What you want to achieve
Running your own SIPP with a clear process
A SIPP gives you control over your pension. Control is only an advantage if you have a process for using it.
The challenges
- Choosing between platforms with different charging structures.
- Too much choice: thousands of funds, trusts, ETFs and shares.
- Making decisions on a 20 to 30 year horizon without a plan.
- Staying invested through falls when no one else is responsible.
How a disciplined process helps
Pick a platform on total cost
Platforms charge in different ways: percentage fees, flat fees, dealing charges and FX costs. Work out the total for your pot size and trading habits.
Our platform comparisons show the differences.
Build a core and a satellite
Many SIPP investors hold a low-cost, diversified core, with a smaller satellite of individual ideas chosen with a clear process. The core keeps you diversified; the satellite is where research and rules matter most.
Our guide to stock picking explains why process matters more than picks.
Review, don’t react
Set a review schedule, monthly or quarterly, with rules for rebalancing and selling. Between reviews, ignore the noise.
The weekly Market Regime offers a simple read on conditions.
Where to start
- Platform and SIPP articlesComparisons of the main UK platforms.
- AJ Bell vs Hargreaves LansdownWhich platform costs you less.
- Guide: Investing isn’t stock pickingWhy the process around your picks matters more than the picks.
- Weekly Market RegimeA simple weekly read on whether conditions favour risk-taking or caution.
Questions people ask
Is a SIPP right for me?
A SIPP suits people who want control and are willing to learn a process. If you prefer someone else to manage it, a managed pension or adviser may suit you better.
How much can I pay into a SIPP?
Annual allowance and tax relief rules apply and can change. Check HMRC guidance or your provider for current limits.
Can I hold individual shares in a SIPP?
Yes, most SIPPs allow shares, funds, investment trusts and ETFs.
Important: this page is education and information only. It is not financial advice or a personal recommendation, and it does not take your circumstances into account. The value of investments and pensions can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. If you are unsure what is right for you, speak to a regulated financial adviser.