Simpler pension transfers took an average of just 10.8 days to complete as the industry moved out of the busy tax year end period and into early summer.
The figure for the year from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, were down from the 11 days previously recorded at the end of March this year.
More than half of all simple transfers were completed in six working days or less during the period, according to the latest data from Origo’s Transfer Index.
Transfer volumes and values were significant over the period, Origo said, reaching 1.4m with a value of just short of £58bn.The overall pension transfer time, allowing for slightly more complex transfers where providers may need to rely on third parties for additional information, came in at 12.4 days.
Anthony Rafferty, CEO of Origo said: “Transfers are a positive story so far in 2025. It’s especially good to see average transfer times tick back down again after an extremely busy tax year end despite transfer volumes and values remaining high as we entered the summer months.
“As we look ahead to the second half of 2025 and beyond, pension providers, advisers and clients alike will have a lot to contend with given the changes to IHT rules around pensions on the horizon.
“It will be interesting to see if and how this starts to impact transfer volumes and any knock-on effect to turnaround times but the industry has got itself to a strong place from which to handle any unpredictability.”
Origo’s Transfer Index tracks the pension transfer times of almost 30 voluntary participants, including most of the big names in the industry.
Performance is measured on how long it takes the ceding provider to transfer the request, including any due diligence and divestment of funds before sending the customer’s money to the acquiring provider.
Those firms which publish their transfer times as part of the Origo Transfer Index make up 90% of all completed transfers in the 12-month period.
The transfer service accounts for more than 80% of all DC pension transfers in the UK market.