A Family Investment Company (FIC) is a purpose-built company designed to distribute and control family wealth. In today’s episode, Joel speaks with David Denton, Head of Technical at Quilter Cheviot, a discretionary investment management firm, to explore the details of a Family Investment Company.
We also discussed how changes in the budget from last October have brought estate planning into sharper focus. At a high level, we covered what FICs are, the types of clients who typically use them, and the rules regarding Inheritance Tax (IHT), along with the specific advantages FICs offer for IHT planning.
The conversation delved into whether FICs are a new phenomenon and the recent resurgence of interest in them. We examined how FICs interact with trusts, whether they compete with or complement one another, and discussed the practicalities of setting up an FIC, including who typically establishes them.
Additionally, we looked at the ability of FICs to hold property, the potential to convert existing companies into FICs, and best practices for managing investments within them.