Frequently Asked Questions

These sections have been designed to help "answer" questions that you may have regarding Pension Planet Interactive. If you have questions about pension and Irish Life products please visit our website Corporate Business.


For more information on pensions, visit the Pensions Board website: http://www.pensionsboard.ie/

Pension Planet Interactive Queries

  1. What's new in Pension Planet Interactive?
    If you are a financial adviser, employer or trustee:

    Pension Planet Interactive has many new and exciting features. It helps you manage your work more effectively and efficiently.

    • more charts and views of member and scheme data
    • run online leaving service options
    • view correspondence, benefit statements and quotes in the document library
    • add new entrants to pension schemes at your own convenience.

    If you are a member:

    Pension Planet Interactive is an easy to use online tool that gives you access to your pension plan information. It helps you manage your retirement planning more effectively and efficiently.


    As a member you can view:

    • key pension plan information
    • your account value
    • your transactions
    • your fund selection
    • fund price history
    • risk benefits (as applicable to your plan)
    • documents such as benefit statements and correspondence in the document library
    • retirement planning tools and information about investment choices.

    Once the trustees agree, you will be given access to Pension Planet Interactive. You can then register directly online. You will receive login details and you can start using this online tool.

  2. What are the minimum requirements for running Pension Planet Interactive on my computer?

    The secure site can be used with the following internet browsers:

    • Internet Explorer (Version 6.0, 7.0, 8.0)
    • Firefox (Version 2 or 3)
    • Opera (Version 9, 10, 11)
    • Safari (Version 3, 4, 5)
    • Chrome (Version 10)

    The recommended minimum screen resolution for the best browsing experience is 1024x768.

  3. How do I download data from Pension Planet Interactive?

    You can download data by selecting the green download button, which appears at the bottom left hand corner of tabular data presented on your screen. You will be presented with a 'File Download' screen you can choose to save the data to a disk or the hard drive on your PC. This downloads the data as ‘Comma Separated Values’ (CSV). By default, this will open in Excel on Windows computers. On other platforms, your default spreadsheet program should open.

  4. What happens if I forget my password?
    If you are a financial adviser, employer or trustee:

    If you forget your password and you try to log on you will be shown an “invalid log on” screen. Please use the link 'Reset your password'. This link will bring you to a screen where you must "answer" a security question. On "answer"ing the question correctly you will receive a password by email. The next time you log into the system, you will be asked to change your password.


    If you are a member:

    If you forget your password and you try to log on you will be shown an “invalid log on” screen. Please use the link 'Forgot your password?'. This link will bring you to a screen where you must enter your User Name. You will then be asked to "answer" a security question. On "answer"ing the question correctly you will receive a temporary password by email or SMS. The next time you log into the system, you will be asked to change your temporary password.

    You can then register directly online. You will receive login details and you can start using this online tool.

  5. How do I get my password reset?
    If you are a financial adviser, employer or trustee:

    You can reset your own password if you have forgotten the password. To reset your password, simply click the “Reset Password’ option on the login page of Pension Planet Interactive. You will be asked to enter characters of your password. You will then be asked to "answer" a security question. On "answer"ing the question correctly you will receive a temporary password by email. The next time you log into the system, you will be asked to change your temporary password.


    If you are a member:

    If you have entered an incorrect password more that 3 times, your access to your account will be locked for 30 minutes. You will receive a notification of a failed attempt to log in by email or SMS. Your account will automatically unlock after 30 minutes when you can reattempt to log in.

  6. How do I change my password?

    We have a facility called “Change password” in the top right hand corner of Pension Planet Interactive after you have logged in. This facility allows you to change your password at your discretion.

  7. How do I ensure that my Pension Planet Interactive password is secure?

    Pension Planet Interactive enforces password standards to ensure that user’s passwords are secure. Any time you change or reset your password, Pension Planet Interactive will show you a visual password strength meter to indicate how secure your password is.

    Insecure passwords are indicated by a red bar on the meter. Partially secure passwords are indicated with an amber bar, with secure passwords illustrated by a green bar.

    When you are choosing your password, remember the following guidelines to help you create a very secure password:

    Recommended:

    - Ensure that your password is at least 8 characters in length
    - Use a mix of upper case and lower case characters
    - Have a mix of both numbers and letters
    - Use symbols such as @, *, + etc.

    Never:

    - Repeat the same character in your password eg: 'aaaa' or 'ababab'
    - Use sequential characters in your password such as '1234' or 'abcd' or '1111'

    The most secure passwords will contain 3 or 4 of each of the following items:

    - Uppercase Letters
    - Lowercase Letters
    - Numbers
    - Symbols

    NOTE: If Pension Planet Interactive deems your password insecure, it will not permit you to use it.

  8. I was expecting an email from Pension Planet Interactive, but have not received it. Why is this?

    Pension Planet Interactive sends automatic email messages to users for a variety of reasons. For example, users who have forgotten their password can click on the "forgot password" link on the site. Pension Planet Interactive will then send the user an email with instructions on how to reset your password.

    If you do not receive such an email, this can often be because your email program (e.g.: Outlook) has incorrectly categorised the email as 'spam' or 'junk' mail. To verify this, examine the contents of your spam or junk folder to see if it contains email messages that should not be categorised as such.

    In Microsoft Outlook, this folder is often called the "Junk E-mail" folder. If you find that a legitimate email message has been added to this folder, simply right click on the email message and choose the "Junk E-mail" option. This will then give you several sub-options. Select the "Add sender to safe senders list" option. This will ensure that further emails from that address are not incorrectly categorised as spam or junk.

    For instructions relating to other email programs, please contact your local support function or the email program vendor.

  9. Can anyone else view my records? How safe is my data on Pension Planet Interactive?

    Security on Pension Planet Interactive is taken very seriously. All of your data is securend and can only be accessed by using your User ID, Password and a series of token questions. You should never share your login details with anyone (including Irish Life staff). You should always store your password details in a safe place. Irish Life will never send letters or emails requesting your Pension Planet Interactive login details.

  10. How far back can I view transactions?

    You can view transactions for the past 24 months. You can also view balances and membership numbers for any date within the last 24 months.

  11. Are the online leaving service options the same as the options I get from the Irish Life Corporate Business team?
    If you are a financial adviser, employer or trustee:

    Yes, they are the exact same. The main difference is that you can get them straight away as a downloadable PDF document rather than having to wait for them to arrive in the post.


    If you are a member:

    To obtain leaving service options please contact your financial adviser.

  12. How can I update my contact information?

    You can update your contact details on Pension Planet Interactive by using our quick links section under your details. You will receive a confirmation that your details have been updated from Irish Life by post.

Pension Queries

  1. What is a pension plan?

    A pension plan is a long-term savings plan, where regular amounts and/or once-off lump sums are built up into a fund for retirement. The amounts paid into a pension are called “contributions”.

    You can find further details in our member guide.

    DCmemberguide.pdf

  2. What are Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)?

    AVCs are extra savings which you can make towards your pension. Making AVCs can be a great option for you if you wish to increase the level of your retirement benefits.

    You can find further details in our AVC guide:

    AVCmemberguide.pdf

  3. What is a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA)?

    PRSAs are a type of pension plan designed to offer flexibility, convenience and value for money to people saving for their retirement. A PRSA is a personal policy in your name and the proceeds of your PRSA are available to provide you with retirement benefits when you retire or reach age 60.

    You can find further details in our PRSA guide:

    PRSAmembersguide.pdf

  4. What is a Personal Retirement Bond (PRB)?

    A PRB, which is also known as a Buy-Out Bond is used by the Trustees of a pension plan to buy retirement benefits for former members of their pension plan. A PRB is a personal policy in your name. The value of the fund when you leave the pension plan is invested in the bond. When you retire, you can then use the proceeds of the PRB to provide retirement benefits.

    You can find further details in our PRB guide:

    PRBguide.pdf

  5. I would like to know what other products Irish Life have to offer?

    Please visit the Irish Life website: Irish Life

    For information more specific to group arrangements please see our Corporate Business website. Corporate Business

  6. Who do I contact if I have further questions?
    If you are a financial adviser, employer or trustee:

    Contact your Irish Life Corporate Business account manager or email our mailbox code@irishlife.ie Please state the scheme number and member number in the email.


    If you are a member:

    If you are a member of a pension scheme you should contact your scheme Trustees. Alternatively you can contact your financial adviser for the scheme or email our mailbox code@irishlife.ie Please state your scheme number and member number in the email.

  7. How can I switch my funds?

    All switches should use the fund switch form available on our website FundSwitchForm.pdf.

    • All fund switch requests must be sent in writing or by email to CODE@irishlife.ie
    • Members may request up to 6 free fund switches a year.
    • Members may choose a maximum of 5 funds.
    • All fund switches will be confirmed in writing detailing the amount that was switched and the fund choice going forward.

    Effective Date

    • The fund switch will take effect from the date we receive the completed form with your instructions. If there is outstanding information the effective date will be when we receive the full information.
    • If all or part of your funds are invested in funds managed by external fund managers the effective date of the switch may be different

    Investment Strategies

    • Investment strategies invest in a growth fund such as the Consensus Fund or Active Fund, and then gradually move into lower risk funds as you approach retirement. An investment strategy is applicable to all your contributions. If you move into/out of a strategy, this will apply to your total existing fund and future contributions.

    Market Value Adjustments

    • Please note that a Market Value Adjustment may apply to certain fund switches, thereby reducing the amount available. (e.g. exits from the Capital Protection Fund or the Secured Performance Fund). Please check the fund factsheets on Corporate Business for updates.
    • The MVA effectively reduces the amount available to transfer. What we call a normal ‘demographic exit’ from the fund includes changing job, taking early retirement, retirement due to ill health and redundancy. We pay these exits without applying an MVA. Other reasons for withdrawing money from the fund, non-demographic exits, will receive the current price after we have applied the MVA. If an Adjustment is applicable to your request, we will contact you to verify this instruction.
    • The Market Value Adjustment may apply to switching out of Investment Strategies as well if they include the Capital Protection Fund.

    Property Fund Notice Period

    • A notice period may apply to switches from the Property Fund. This notice period may change based on market conditions. The current notice period is six months. This means that any requests to transfer out or to partially or fully switch investments from this fund, will be processed using the fund price at the end of the six month notice period and not the fund price on the date we receive the request to switch or encash from the plan. The six month notice period does not apply to death claims, or to customers taking normal, early or late retirement benefits from a pension plan.

    Other Notes

    • Switches of your existing fund and/or future contributions cover all premium types (Regular annual, Transfers or Single premiums)
    • The Trustees where applicable may in some instances restrict the funds allowable.
    • Please note that the Secured Performance Fund is closed to all contributions effective 1st November 2010. No switches into the Secured Performance Fund are accepted any more.
  8. How do I increase my contributions?

    Your Benefit Statement tells you what pension to expect from your current plan. It makes assumptions such as future investment returns and costs of buying pension annuities.
    If you want to increase the level of your retirement benefits, increasing the contributions you make to your current pension plan or making Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) can be great options for you. AVCs are extra contributions you make towards your pensions.
    AVCs are treated like normal pension contributions for tax purposes. Therefore, like pension contributions, AVCs qualify for tax relief at your highest rate of tax, subject to certain limits. Also, any investment growth achieved by the retirement fund that you have built up is tax free.

    AVCs allow you to take control of your financial future and help to build up an adequate fund for when you reach retirement. The value of these AVCs is added to the value of your main pension fund to make up a total retirement fund.
    You can vary your AVC contributions depending on your financial situation, as they are made by you alone.

  9. Are there any limits on contribution levels or benefits?

    Revenue limits apply to contributions and benefit levels.

    For more details see our member guides or the Revenue website.

    www.revenue.ie

    Irish Life Corporate Business member guides:

    DC guide DCmemberguide.pdf

    AVC guide

    AVCmemberguide.pdf

    PRSA guide

    PRSAmembersguide.pdf

    PRB guide

    PRBguide.pdf

    If you have other questions that you would like included on this page, please email pensionplanet@irishlife.ie

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