MEGATHREAD: Freetrade SIPP

While it’s technically possible to release a big feature like SIPPs without an app update using feature flags, my money is on no SIPPs until next year. I hope I’m wrong though!

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Looking at the Adam’s new twitter profile pic one could hope for a nice gift for Christmas

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Me too :wink: especially with telling everyone to sign up before the 6th of December to qualify for the free shares.

Any news from someone at freetrade?

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Email just out from FT. Expected to launch early 2021.

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They also seemed to clarify that initiating a transfer within 30 days counts towards the free share rather than completing a transfer.

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Good spot on that nuance. May perhaps help with moving in tranches to mitigate against the lack of inspecie.

Just got this email from HL (I assume all SIPP accounts got it), looks like they are trying to compete for pension transfers. I don’t know if this is normal for them or reactionary based on the upcoming FT promotion.

Get between £50 and £500 cashback when you transfer
Your pensions – apply online by 10 January 2021 to qualify.

Pension Transfer Value Your cashback
£5,000 - £24,999 £50
£25,000 - £49,999 £75
£50,000 - £99,999 £100
£100,000 - £124,999 £200
£125,000 or more £500

Generally not quite as generous as FT

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Genuine question. Do you think FT is on HL’s radar at all?

Probably, but probably not in the way people think. The untapped market for investments is huge in the UK and Freetrade could gain 10 million users and not make a dent in HLs user base.

I do think we may see some healthy competition on the feature/app front eventually though. And maybe changes to fees but I think that will be the race to get even more users, not to protect there existing users

A year ago their cashback was much higher than this. They tend to do it this time of year.

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Anyone know if Freetrade have said if they support 0% withholding tax on US dividends in the SIPP?
Pensions are not subject to any US withholding tax

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Does anyone know if I can transfer from pension from my previous employer to FT SIPP and then add my own funds to the same account?

In theory it should be if you transferred it as cash, but there are a few things that could mean it’s not possible. One is whether the trustees of your employers scheme would release it at all, you’d possibly also need advice if it’s defined benefit and another would be the value. If it’s under £100k it’s easier.

I have an old employer scheme which is defined benefit and the trustees are keen to de-risk, but the transfer value is over £100k so I need to get professional advice before I could transfer it anywhere. Of the few advisers I spoke with (some didn’t even respond) they would only help transfer it if they could then manage the money because otherwise their potential liability in case I lose it all was too high.

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I read a similar article the other day where basically like you’ve said the risk of action against them down the line for releasing the funds means they can’t do it. Apparently they also can’t get the correct insurance policies as no insurer is willing to back it to cover them in this of liability and thus makes it not possible.

My SIPP has done well this year so it’s less of an issue now and due to it being defined benefit I’m inclined to leave it where it is for the moment. The unintended consequence of the advisers not wanting to touch it due to the risk means there will be a lot of zombie pension pots stuck in limbo, which may lead to a legislative change, but with everything else going on it’s unlikely to be a priority.

The one workaround that’s been suggested to me is let the new adviser manage the previous employer pension for a period of time, maybe 1-3 years and then fire them and transfer it into my SIPP. Or if they have performed well, leave it with them. I’ll keep it under review during the coming year.

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Any staff able to provide any info on this?

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@Freetrade_Team

What’s the definition of “about to”? Just so I can plan :wink:

Hours?

Days? (single digit or double digit)

Or shudder, weeks?

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Likewise, about to go live is really like to understand a little more about some of the above recent questions (including selfishly my own)… :question:

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I’m a bit concerned about the line that says:
Freetrade does not currently offer drawdown products for our SIPP.

It’s from the fourth last paragraph here: What is a SIPP pension - self-invested personal pension explained

I wouldn’t see drawdown as a product so the terminology is odd. Presumably there will be some kind of offering at some point? I guess I could always transfer out before retiring, but then we’re back to selling to cash again.