In this blog:

• A quick recap of what pensions dashboards are and why they matter

• What recent UK progress means for advice firms

• The current state of dashboards and their limitations

• What’s coming next - and how you can position your firm

• Specific implications for LoA/data-gathering workflows

Let’s be frank: pensions dashboards are a big deal

For a lot of firms, “pensions dashboards” still sound like a distant, government-IT side project. Something the regulator talks about, but not something that affects your day-to-day.

But that’s changing — fast.

Soon, your clients will be able to log in and see all their pensions in one place. And when they do, they’re going to turn up with a simple question:

“So… what now?”

If your team isn’t ready for that moment - if your processes can’t handle that surge in visibility and follow-up - you’re at risk of being underprepared and overwhelmed.

Let’s break it down.

What are pensions dashboards?

In short: pensions dashboards are digital tools that let savers view all their pension pots (and incomes) in one place - including workplace pensions, personal pensions, and the State Pension.

Think of it as a real-time summary of all their pension savings, pulled from multiple providers and schemes, connected via a central architecture. The goal? Help savers see the big picture, especially as more people build up small pots across different jobs.

For advice firms, this changes the flow.

Historically, you were the one uncovering forgotten pots through discovery calls or paperwork. Now, it might be the client saying, “I saw this old Scottish Widows pot on my dashboard - what should I do with it?”

That shift in visibility puts your workflows - especially LoAs and data gathering - in the spotlight.

Recent UK progress (and why it matters now)

You might assume this is all still years away. But here’s the reality:

• Over 50 million private pension records are already connected to the dashboards ecosystem

• State Pension data is included

• The legal deadline for all in-scope schemes to connect is 31 October 2026

• Testing is underway via MoneyHelper, with commercial dashboards in development

This isn’t theoretical anymore. It’s happening.

And when those consumer-facing dashboards go live, you can expect a spike in client queries - especially from those who’ve never seen their full pension picture before.

Current state and limitations (and why your role still matters)

Let’s not overhype it. Dashboards are progressing, but they’re not the finished article - and they won’t replace pension advice anytime soon.

Some key limitations:

• Not fully live yet: Many schemes are still connecting, and the general public can’t access dashboards just yet.

• Data quality varies: Some records are incomplete or inaccurate - especially from legacy systems.

• Scope is narrow (for now): Focus is on pensions in accumulation, not drawdown.

• User confusion is likely: Clients will need support interpreting what they see.

For firms like yours, this means one thing: dashboards will prompt questions, not answer them. And that’s an opportunity - if your LoA workflows are ready.

Implications for your LoA/data-gathering workflows

We’ve spoken to a lot of firms who worry that automation tools like 4admin will become redundant if dashboards go live.

Here’s why that thinking is off:

• Dashboards may show the pot — but they won’t extract detailed valuations, fund splits, charges, contributions, and all the other bits you need for advice.

• Clients may see more — but they’ll still rely on you to know what it means, and what to do next.

• And crucially: this is the moment where the LoA process begins — not ends.

That means your differentiation shifts: not just in whether you gather data, but how fast and how cleanly you can do it when the client comes knocking.

If your process is clunky or manual, you risk:

• Missing the momentum from inbound dashboard enquiries

• Dropping the ball on accuracy or turnaround time

• Falling behind firms who’ve already digitised their workflows

This isn’t fear-mongering. It’s preparation. And it’s an opportunity to get ahead.

Future goals/promises — and how you should position your firm

Let’s zoom out. What’s the endgame here?

For consumers:

• More visibility of retirement savings

• Reuniting lost pots from old employers

• Earlier engagement with retirement planning

• Potential for follow-on services like consolidation, modelling, or advice

For the industry:

• A secure, scalable digital infrastructure

• Full ecosystem coverage — all providers, all schemes, all standardised

• Adviser and platform dashboards — not just the government version

• More strategic adviser roles, fewer admin tasks

For your firm:

The real opportunity is in what comes after the dashboard view.

Clients will need help interpreting what they’ve seen. They’ll need guidance on consolidation. And they’ll want fast, clear answers.

If your workflows are ready i.e. if automation picks up where the dashboard leaves off, you’ll be ready to deliver the fast service clients are looking for.

What advice firms should do now

Here’s your checklist for dashboard readiness:

✅ Audit your data

• Which clients/schemes are already in scope?

• How clean is your existing CRM pension data?

• Is your LoA process scalable, accurate, and fast?

✅ Communicate with clients

• “You’ll soon see all your pensions in one place — here’s what to do”

• Highlight how you help turn visibility into action

✅ Integrate your tools

• LoA automation

• Client onboarding

• CRM syncing

✅ Monitor dashboard milestones

• DAP (Dashboard Available Point)

• October 2026 deadlines

• New dashboard features (e.g. actions, not just views)

Final word

Pensions dashboards aren’t going to replace advice. But they are going to change how and when advice is triggered.

If you’re ready, with fast, automated LoA handling, integrated CRM workflows, and a digital-first mindset - this could be the best inbound opportunity your firm sees in years.

If you’re not ready… you risk missing the moment when your client goes looking for answers.

At 4admin, we’re building for the post-dashboard world. Because when your client logs in and sees five pensions they didn’t know they had - you want to be the first person they call.