Frequently asked questions about With Profits Bonds.

The money paid into a With Profits bond is primarily invested in a mix of UK and overseas shares, fixed interest securities and UK commercial property, which we call assets. While everyone is invested together in the With Profits Fund, the return paid to different groups of customers may be based on different proportions of each type of asset.

Yes, you can register to use My Accounts. This free online service gives you access to information about your bond, seven days a week. Once you’ve registered we’ll send you your username and password by first class post. You’ll then be able to get a valuation of your bond at any time.

You may be able to make further investments into your bond. To find out if you can, and for details of the conditions that apply to your bond, please have a look at your contract document.

Although there is no fixed term, you should consider each investment you make as an investment of at least five years, ideally longer.

Yes, you can take regular withdrawals to provide you with an income. 

You can choose to take:

• a percentage of the original investment
• a fixed amount each year
• a percentage of the bond’s value each year.

For the income version of the bond, you can also choose to take bonus linked income, paying income at the rate of the applying interim bonus rate.

The maximum withdrawal amount varies depending on when you invested and the type of bond you have. Have a look at your contract document to see what the maximum withdrawal amount is for your bond.

Please bear in mind that making withdrawals will affect the growth potential of your bond and may be subject to a market value reduction (PDF - opens in new window). We use market value reductions to treat with profits customers fairly, whether they stay in with profits or withdraw from it. There may also be tax implications.

Your adviser can provide you with further information. If you don’t have an adviser, visit www.unbiased.co.uk to find your local adviser.

To arrange a withdrawal or for more information, please call us on 03700 500 263. Lines are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Call charges will vary. We may record and monitor calls.

Yes, your bond allows you to take out money as a lump sum at any time (a minimum lump sum may apply). This allows you to access some of your money while keeping the rest invested for growth potential or to take as regular withdrawals.

Remember that cashing in part of your bond will affect its growth and income potential and there may be tax implications.

If you cash in part of your bond a market value reduction (PDF - opens in new window) and/or an early surrender charge may be applied.

Before taking money out of your bond, you should speak with your adviser. If you’d like to speak to us, please call us on 03700 500 263. Lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Call charges will vary. We may record and monitor calls.

You can normally switch out of with profits on, or at any time after, the fifth anniversary of the last investment into your bond. Please see your contract document for details specific to your bond.

If you’re invested in unit-linked funds then you can move between the funds available at any time. We have a range of funds, which have different characteristics and varying levels of investment risk. Your adviser will be able to help you choose a fund that matches your needs.

Changing the funds you’re invested in is easy. All you need to do is download the switch form appropriate to your bond. You can use this to tell us which funds you want to move out of and which funds you want to move in to.

Before moving your investment out of with profits, you should consider the following:

• You must move all of your with profits investment to unit-linked funds. You will not be able to move back to with profits at a later date.
• Your bond might have valuable guarantees that will be lost if you move your investment out of the with profits fund. To see if this applies to you, you’ll need to look at your contract document.
• We may reduce the value of your investment into the chosen unit-linked fund(s) by a market value reduction (PDF - opens in new window).

Your adviser will be able to help you with your investment choices. If you’d like to speak to us, please call us on 03700 500 263. Lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Call charges will vary. We may record and monitor calls.

Your circumstances may have changed since you took out your bond, or you may simply be looking at other ways to invest your money. If you want to cash in your bond, please call us.

There are a number of things you should consider and discuss with your adviser.

• Does your existing bond have valuable features or guarantees which may be lost if you cash in?
• Is there a charge if you cash in your bond?
• Are there any tax implications?
• Are the product and fund charges higher on your new investment than your existing one?