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Southdown 2026

  • Financial Neutral

    As a Financial Neutral we join Mediation & Collaborative meetings to provide information in a clear and understandable manner and assist in exploring pension options so each party is able to make informed decisions.

  • Pension Reports for Divorce

    Precise & Clear reports that show how pensions need to be shared or offset to aid and support financial negotiations and settlements during a divorce

PODE - Pension On Divorce Expert

Divorce is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through — and when pensions are involved, it can feel even more overwhelming. A Pension on Divorce Expert (PODE) is here to cut through that complexity. We provide clear, independent analysis of pension assets so that everyone involved — both parties, solicitors, mediators and the court — can make decisions based on accurate, reliable information.


Our reports can take into account all types of UK pensions, from the most complex like Armed Forces, Police & Firefighters to the more straightforward. Not all PODEs can do this.


"Pensions are often the most valuable asset built up during a marriage — yet they're frequently misunderstood or overlooked. Getting this right can make a real difference to both parties' financial futures."


They are unlike savings, investments or equity in a property

Pensions — particularly Defined Benefit (both public and private sector) — can be complex and difficult to compare. Their true value depends on actuarial assumptions, retirement age, and a range of other factors that aren't always obvious from a pension statement.


That's where we come in. Our role is to produce a thorough, court-compliant expert report that gives everyone a clear picture of what the pension assets are worth and how they might fairly be divided.


For solicitors, mediators and other professionals


We know how much is riding on getting the pension analysis right — both for the outcome of proceedings and for your clients' long-term financial security. Our reports are prepared by qualified actuaries and pension specialists with extensive experience in financial remedy cases, and are fully compliant with Part 25 of the Family Procedure Rules.


We work efficiently within court timetables and are happy to act as a single joint expert (SJE) or as a party-appointed expert. 


We aim to make instructing us as straightforward as possible. Please get in touch with our team and we'll take it from there.


For litigants in person


If you're dealing with your divorce without a solicitor, you may have been told by the court — or by the other side — that a PODE report is needed. That can feel like yet another hurdle. We want to make it as straightforward as we possibly can.


We'll explain clearly what we need from you, what our report will cover, and what the findings mean for your situation — in plain English, without unnecessary jargon. 


You don't need a solicitor to instruct us. Just get in touch and we'll help where we can.


The Solutions Our Reports Can Give You ?

Income Equality

A pension sharing solution designed to equalise each parties  income in or at retirement. 

Capital Equality

A pension sharing solution designed to share each parties pensions based upon a fair value assessment of current pension benefits

Capital Offset

An opinion on how much non pension capital should be shared in lieu of there being no pension share

Apportionment

Equality calculations that take into consideration only those pensions built up during a specific time period e.g. period of marriage

Example Report

Not all PODE's are the same - What makes us different ?

Experience

Our team brings together a rare blend of financial planning and pension actuarial experience. 

Efficient

We are committed to delivering reports in a timely manner

Knowledgable

The Chartered qualifications held by our team members is a mark of professional competency and recognition of high achievement

Plain Speaking

We are conscious that pensions can  be complex. We are committed to making our reports as easy to understand as possible


Testimonials

I have instructed Ian Hawkins in the preparation of PODE reports over the course of many years.

 I have always found Ian’s reports to be both thorough and set out in a way which makes them accessible to my clients. The reports are also provided in good time and for a reasonable fee. I highly recommend both Ian and Paul Gorman for PODE reports.


Nick Wynn-Williams

Rees Page

We are always very impressed when we instruct Southdown Consultants.

 They are approachable and responsive and perhaps most importantly for us as practitioners, the reports they produce are made very user friendly. They are prepared in such a way that makes them easy to follow and to very quickly understand the key points. The turnaround time for reports is extremely good and they are always happy to assist swiftly with any queries.


Emily Cannell

Mincoffs Solicitors

Making sense of Pension reports associated with divorce can be very complex and time consuming..

Southdown Consultants have produced a report that is easy to understand and jargon free.  

The reports are succinct and easily digestible. Clients now have a light to show them the way forward through this dark and complex maze.


Jonathan Darley BSc (Hons), FPFS, Certs CII (MP & ER)

Consequential Planning Ltd

My team and I regularly instruct Southdown Consultants to produce pension reports for our financial remedy on divorce cases.

  We find their reports contain all the information needed but are presented in such a way that the clients find them straightforward to read and understand which is so important when dealing with such a complex area.  Paul and Ian are both knowledgeable and approachable but also have the added skill of being able to act within Collaborative Law matters which has proved to be an extremely valuable tool when working within that process. 


Kathryn Ferris

Wallace Robinson & Morgan

I cannot recommend Ian and his team highly enough 

  The content of their reports simplifies the complex and are set out in a clear and methodical manner. The service standard is nothing short of excellent.


Kelly Pougher

Pougher Round Solicitors