CEV Transfer Fee Calculator
Estimate total charges and your net transfer amount after adviser, provider, and admin fees.
Set to 0% if VAT does not apply to your adviser fee.
What is a CEV transfer fee?
A CEV (Cash Equivalent Value) transfer fee is the total cost you pay when moving pension or retirement value from one arrangement to another. In most real-world cases, this includes more than one line item. People often focus on adviser fee percentages, but provider exit fees, administration costs, and VAT can also materially reduce the final amount transferred.
This calculator gives you a fast estimate so you can compare transfer scenarios before making decisions.
How this calculator works
The tool adds up five components:
- CEV transfer value: your starting amount.
- Adviser fee (%): charged as a percentage of the transfer value.
- Provider/scheme fee (%): an exit or transfer-related percentage fee.
- Fixed admin fee (£): flat cost for paperwork or processing.
- VAT on adviser fee (%): applied to adviser fee where relevant.
After calculation, you get:
- Total fees in pounds.
- Net amount likely to transfer.
- Effective fee rate as a percentage of your CEV.
Quick example
If your CEV is £150,000, adviser fee is 2%, provider fee is 0.5%, admin fee is £250, and VAT is 20% on adviser fees:
- Adviser fee = £3,000
- VAT on adviser fee = £600
- Provider fee = £750
- Admin fee = £250
- Total fees = £4,600
- Net transfer = £145,400
Even small fee differences can become meaningful on large transfer values.
Why transfer fee planning matters
1) Fee drag compounds over time
When fees reduce your transfer amount today, that reduction can compound for years. A lower starting balance means less future growth, even if investment performance is strong.
2) Percentage fees can look deceptively small
A 1% difference may sound minor, but on six-figure transfers it can represent thousands of pounds. Always convert percentages into actual currency amounts.
3) Not all costs appear in one document
Transfer journeys often involve multiple parties. Ask for a complete fee schedule in writing, including adviser costs, scheme exit charges, platform fees, and any implementation costs.
What to ask before you transfer
- Is the adviser fee fixed, percentage-based, or both?
- Are there additional transfer-out fees from the current provider?
- Are VAT charges included in quoted numbers?
- Will there be ongoing annual adviser or platform charges after transfer?
- Are there penalties, guarantees, or safeguarded benefits you could lose?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ignoring VAT: this can understate costs significantly.
- Comparing only one fee line: focus on total cost, not just adviser fee.
- Missing fixed charges: even modest admin fees add up.
- Skipping a net transfer estimate: always calculate the amount that actually moves.
Final thought
A CEV transfer decision should never be based on fees alone, but fees are a core part of the decision quality. Use this calculator to estimate costs quickly, then discuss the full suitability, risk, and long-term impact with a qualified financial professional.