Aegon UK has launched a new range of pension investment funds that can be used as default funds.
The range, which includes eight lifestyle funds, is available on the Aegon Retirement Choices (ARC) platform. This includes a default fund, called the Aegon’s MI Workplace Savings (M) fund.
Investment management firm BlackRock have been appointed to manage three of the eight funds, called the Workplace Savings funds. These have been designed specifically with auto-enrolment in mind, and each offers a different level of risk.They invest in a diversified portfolio of assets and incorporate Aegon’s lifestyling process.
These three options allow UK employers to choose a fund with an appropriate level of volatility for their pension scheme, and an added layer of risk management.
Mark Pearson, head of investment marketing at Aegon UK, said: “Via our ARC platform, employers and their advisers can choose off-the-shelf [options] that are designed to meet a range of risk appetites, either as scheme default or as part of their preferred fund range.”
Tony Stenning, head of the UK retail business at BlackRock, added: “We have worked closely together to understand the requirements of Aegon’s [employer] clients and have constructed a range of three outcome-oriented [options] to reflect their varying risk requirements.
“Designed specifically for Aegon’s auto-enrolment proposition, the three multi-asset funds are well-diversified across asset classes and geographies, providing access to a range of risk profiles. By offering diversified asset exposure and a more stable investment experience, we hope to encourage those saving for retirement to continue to build up their pension pot and feel greater confidence in investing.”
To complete the ARC auto-enrolment range, Aegon offers four further lifestyle funds giving access to a mixture of passive and active investment strategies and various risk options based on traditional asset allocations.