With the Autumn Budget fast approaching and speculation mounting over potential tax rises, now could be a good time to take advantage of existing pension and tax allowances.
Pensions, like the HL Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), remain one of the most tax-efficient ways to invest. Investors benefit from a government tax top-up when they save for their future. This is known as pension tax relief.
Basic-rate taxpayers get 20% tax relief automatically, meaning an £80 contribution is topped up to £100. Those who pay tax at a higher rate can claim up to a further 28% through their tax return, making pensions even more attractive for those in higher income brackets.
Investments held within a pension are also free from UK income tax and capital gains tax, offering long-term tax efficiency as your money grows.
With ongoing rumours around changes to pension rules like tax relief, many savers might wish to act sooner rather than later to make the most of the current generous benefits.
For those keen to boost their pension savings but not sure where to invest, here’s a look at some of the most popular funds chosen by HL SIPP investors.
This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure what is right for you, ask for financial advice. How much you can pay in to your pension and the tax benefits you get depend on your circumstances and rules could change. You'll usually need to be 55 (rising to 57 from 2028) before you can access the money in your pension.
Where did HL's SIPP clients put their money last month?
The tables below show the most bought actively-managed funds (trying to beat the market) and tracker funds (trying to track the market), by HL's SIPP investors from 01 September 2025 through to 30 September 2025. This is by number of buys minus any sales.
This article has been written independently of our investment research team to offer some inspiration but isn't personal advice or a guide on how or where to invest.
Investments usually outperform cash savings over five years. But investments can rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you invest. You should choose investments based on your own objectives and attitude to risk.
Most bought active funds | Key Investor Information |
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Most bought tracker funds | Key Investor Information |
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Investing in these funds won't be right for everyone. Only invest in a fund if its objectives align with your own, and there's a specific need for that type of investment within your portfolio. Investors should understand the specific risks of a fund before they invest and be investing for the long term (five years or more).
*These funds are part of the HL Ready-Made Pension Plan and can also be bought separately.
How to pick investments for a pension
It's important not to put all your eggs in one basket. Spreading your money and diversifying, gives you access to more opportunities and can reduce risk.
If you're looking for inspiration from our investment research team on where to invest your pension explore our Wealth Shortlist. It's designed to help investors comfortable to build and maintain a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. We've put funds under the microscope to make sure the list only contains the funds that our in-depth analysis shows have the greatest long-term performance potential.
Leave day-to-day investment decisions to the experts
If you’re investing or looking to invest for retirement and want a team of experts to look after the day-to-day investment decisions, consider our Ready-Made Pension Plan.
It’s a simple, investment solution, designed specifically for the HL SIPP. The plan is managed by experts and aims to grow your money when you’re younger, then lower risk as you get closer to retirement.
The underlying funds of the plan are managed by Hargreaves Lansdown Fund Managers Ltd, part of the Hargreaves Lansdown Group.
If you add £10,000 or more to a new HL SIPP by 10 December, you’ll get a £200 John Lewis voucher on us. We’ll email your e-voucher by 14 March 2026. You must be an existing HL client and not already hold an HL SIPP. See full terms to find out more, including transfer extension details.