The annuity open market option is a facility available within the majority of personal pension contracts that will enable you to benefit from the most competitive annuity rates in the market.

You are not obliged to take your annuity with the company with whom you have built up your pension funds and most personal pensions will allow you to use your accumulated pot of money to purchase your annuity with any company on the market offering more competitive annuity rates.  This is known as exercising your “open market option”.

Exercising your open market option in this way will potentially allow you to increase your income in retirement by accessing more competitive annuity rates, including rates offered for impaired lives. For more information see our Guide to Annuities.

When looking at the open market option, you are advised to consult an impartial adviser who will be able to advise you on the most suitable type of annuity for your circumstances and who will have access to the whole market to ensure you to get the best income that you can.

Use our Annuity Advice Service which provides:

- Independent advice on your annuity options
- Expertise on company and personal pension plans
- Information and advice on all the leading UK pension and annuity providers