Rowanmoor Pensions aims to give SSAS member trustees full and flexible investment options by offering the most comprehensive range of investment choice available under current legislation. We will permit any asset provided:
- the asset does not give rise to an unauthorised payment charge;
- we can obtain satisfactory title to the asset;
- ownership of the asset will not give rise to an unacceptable liability or risk, for example a legal, practical, or environmental risk.
Guidance on administration requirements and the acceptability of assets in the scheme will be provided by Rowanmoor Pensions. Investments need to satisfy Rowanmoor Pensions’ requirements in relation to all the above factors to be acceptable as scheme investments.
The member trustees control the funds in the SSAS, subject to the Trust Deed and Rules of the scheme, and are free to appoint the investment adviser of their choice to help take advantage of the wide range of investment opportunities open to them.
Please note that this list of investments is not exhaustive. If you are in any doubt whether an investment is acceptable or not, please always refer to Rowanmoor Pensions.
| Investment Opportunities | Unacceptable Investments |
|---|---|
| Commercial property | Residential property (including ground rent) |
| Land | Unsecured loans to the principal employer |
| Secured loans to the principal employer or participating employer(s) | Loans to connected parties such as member trustees or their families |
| Secured or unsecured loans to unconnected parties | Plant and machinery |
| Unquoted shares | Property investment in Limited Liability Partnerships |
| Equities, quoted on the London Stock Exchange | Antiques |
| Equities quoted on recognised worldwide stock exchanges | Rare books and stamps |
| Gilts, Bonds and Fixed Interest Stocks | Oriental rugs |
| Investment Trusts | Furniture |
| Unit Trusts and Open Ended Investment Companies | Fine wines |
| Insured pension funds | Works of art |
| Bank and Building Society deposits | Vintage cars |
| Offshore managed funds | Yachts |
| Futures and options | Jewellery and gemstones |
| Intellectual property (including copyrights and patents) | Krugerrands |
| Hedge funds | |
| Gold bullion |
There are no limitations on the sale or purchase of assets to or from member trustees or other connected parties but these transactions must be at arm’s length.
The trustees must be careful to ensure that the purchase or sale of any asset complies with the Trust Deed and Rules of the SSAS and is in line with the scheme’s overall investment strategy. Whilst it is not essential for a SSAS, it is recommended that trustees agree a statement of investment principles and make investment decisions in accordance with those principles. A statement of investment principles should include the:
- objectives of scheme;
- policy for choosing investments;
- type of investments to be held;
- balance of different investments;
- risk associated with the investments;
- expected returns;
- policy for realisation of investments.
Whilst HMRC does not generally interfere in the way member trustees invest a SSAS’s assets, it will if tax avoidance is suspected, or if an investment appears to breach the main purpose of the SSAS, which is, to provide benefits for its members. It is therefore important to demonstrate that all investments are genuine and made in the interests of the members and their beneficiaries.
Please visit our SSAS literature library for further information on SSAS property investment, SSAS loans and borrowing to invest.
This information relates to the Rowanmoor Pensions SSAS. Please note that this list of investments is not exhaustive. If you are in any doubt whether an investment is acceptable or not, always refer to Rowanmoor Pensions by contacting us, emailing us or writing to us via the enquiry box on the right hand side.
