An Expression of Wish can play a crucial role in ensuring pension death benefits are paid in line with a client’s intentions. John Scannell, Head of Individual Annuity Distribution at Standard Life, explains why paraplanners should treat EoW reviews as an integral part of the planning process rather than a simple administrative task.
In pension planning, Expression of Wish (EoW) is often treated as an administrative step. In practice, it can have a direct bearing on death benefit outcomes, claim timelines, and the overall consistency of advice.
Despite this, it is frequently overlooked, not kept up to date, or completed without sufficient consideration. For paraplanners, this creates both a risk within the advice process and a clear opportunity to strengthen control and client outcomes.
The role of an Expression of Wish in pension planning
An EoW allows a pension scheme member to indicate who they would like to receive their pension benefits when they die.
Importantly, it is not a legally binding instruction. Instead, it acts as guidance for the scheme administrator or trustee, who will ultimately decide how benefits are distributed.
Unlike many other assets, pension death benefits are generally not governed by a person’s will. Where a scheme operates on a discretionary basis, trustees or scheme administrators typically retain discretion over how benefits are distributed and will take account of the member’s EoW when making their decision.
While most unused pension funds and death benefits will be brought into scope for Inheritance Tax from April 2027, an up-to-date EoW remains one of the most important indicators of a client’s intended beneficiaries and can help ensure benefits are distributed in line with their wishes.
Why it matters more than clients realise
1. It determines outcomes when it matters most
Without clear guidance, trustees are left to make their own judgement about who should receive benefits. The absence of a valid EoW increases the likelihood of outcomes that may not reflect the client’s expectations.
Outdated instructions can be equally problematic. Circumstances change – relationships, dependants and priorities – and a form completed years earlier may no longer be appropriate.
2. It supports efficiency at point of claim
When an EoW is in place and clearly sets out the intended beneficiaries, it gives providers a strong starting point when assessing claims.
In contrast, missing or unclear instructions can slow the process considerably. Providers may need to carry out additional investigations or request further evidence before making a decision. At a time when beneficiaries are already dealing with bereavement, this can create unnecessary stress, upset and delay.
3. It influences how benefits can be paid
The way beneficiaries are identified can affect the options available to them.
For example, being clearly nominated can support access to more flexible options, such as keeping funds within a pension wrapper. Without this, outcomes may be more limited, potentially reducing flexibility or impacting longer-term tax efficiency.
4. It remains relevant despite changing tax rules
The tax landscape surrounding pension death benefits is evolving, particularly with changes to inheritance tax treatment.
However, regardless of how tax rules develop, the EoW continues to play a crucial role in determining who receives the benefits and how they can access them.
While tax treatment may change, its role in guiding distribution remains unchanged.
Common gaps in practice
Despite its importance, EoW management is rarely as robust as it should be. Common issues include:
- Clients who have never completed one
- Forms completed at outset but never revisited
- Nominations that no longer reflect current relationships
- Lack of contingency planning (e.g. what happens if a beneficiary predeceases the client)
- Inconsistencies between pension nominations and wider estate planning
These gaps are usually straightforward to identify and address, within a structured review process.
The paraplanner’s role: from admin task to planning lever
This is where paraplanners can add real value. By embedding EoW into core advice processes, it becomes less of an administrative task and more of a deliberate planning step.
1. Build it into onboarding
EoW completion should be treated as a standard requirement when setting up a new pension or reviewing an existing one.
Rather than leaving it to clients to complete in their own time, incorporating it into the initial advice journey helps ensure it is completed accurately.
2. Use life events as natural review triggers
Certain events should automatically prompt a review:
- Marriage or divorce
- Birth of children or grandchildren
- Death of a nominated beneficiary
- Changes in financial dependency
Positioning the EoW as something that evolves makes it more relevant and easier to revisit. Positioning it as part of ongoing planning makes it easier to revisit and maintain.
3. Make it part of annual reviews
A simple question in an annual review can be highly effective:
“Is your Expression of Wish still aligned with your current circumstances?”
Updating is typically quick, making this a simple intervention that improves outcomes and reinforces the value of advice.
More than admin
EoW is often seen as a form to complete and file. In practice, it is a simple but important planning step – directly influencing how and to whom benefits are paid.
For paraplanners, getting this right isn’t an administrative exercise; it’s a simple, repeatable action that strengthens advice, reduces risk, and improves outcomes at the point they matter most.
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