DB transfer volumes at five-year low despite rising values

XPS finds transfer activity hit record lows despite recovering transfer values

Martin Richmond
clock • 2 min read

Defined benefit (DB) transfer activity fell to its lowest level for five years in the final month of 2023, research from XPS Pensions Group has shown.

The latest data from the consultancy's Transfer Activity Index revealed the index experienced a consistent downward trend in 2023 and by the end of the year, it recorded an annualised rate of 18 members in every 1,000 who chose to transfer their benefits to alternative arrangements. Despite the continued fall in transfer activity, XPS found the latest data from its Transfer Value Index revealed the transfer value of a typical DB pension rose by 5% in December, and by 6.5% over the previous quarter to £164,000. The increase was driven by a fall in gilt yields during the latter months o...

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