Question:
I am 56yrs old and in the process of taking early retirement. Can I join a Preservation Fund? I was told it is limited up to age 55....beyond 55 you are to buy Annuity.
Answer:
Michael, If you are "retiring" from your pension fund, then you cannot "preserve" all or part of your savings in a preservation fund. You must use at least two-thirds to buy an annuity and you can cash up to one-third, But if you "withdraw" rather than "retire" from the fund, then you do have the option to transfer to a preservation fund. You only have to buy an annuity if you "retire" from a pension. pension preservation or Retirement Annuity fund. So it is not your age that counts but how you leave the fund. It would be ludicrous to force some over 55 to buy an annuity if they are merely leaving their fund because they are changing their job.