Meet Our Team: James

Life as a Pension App Transfer Specialist

At Pension App, our Transfer Specialists play a key role in helping customers bring their pensions together. To give you a closer look at what the role involves, we sat down with James, one of our Transfer Specialists, to learn more about his journey, daily work, and why he loves helping people with their pensions.

Q: James, can you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to work at Pension App?

Absolutely. I started out as a primary school teacher and spent many years in education before moving into account management. Both of those roles taught me a lot about working with people, building relationships, and communicating clearly. Eventually, I decided to retrain in financial services, and that led me to become a Transfer Specialist at Pension App. It felt like a natural step because I could use all those people skills in a new setting while learning something completely different.

Q: What does a typical day look like for a Transfer Specialist?

Every day is a bit different, but at its core the job is about helping customers get their pensions transferred smoothly. A lot of my time is spent chasing providers to make sure transfers are progressing, keeping an eye on any paperwork or requirements, and updating customers along the way. It is about balancing the technical knowledge of how pensions work with the people side, being approachable, friendly, and building trust.

Q: What do you find most rewarding about the job?

Without a doubt, it is when we track down a pension that someone thought they had lost or forgotten. You can hear the relief in their voice when they realise that money is still there for them. Even better is when we find pensions they never even knew existed. That moment of surprise followed by reassurance is incredibly rewarding. For many customers, it is about more than just the numbers, it is peace of mind, knowing that their hard work has not gone to waste.

Q: What would surprise people about pension transfers?

I think people would be surprised by just how much chasing goes on in the background. Transfers can be delayed for all sorts of reasons, from outdated systems to extra checks. Customers might only see the updates when something moves, but in the background we are constantly contacting providers, making sure documents are right, and pushing things along. It is a lot of detail work, but it is worth it when the transfer completes.

Q: How does Pension App make the experience different?

Pension App combines the best of both worlds. On one hand, you have the technology, being able to see your pensions in one account, track daily values, and know exactly what stage your transfer is at. On the other hand, you have people like me and the rest of the transfers team, making sure the process is personal, friendly, and transparent. Customers know there is a real person on their side, and that makes a big difference.

Q: And finally, what do you enjoy outside of work?

I am a big fan of non league football, where the passion and community really shine. I also love great coffee and live music, which are two things I always make time for. Having lived for many years in Latin America, I have a huge appreciation for different cultures and languages, and I am fluent in Spanish amongst others. Those experiences have shaped the way I connect with people, both inside and outside of work.

Final Thought

Transfers can feel like a hidden part of the pensions world, but for James and the team at Pension App, they are all about people. From chasing providers to finding lost or even unknown pensions, it is a job that combines deep knowledge with a human touch, and it makes all the difference for customers bringing their pensions together.

With pensions, your capital is at risk.