The Book I Wish Existed 30 Years Ago

Of the six books I have written, Property & SSAS Secrets stands apart. 

Not because it is louder. 

Not because it makes unrealistic promises. 

But because it reveals the structural machinery that serious wealth builders quietly use. 

This is the most detailed, commercially honest and eye-opening work I have produced. 

And it remains the only book dedicated solely to the combined power of SSAS pensions and UK property as a scalable wealth engine. 

Not motivation, not theory – but proven mechanics. 

Why I Wrote This Book 

After converting over 4 million square feet of UK commercial property and working inside complex redevelopment, funding and asset structures for more than three decades, one pattern became undeniable. 

The biggest constraint on growth is rarely opportunity. 

It is structure. 

I have seen exceptional projects stall through poor capital design. And average opportunities outperform because the structure behind them was intelligent, patient and tax efficient. 

At the same time, I watched entrepreneurs, founders, directors and investors build pension pots they barely understood – while deploying capital inefficiently elsewhere. 

With £Billions in SSAS pensions in the UK right now, the opportunity to invest and access investment remains one of the major untapped potential in today’s economy. 

That disconnect is why this book exists. 

What is a SSAS Pension? 

A SSAS (Small Self-Administered Scheme) is a UK pension designed specifically for business owners, directors and entrepreneurs. 

You could have set up a SSAS from as early as 1974, hardly a new concept. So riddle me this – why in over three decades of working with IFA’s (and this home truth might remove me off a few Xmas card lists) did not one of them EVER mention this despite announcing repeatedly that they are ‘whole of market’ and other bo**ocks? 

The reality is crystal clear – a SSAS is not a product at all – it is a powerful structure designed for purpose, accountability and action – and like any high-performance vehicle, it needs skill, thought and tenacity.  

But calling it “a pension” undervalues its true capability. 

Used correctly, a SSAS becomes: 

• A controlled pool of long-term capital 

• An ultra tax-efficient investment vehicle 

• A strategic funding partner for business and property 

• A wealth preservation structure, not just a retirement pot 

  
  

Unlike mainstream pensions, a SSAS allows: 

• Direct control over investment decisions 

• Investment into commercial property 

• Strategic lending (including back to connected businesses, when structured correctly) 

• Long-term planning aligned to ownership, not employment 

  
  

In short, it allows you to think like a capital allocator, not a passive saver. 

Most people never explore this territory. Not because it is unavailable – but because no one explains how powerful it can be when designed intelligently.  

Why Property Remains the Ultimate Companion 

Property has always been my arena. 

Commercial. 

Residential. 

Complex conversions. 

Long-term income and regeneration strategies. 

Property offers: 

• Tangible value 

• Predictable cash flow 

• Inflation resilience 

• Strategic leverage 

  
  

But property alone still suffers from one limitation. 

Access to the right capital, at the right time, on the right terms. 

This is where ambition often slows. 

The Real Breakthrough: SSAS + Property 

When SSAS pensions and property are aligned, the game changes. 

You stop asking: 

• “Can I raise the money?” 

• “Will the bank approve this?” 

  
  

And start asking: 

• “How do I structure this intelligently?” 

• “How do I let capital work harder than I do?” 

  
  

This combination has underpinned my approach to: 

• Large-scale commercial conversions 

• Long-term portfolio thinking 

• The strategic ambition to acquire and control £500 million of UK real estate by 2030 

  
  

Not through speculation. Not through shortcuts. 

But through design. 

Scarcity is a Narrative, Not a Constraint 

One of the central challenges in the book is simple: 

Why should scarcity of money inhibit scale? 

The legislation already exists. The structures already exist. The tools are already in place. 

What is missing is clarity – and the willingness to engage with systems most people never explore. 

You really can achieve anything you want in life. 

Not through hustle alone. 

But by understanding the mechanics that operate quietly behind the scenes. 

Why This Book Matters Now 

As capital becomes more selective and markets more institutionalised, the winners will not be the loudest. 

They will be the best structured. 

Property & SSAS Secrets is not a promise of fast results. It is a blueprint for those who want to build something durable, scalable and protected. 

Something Special is Coming 

To open this conversation properly, I am preparing something very special. 

No launch. No selling. 

Just a simple way of sharing what has shaped my own thinking and decisions over the years. 

If this way of approaching capital and structure resonates with you, keep an eye out. 

Some things are offered quietly, and only to those already listening.

If you've made it this far, drop "SSAS Freedom" in the comments below for a Free Wealth Bonus coming up in January.

Own the outcome.

Mark Stokes

Sustainomics Capital