Aegon UK simplifies pension and investment consolidation as platform switching accelerates

Aegon UK has made targeted changes to the way money is transferred onto its Aegon Retirement Choices (ARC) platform, strengthening support for advisers consolidating pensions and investments and managing platform switches at scale.

The changes remove the need for transfer authorities on eligible cash and re-registration transfers via Origo and Equisoft, enabling fully online transfer journeys for ARC across pensions and investments. 

Aegon UK has also streamlined key parts of adviser workflows, including a simpler way to select the transferring provider, reducing duplication and helping transfers progress quickly with clearer visibility throughout the journey. ARC’s tiered and capped annual charging structure also supports consolidation, as the more assets a client has, the lower the rate of platform charge could be across each product.¹

These updates come as platform switching activity continues to accelerate across the market. Assets supported through Aegon UK’s platform switch service increased by 42% over 2025, with first quarter (2026) inflows up 136% year on year, underlining the growing scale at which firms are consolidating client arrangements and transitioning books of business. 

Recent Aegon UK insight into investor behaviour shows that consolidation is most commonly driven by  a desire for simpler money management (45%), lower overall charges (41%) and a clearer understanding of their retirement position (31%).² For advisers, consolidation can also help reduce administrative burden and support more focused review conversations, particularly in helping to evidence good outcomes under the FCA’s Consumer Duty.

The value of unused pensions being included in estates from 6 April 2027 will increase the burden on personal representatives, responsible for reporting and settling any inheritance tax due within six months of the end of month of death. Bringing clients’ assets together, where suitable, may help streamline client reviews and present intergenerational planning opportunities, whilst also making it easier for personal representatives to identify all assets, obtain speedier valuations and meet the reporting and payment deadline.

Ronnie Taylor, Chief Distribution Officer at Aegon UK, said: “Transfers and consolidation are pivotal moments in an advice journey. They shape how clearly clients understand their savings and the outcome they experience.

“Our platform switch service, combined with simpler, fully digital transfer journeys on ARC, is designed to help advisers manage transitions efficiently and at scale, reducing friction, maintaining momentum and keeping the focus on delivering good client outcomes.

“As Consumer Duty continues to be embedded into day‑to‑day advice, platforms have a responsibility to support advisers with services that are clear, efficient and easy to evidence. These updates are designed to help unburden advisers with complex administrative processes, freeing them up to focus on clients’ needs and priorities.”

¹More information on ARC charges can be found here

²Research was conducted by Aegon UK in March 2026 involving 459 respondents.