While there are no immediate plans for the Apex Bakery owners Brian and twins David and Jon to retire, they’re also not concerned about current or future financial pressures.

According to a study launch in Adelaide by RMIT University, business owners have been forced to shelve their retirement plans, throwing succession plans into disarray.

The study reveals of the two million family businesses operating in Australia and collectively worth $1.5trillion, many of these families have been affected by the global financial crises.

For Brian ‘Nipper’ Fechner, he has never worried about superannuation.

“Something my grandfather told me is don’t lean on the past and not to plan for the future because it never turns out the way you expected,” he said.

“Live for today,” Mr Fechner added.

While the study also revealed concerns over younger generations taking on the business, Mr Fechner explained he would be grateful for the family to come onboard.

“We are up to fourth generation Fechners, starting from my father Keith ‘Chiney’, aged 96 down to our grandchildren”.

The story of Apex Bakery starts with Albert Hoffmann opening the business in 1924.

Soon after Keith joined the bakery while also working various other jobs including Orlando.

It was in 1948 when Keith took over from Albert, and in 1982 Brian worked under his father.

Today, Brian’s son Corey and David’s son Josh are both involved in the business.

Brian added it has been “the good Lord,” which has given him and his family good health.

He explained how the four generation Fechner families recently joined for a family celebration with the members remarking how they have been fortunate to have no unexpected deaths or serious illnesses.