) and HSBC Global Strategy.
Verdict
BlackRock's pension offer is hard to fault on breadth or cost: MyMap is one of the cheapest ready-made ranges in the UK, iShares trackers are best-in-class building blocks, and LifePath is a sensible default if the year matches your plans. The decision is less about whether BlackRock funds are good and more about which route fits how involved you want to be. An FCA-regulated adviser can model your exact numbers if you are choosing a risk level or weighing up a consolidation.