What information should a good scheme provide?

A good scheme will make all the information it needs to easily available.

It will automatically provide an annual statement of benefits for everyone in the scheme (this only needs to be available on request in final salary schemes). It will make information available in easy-to-understand, plain English. Indeed, large schemes sometimes ask the Plain English Campaign to assist.

Company intranets can make it easy for pension schemes to make information available, though workers without access to information should not be forgotten. Good schemes will answer questions much quicker than the legal minimums.

Good employers may provide access to financial advice as well from outside independent experts. This can be useful as they are likely to understand how your company's scheme works, but also have a wider background.

But it is worth checking out how independent such advisers are, where they come from and how qualified they are to give independent financial advice.

If they are regulated Independent Financial Advisers, then they are duty bound to give you impartial and independent advice. But you should always ask about commissions, and how they are being paid for their advice sessions.