A Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) is a type of occupational pension, usually for company directors and key staff, that allows members to act as trustees, providing high control over investments and business funding. It operates as a tax-efficient, pooled, defined contribution scheme, enabling investments in commercial property, company loans, and traditional assets, with benefits typically accessible from age 55.
What are the disadvantages of a SSAS pension?
A SSAS is a defined contribution pension scheme where a small number of directors or employees pool their pensions together. The other main difference is that you can invest in your own company through a SSAS. As a director, you could invest in up to 5% of your company through a SSAS.
How do my family or I draw money from a SSAS? There are a range of options for accessing benefits. Most people will be able to draw a tax-free cash sum of up to 25% of their fund value when they reach age 55 and use the rest to draw as taxable income over their lifetime.
The "pension 5-year rule" refers to different IRS rules for retirement accounts (like Roth IRAs needing 5 years for tax-free earnings), beneficiary rules (requiring heirs to empty inherited accounts within 5 years), and specific employment pensions (like Federal or Congressional plans requiring 5 years of service for vesting or benefits). It can also relate to UK pension rules for overseas transfers (QROPS) or breaks in service for public sector workers, preventing tax avoidance or loss of benefits.
In essence, a SSAS pension allows a much broader range of investments compared to traditional pension arrangements. These include:
How It Works. Once activated, the SSAS alert continuously transmits to designated recipients unless it is reset or deactivated. Depending on the ship's flag state requirements, alert recipients are generally one or more of the following: The ship owner.
In addition to the usual tax exemptions available for self-administered pension arrangements, a SSAS can offer other benefits for entrepreneurial business owners including: Greater control and flexibility over the pension fund and all retirement assets. Contributions can be made by more than one employer.
What are the benefits of using Microsoft SSAS?
By 2027, the cumulative increases mean the minimum retirement pension will rise from P2,200 to P2,928.20, while the average disability pension will increase from P4,963.70 to P6,606.68. Likewise, the maximum retirement pension will grow from P22,137.25 to P29,464.68.
The "240,000 rule" (or $1,000-a-month rule) is a retirement guideline suggesting you need $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of monthly income you want in retirement, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate ($240,000 x 0.05 = $12,000/year or $1,000/month). It's a simple way to estimate savings needs, but it doesn't account for inflation, taxes, market volatility, or other income sources like Social Security, making it a starting point, not a complete plan.
What happens to my SSAS if I die? If you die before reaching the age of 75, any pension savings remaining in your SSAS can generally be paid in the form of a lump sum or a pension to your loved ones. If the lump sum is paid within two years of your death, it can be paid free of income tax.
The 4% rule is a retirement guideline suggesting you can withdraw 4% of your initial retirement savings in the first year, then adjust that dollar amount for inflation annually, with a high chance your money lasts 30 years. Developed by William Bengen, it assumes a balanced 50/50 stock/bond portfolio but doesn't account for taxes or fees and may need adjustments for longer retirements, higher costs, or different investment mixes, with some experts suggesting lower rates (like 3.9%) or dynamic strategies (like guardrails) for modern retirees.
There is always a risk
A SSAS is a “money purchase” pension scheme which simply means that the amount payable on retirement or death is reliant on the size of fund that has built-up for you. This is determined by the amount of contributions paid to your fund and the investment performance they achieve.
From 20 September 2025, the full pension is available, under the assets test, for homeowner singles whose assessable assets are under $321,500 – for homeowner couples the number is $481,500. The numbers for non-homeowners are $579,500 and $739,500 respectively.
For most people, only their spouse can inherit their super this way. While minor children or children who are under 25 and still dependent on you can receive a pension from your super, they have to cash out whatever is left once they get to 25. Older children generally can't have a pension from your super at all.
Bottom line: If you're fired or your employer files for bankruptcy, your pension may still be protected — especially if you're vested. Understanding ERISA rules, vesting schedules, and PBGC coverage can help you keep the retirement income you've earned.