SSAS: Practitioner-only and professional trustees – what's the difference?

'Robust governance and informed decision-making are critical'

clock • 5 min read

Caitlin Southall shares her SSAS insight, specifically looking at practitioner-only and professional trustees...

Small self-administered schemes (SSAS) remain a hugely useful pension planning tool for business owners and directors who want flexibility and control. When it comes to SSAS governance, there are two primary structures – practitioner-only and those where a professional trustee is appointed, often alongside a professional scheme administrator. Under SSAS legislation, a scheme must appoint a scheme administrator, but not necessarily a scheme practitioner. The latter is not a formal role, but is one aimed at supporting the scheme administrator and trustees to comply with their fiduciary ...

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