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Frequently Asked Questions

Moving to Smart Pension - Active, Deferred and Drawdown Members

The sponsor to Crystal, Evolve, has been bought by Smart Pension with a view to transferring Crystal’s members to the Smart Pension Master Trust. The Crystal Trustee has undertaken an in depth due diligence exercise and agrees this is a positive move with an opportunity for greater value for money and access to state of the art member tools, financial wellbeing support and member rewards.

The sponsor to Crystal, Evolve, has sent the following communication(s):

Yes, Crystal will continue to operate normally until shortly before the transfer to Smart Pension in 2024. We’ll have a short period of time just before the transfer during which we’ll be working with Smart Pension to create your new account, during this time you won’t be able to withdraw or transfer your benefits. We’ll keep you regularly updated on the progress of the transfer but before then you can access your savings as normal by contacting the Administration Team at penadmin@evolvepensions.co.uk.

Yes, evoLink will continue to be available until shortly before your retirement savings are transferred to Smart Pension, we’ll keep you updated throughout. If you haven’t registered for evoLink you can still get access to all your information by signing up here.

Not unless you want to. Smart Pension will provide a default investment option, similar to your current investment option. However, there will be other investment options you can choose or self-select, if you wish. We’ll update you with details of the investment options over the coming months.

There will be no increase in the level of the charges deducted from your retirement savings when you move to Smart Pension.

We are happy to support you with questions about the transition to Smart Pension but we, Evolve and Smart Pension, are not regulated to give you financial advice. If you require any advice, you should contact an independent financial adviser.

The UK government also offers free support to people over the age of 50 through MoneyHelper. You can find more information about this on their website.

You can continue to contact Evolve Pensions on 01322 640530 (option 1) or by emailing penadmin@evolvepensions.co.uk.

The UK government also offers free support to people over the age of 50 through MoneyHelper. You can find more information about this on their website.


Moving to Smart Pension - Drawdown Members Only

Yes, the options provided by Smart Pension are different to those you currently have access to via Crystal. Full details of each option and how your retirement savings will be invested can be found on Smart Retire , the the Smart Pension retirement tool. We’ll give you more details and confirm actions to take well ahead of the transfer to Smart Pension. Until then you’ll continue to receive your normal payments (if you receive these regularly) and can access your Retirement Savings in exactly the same way.
The sponsor to Crystal, Evolve, has sent the following communication(s):
Over the coming months we’ll give you information on the Smart Retire option closest to your current Crystal drawdown option, you’ll have plenty of time to review your options and take any financial advice you require. Full details and support will be available to you well ahead of the transfer to Smart Pension.
Yes, there is a Smart Retire option which will provide a monthly income and full details will be provided well ahead of the transfer. If you want to find out more all the details are here but we’ll give you more information and confirm actions to take well ahead of the transfer to Smart Pension. Until then you will continue to receive your normal payments (if you receive these regularly) and can access your retirement savings in exactly the same way.
Yes, just like with Crystal there will be a monthly charge applied to your retirement savings. This charge will depend on which of the four Smart Retire options you transfer to. Full details of each option and the charges will be provided well ahead of the transfer to Smart Pension.
No, Smart Pension and Crystal will notify the tax office of the change. You may receive a P45 from Crystal to confirm how much has been paid to you and the amount of tax deducted. This is perfectly normal and is just for your records.

Other FAQs

Please see our section on leaving Crystal where you will also be able to complete a form to opt-out

If you are struggling to log in to evoLink, please follow the below steps:

  • Ensure that your email address and password are entered correctly,
  • If your email address is entered correctly but you think you may have forgotten your password complete the forgotten password steps,
  • If your email address is incorrect, consider if your Employer could have provided us with a business email address,
  • If you cannot remember the email address you have been registered with, or no longer have access to this email, please use the contact us form and let our administration team know.

Crystal does not use a policy number, instead we use your date of birth and National Insurance (NI) number to identify you. Please ensure you provide your NI number on communications with us to speed up the process of identifying you. If you do not provide your NI number in your request we may contact you to obtain further information in order to deal with your enquiry which may delay our ability to respond to you.

The quickest way to see the value of your Retirement Savings is by logging in or making an account on evoLink. Here you will be able to see the real-time value of your Retirement Savings and make any amendments to your account.

Employers have up to the 19th of the following month after your pay-day to pay your contributions to Crystal. This may mean that you do not have your most recent contributions immediately available on evoLink. However if you have concerns, please complete the contact us form and our team will be able to answer any queries.

Our Administration team do not provide projections statements. However, you can use evoPlanner, our Retirement Savings calculator to see how your retirement date, transferring other pensions in or paying AVCs could affect the value of your Retirement Savings. You can also see your most recent Annual Benefit Statement and current value of Retirement Savings by logging into evoLink.

Unfortunately, we cannot continue to receive contributions to your Retirement Savings once you have left your Employer. However, you can choose Crystal as your pension provider at retirement and consider consolidating other pensions into your drawdown fund.

Contact us

Please note that you can view your account and obtain information online on the Member portal, evoLink. You can also arrange transfers and carry out other processes. If you have not yet registered for evoLink, please do so by visiting evoLink.

Alternatively, please use the form below to contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Contact

Our Administration Teams are
available by phone
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm

  • 01322 640530
  • Swanley Office
    Unit 2
    White Oak Square
    BR8 7AG

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