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[pscocoa]

Reality is though, if you have a pension pot, no matter how small, your best yield will always come from seeing it throguh to the point of maturity, an early cash in value is always poor (and that includes transfer values)

Huh? You cannot cash in a private pension - and never could. You must be (at least) 55 years old which is set to rise to 57 in the future. There are some scams that claim to liberate your pension, but these are all rip-offs, and you will lose the lot. And a pension isn't an endowment - there is no such thing as maturity - you cannot surrender it early, or use it as security on a loan/mortgage etc.

On cash in I am referring to transfer/movement from plan to plan and not a take a wedge of cash and spend it. 

That might be true for final salary, but not so for money purchase - there there should be very little if any costs in transfering between providers.  the exception is with profits funds where there may be a redemption penalty but WP is largely out of favour now

also if you are over 55 and your pot is less than £30k, you should be able to draw it as one lump sum

Should you not draw the tax free 25% and then feed in the balance at a rate which minimises tax? Depends on other sources of income

[LC0112G]

also if you are over 55 and your pot is less than £30k, you should be able to draw it as one lump sum

Should you not draw the tax free 25% and then feed in the balance at a rate which minimises tax? Depends on other sources of income

Yes, that's one option. There are lots of other options though, and the correct choice will depend on the individual's circumstances and attitude to a number of factors, which is what an IFA is supposed to assess. However, if you take all your pension out at 55, what do you intend to live on in your old age? Average life expectancy is 85 and rising. Your state pension won't start till you're 67-70 and even then it'll only be £140 ish per week. I hope you like Tesco Value Baked Beans on toast.