Standard Life launches private markets pension default

Standard Life  has launched Future Opportunities, a new workplace pension default strategy that gives defined contribution members access to private markets as part of their retirement savings mix. The offering is available for trust-based products and is positioned as an alternative to the company’s existing Sustainable Multi Asset default, with a long-term target of around 25% in private market assets.

The strategy will gradually add private equity, real assets, private debt, and venture capital, alongside public market holdings, with private markets specialist Future Growth Capital supporting asset selection and portfolio construction.

The company is also introducing a variable charging structure tied to the actual private asset allocation, plus a performance fee that applies only when return targets are met.