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Smart Pension

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About Smart Pension

Smart Pension is a UK workplace pension provider and technology platform offering defined contribution pension solutions that help employers comply with auto-enrolment legal duties. It operates the Smart Pension Master Trust, a modern pension scheme aimed at simplifying pension setup, ongoing administration and retirement savings for employers and employees.

Company Info
Social Media
LinkedIn  ·  YouTube  ·  X/Twitter
Year Founded
2014
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Company Size
501–1,000

Perkwise Insight

Overview

Smart Pension is one of the UK's fastest-growing workplace pension providers, built from the ground up to make auto-enrolment actually easy rather than merely compliant. Unlike traditional pension providers who've bolted digital tools onto decades-old infrastructure, Smart Pension built their entire platform—called Keystone—in-house specifically for the modern era.

The result? A genuinely digital-first pension experience where employers can get compliant in minutes (not weeks), employees can manage everything via a slick mobile app, and nobody pays unnecessary admin fees. With over £6 billion in assets under management and backing from financial giants like J.P. Morgan and Legal & General, Smart Pension combines fintech agility with institutional credibility.

Best For

SMEs

Pricing

Custom quote

Customers

90k employers and 1.5m members

Pros
Smart Rewards Retail Discounts
Members get access to cashback and discounts at 1,400+ retailers (including major names like Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Amazon), potentially saving up to £600 annually.
Strong Sustainable Growth Fund Performance
Exceptional Customer Service
Cons
Monthly £1.75 Fee Hits Small Pots Disproportionately
More Info

Key Features & Benefits

Smart Sustainable Growth Default Fund

What It Does

Automatically invests employee pension contributions in a diversified fund focused on companies with strong ESG credentials and clear pathways to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, managed with lifecycle glidepath adjustments as retirement approaches.

Why It Matters

Most employees stick with default funds, so default performance directly impacts retirement outcomes. Smart Pension's default fund has delivered competitive returns while genuinely investing in climate solutions.

Financial Wellbeing Support

What It Does

Provides members with educational resources, calculators, and guidance covering broader financial topics including budgeting, debt management, emergency funds, and overall financial wellness—not just pension-specific advice.

Why It Matters

Pension anxiety often stems from broader financial stress. This holistic approach drives better pension outcomes by addressing the whole financial picture.

Mobile App with Instant Access

What It Does

Gives employees 24/7 access to view pension values, track contributions, adjust investment choices, update beneficiaries, and project retirement income—all through an intuitive mobile app with real-time data updates.

Why It Matters

Pensions traditionally felt distant and intangible partly because accessing information was such a hassle. Smart Pension's app makes pensions feel as accessible as checking your bank balance. This transparency drives engagement—members who regularly check their pension typically contribute more voluntarily.

Implementation & Support

Setup Process

  • Employee Assessment:
  • Payroll Integration
  • First Contributions
  • Declaration of Compliance

Technical Requirements

  • Email Access: For digital communications with employees
  • Payroll System: Compatible with 50+ major UK payroll providers including Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, BrightPay, and many others
  • Employee Data: Basic employment records (names, dates of birth, earnings, employment start dates)
  • Bank Details: For setting up Direct Debit contributions

Support Options

  • UK-Based Phone Support
  • Live Chat
  • Email Support
  • Callback Service
  • Comprehensive Help Centre
  • Dedicated Account Management
  • Employer Toolkit

Alternatives

Other Workplace Pensions Vendors