You can choose where to invest
Did you know that with the Investment Builder…
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You have flexible ways to take your savings
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Value is based on contributions and investments
The Investment Builder: a savings pot that gives you options
All members who are paying in can build a savings pot in the Investment Builder – the defined contribution (DC) part of USS. If you earn above the salary threshold, you’ll start saving into it automatically. Or, if you choose to make additional contributions or transfer in other pension savings, you’ll also save into it.
The value of your Investment Builder pot depends on the contributions you make, and how your investments perform – it can go up or down and could be worth less than what was paid in.
Alongside this you’ll continue to build benefits in the Retirement Income Builder, the defined benefit (DB) part, which gives you a guaranteed retirement income for life in retirement and a one-off, tax-free cash lump sum when you retire.
Visit how your pension works for more on how both parts work together.
More than a savings pot
- In most cases, you won’t pay any more than your contributions as your employer covers admin costs and investment management fees.
- You get to choose how and where to invest your Investment Builder savings.
- We have a team responsible for managing and investing your contributions.
- We invest responsibly and ethically so you can choose investments based on your principles.
Find out more about the Key features of the Investment Builder.
There’s lots to get your head around with defined contribution savings, like those in the Investment Builder, and some steps you should take
Take a look through the sections below to help you get to grips with it all.
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Choosing how and where to invest
This is completely up to you. You can let our team manage your investments for you with the Do It For Me Option, or you can make investment choices yourself with the Let Me Do It Option.
Both options give you the choice to invest ethically and in line with your beliefs and savings goals.
Find out everything you need to know about your investment options and guidance on how to make investment choices.
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Setting your Target Retirement Age (TRA)
Set a TRA in My USS to fit your future plans – especially if you’re over 50. It’ll impact when we move your investments in to lower risk funds (if you’re in the Do it for Me Option), and when we contact you about your Investment Builder savings and your options.
It doesn’t need to be the same as the Normal Pension Age (NPA) and can be before or after you take to your Retirement Income Builder benefits. Visit choosing your investments to find out more.
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A flexible way to take your savings
There's a number of ways you can take your Investment Builder savings, giving you the flexibility to use them in a way that suits you.
You can also access these savings sooner, from the minimum pension age onwards, and you don’t have to retire to do so.
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Investment management fees
Your employer will subsidise most investment management costs for the foreseeable future. So, in most cases, saving into the Investment Builder won’t cost you any more than your contributions.
The subsidy won’t apply to any funds transferred from other pension schemes. Get to grips with the basics in our investment guide.
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Need some support?
If you need a bit of guidance or want to seek financial advice on your options, retirement decisions or your investments, visit our guidance and financial advice page. You’ll find a range of resources to support your planning, including our Understanding DC (the Investment Builder) webinar, as well as information on how to access an independent financial adviser.
Attend a free Understanding DC webinar
Find out more about the Investment Builder and how you can build up a DC savings pot if you earn over the salary threshold, transfer another pension in to USS, or choose to make additional contributions. You can also understand more about your options for accessing your Investment Builder savings when the time is right for you.
These webinars are provided by Mercer. You can register to attend a live webinar where you’ll have a chance to ask questions, or you can watch a recorded session at a time that suits you.
Our latest investment news
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15 November 2022
Changes to help you achieve your goals
We’re changing how we report on the USS Growth Funds in the Investment Builder.
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Member Webinar
Our journey to Net Zero
Here’s your chance to catch up on our latest webinar where you’ll hear from USSIM's Head of Strategic Equities – Innes McKeand and Head of Responsible Investment - David Russell. They talk about why climate change matters for investments, what Net Zero is and how they’re planning to achieve our Net Zero ambition, and of course what this means for members.
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26 July 2022
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ESG – Environmental, social and governance criteria underpin how we assess the impact of an investment and the way companies we invest in are run.