Drawdown Or Annuity — Which Pays More?
The two main ways to turn your pension into an income are drawdown and an annuity. With drawdown you stay invested and withdraw money flexibly. With an annuity you exchange your pension for a guaranteed income for life. Both have their place — the right one depends on your fund size, your health, and how much certainty you want.
An FCA-regulated adviser will run the numbers for both options side by side, search the whole annuity market for the best rates, and show you a sustainable drawdown income — so you can see exactly how much you'd actually have to live on each year.
What You'll Find Out
- ✓Your Annuity Income — the guaranteed income your pot could buy today
- ✓Your Drawdown Income — a sustainable yearly withdrawal that lasts
- ✓Your Tax-Free Cash — how much of your pot you can take tax-free
- ✓Enhanced Rates — higher annuity income if you qualify on health grounds
- ✓A Side-By-Side Comparison — clear figures so you can decide with confidence
Our Expert Adviser Network
All of the advisers we work with are FCA-authorised and regulated.
How It Works
See the income figures for both drawdown and annuity in a few simple steps
Tell Us About You
Share your pension details so we can match you with a specialist income adviser.
Compare Both Options
Your adviser models your income under drawdown and searches every annuity provider.
See The Numbers
Receive a clear side-by-side breakdown showing how much income each option would pay.
Handled By Expert
Discuss the results with your FCA-regulated adviser and lock in the right income for you.
Real Results From Real Clients
See what clients have achieved with professional pension advice from advisers they have been matched with.
"I genuinely couldn't tell whether to go for drawdown or an annuity. My adviser put both side by side with actual income figures and the choice became obvious. So glad I didn't just guess."
Paul Jennings
Stamford· 5 days ago
"The adviser found me an enhanced annuity because of a health condition and the income was nearly 30% higher than the standard quotes I'd seen. I'd have missed that completely on my own."
Karen Lowe
Melton Mowbray· 1 week ago
"Annuity rates didn't suit me so we went with drawdown instead. The adviser worked out exactly how much I could take each year without running my pot dry. Feel completely in control now."
Derek Saunders
Worksop· 2 weeks ago
"I'd been losing sleep over what to do with my pension. Seeing the actual income figures for both drawdown and annuity made the decision so much easier. Wish I'd done this sooner."
Susan Fletcher
Spalding· 3 weeks ago
"My adviser suggested splitting — part annuity for guaranteed income, part drawdown for flexibility. Honestly hadn't realised you could combine the two. Best of both worlds."
Brian Holt
Nottingham· 1 month ago
"I went with an annuity in the end because I wanted certainty. The adviser searched every provider and got me a noticeably better rate than the first quote I'd been given. Income hits my account every month."
Linda Marsh
Sleaford· 2 months ago
"Going from working to relying on my pension was scary. The adviser modelled both drawdown and an annuity, showed me the tax impact, and I knew exactly what my retirement income would look like."
Tony Richardson
Hinckley· 3 months ago
4.83 Average Rating
Based on 217 client reviews