Family Investment Companies (FICs) in 2026 - Structuring, Pitfalls & HMRC Challenges

Introduction

Family Investment Companies (FICs) continue to play a central role in modern wealth and estate planning, but the landscape has evolved rapidly. With increased HMRC scrutiny, new case law and shifting tax dynamics, advisers must stay ahead of both opportunities and risks.

This new virtual classroom seminar explores how FICs are being structured and managed in 2026, comparing their effectiveness with traditional trusts and highlighting key compliance challenges.

Through expert insights and practical case studies, you will learn how to design, operate and defend FIC structures confidently in today’s regulatory environment.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• Setting the Scene
• Evolution of FICs post-2020
• Key drivers for FIC use in modern family wealth planning
• HMRC guidance overview and risk areas
• Comparison: FICs vs. Discretionary / Interest-in-Possession Trusts
• Structuring a FIC in 2026
• Share classes: Growth vs. Freezer vs. Income shares
• Voting rights, shareholder agreements, exit strategies
• Non-resident family members and cross-border considerations
• Tax-efficient dividend and interest planning
• HMRC Challenges and Common Pitfalls
• HMRC risk areas: income vs. capital classification, disguised gifts, s.859A challenges
• Lessons from recent tribunals and settlements
• Avoiding accidental IHT triggers and anti-avoidance pitfalls
• Documentation and governance: why compliance matters
• FICs vs. Trusts: Strategic Comparisons
• Advantages and limitations of FICs vs. traditional Discretionary or Interest-in-Possession Trusts
• When a trust is better: flexibility, asset protection, or regulatory simplicity
• Hybrid approaches: combining FICs with Trust structures
• Case Studies
• Practical examples of multi-family FICs, business-asset transfers, succession planning
• Lessons from FIC disputes and HMRC challenges

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.