How do I know if my pension is being well managed during market turbulence?

First, a crucial caveat: "well managed" depends heavily on your age. A 35-year-old should have a very different portfolio to someone retiring next year.

A useful rule of thumb: think about when you'll actually spend each chunk of your pot - not just when you retire, since most people draw downA method of accessing your pension which involves taking out money in instalments when you want to. gradually over years. For each year until you need that money, hold roughly 10% in equities. So 5 years away: 50% equities, 50% bonds. More than 10 years away: equities throughout. Spending it soon? Keep it out of equities entirely.

• Compare performance against a benchmarkThe standard against which an investment is measured in order to judge its relative performance, asset allocation or risk. It’s usually an index or fund that is used as a point of comparison for investments made up of similar assets. — Trustnet and Morningstar both let you do this free
• Default funds often auto-adjust as you age ("lifestyling") check if yours does, and whether that automation fits your actual access plans

The markets context: VolatilityDescribes the price movement of an investment or index. High volatility indicates frequent and significant price movement, whereas low volatility denotes less frequent or severe fluctuations in price. right now reflects genuine global uncertainty, but here's the counterintuitive bit: as long as your asset allocation is right for your timeframe, falling markets mean your current contributions are buying units at lower prices. Volatility can be your friend. Some short-term pain is normal, and panic-switching funds often locks in losses. Look through the noise and stick to a long-term plan.