Martin Lewis has issued a warning to millions of people who are saving into a workplace or private pension scheme.
The MoneySavingExpert founder explained you cannot put a pension into your will - but there is still a way to leave this money to a loved one.
The consumer champion told viewers of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on Tuesday that you need to fill in an "Expression of Wishes" form with your employer.
This will ensure your pension is left to the right person.
He continued: “If you want to leave your pension to someone, get on to your company or private pension and fill out an ‘Expression of Wishes’ or ‘nomination’ form which tells the trustees or tells the company who you want your pension assets to go to if you die.”
For people who already have those forms, Martin urged them to make sure the information held is up to date - especially if your relationship status has changed.
He said: “Make sure it’s up to date - you don’t want to leave it to your ex-husband or ex-wife if you don’t want the money to go to them anymore. So, that’s an important thing to look at too.”
Martin used his show this week to discuss "unpleasant" issues such as death and divorce, and what happens to your money.
The MoneySavingExpert founder explained how you have no control over where your assets go after you die unless you have a will in place.
Under current rules in England and Wales - known as intestacy rules - if you are married or in a civil partnership, you don't have a will, and your estate is worth less than £270,000, then everything would automatically go to your spouse.
If the estate is worth more than £270,000 and there are children involved, the spouse would inherit half of the remaining assets and the other half would be divided equally between the children.
The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
However, if you make a legal will you can decide exactly who and how much of your assets go to who after you have passed.
Martin explained: “If you die without a will, it is the state - not you - who decides where your assets go.
“It’s called the intestacy rules and they are complex and they vary by UK nations.”
