Study Finds Families Relying On Their Family Business As Their Pension

Families are relying on their business to fund retirement with 83% saying they regard their company as their pension, new research with family-run businesses from the UK’s leading discretionary wealth manager, Investec Wealth & Investment shows.

The independent study by the company, which is part of Rathbones Group PLC, with family businesses which have a combined annual turnover of £781 million found more than one in four (26%) expect to fund 50% or more of their retirement spending from their business investment.

Shockingly nearly one in 10 (9%) say they do not have or don’t know whether they have a private pension outside of the investment in their business. Around one in 25 (4%) say they didn’t start saving into a pension until they were aged 40 or over.

The research found the current generation in charge of family-run businesses do not intend to work until they drop. Almost all (97%) are expected to stop working and being involved in the running of the business by the age of 65. Around 30% questioned, said they expect the current generation to quit before 60.

It’s not all bad news on the personal finances of family-run businesses – around 79% questioned, estimate the finances of their senior family members are good or very comprehensive in terms of investment in pensions and ISAs.

Around 85% questioned, estimate that less than 50% of their wealth is tied up in the family business, with 21% saying the figure is lower than 25%. Around a third (31%) estimate they have more than £500,000 invested in their private pensions.

Analysis shows around 4.8 million UK businesses are family-run – around 86% of all private sector businesses – and they employ up to 13.9 million people while contributing £575 billion to the UK economy.

Nadine Collins, Financial Planning Director, at Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) said: “Many families clearly have substantial wealth tied up in their family businesses and it is perfectly understandable that so many rely on that wealth to fund retirement. Many will have neglected pension contributions over the years to understandably ensure the success of their business, resulting in a smaller traditional pension pot or none at all."

“There are however huge tax disadvantages to ignoring private pensions and there will be issues about extracting wealth tied up in family businesses to fund retirement when people are no longer working in the business. To have the ability to take advantage of the allowances bestowed to pensions, planning needs to take place at least four to five years in advance of a business exit and businesses need to consider that tax rules may change."

“Sourcing professional advice on the best approach to funding retirement and releasing wealth from family-run businesses is important for any family business, given the potential for personal and business finances to become entangled.”

For more information visit www.investec.com