For most people, estate planning is about protecting wealth, leaving a legacy for future generations or charities and mitigating inheritance tax (IHT).

There are several very straightforward ways in which liability associated with your estate may be managed to help ensure that a greater proportion of your accumulated wealth ultimately passes to your family members and/or a charity. The motivation for most people is typically to ensure a greater proportion of their estate cascades down through the generations rather than being used to meet a tax liability that, in hindsight, could otherwise have been mitigated through careful planning of their affairs.

The starting point is to accurately calculate the IHT liability based upon your current circumstances. This will then form the basis of any discussion on the options available to you and your family. 

Once we have prepared an accurate IHT computation, it is then also important to understand your overall aspirations and concerns; and to recognise the interplay between estate planning and the other areas of your financial planning, including supporting your family, possibly through gifting, and meeting your own aspirations during your lifetime.

There are many tactics that can be employed to help you plan your affairs so as to meet your objectives in a tax efficient manner, including the use of trusts, pensions, investments, and life assurance. However, it is often the case that the simplest approach is the most effective. So, it is important to not overlook the straightforward advice, such as making a will or using exempt gifts.

Expert advice on estate planning pays dividends in the long run. In our team, we have a Chartered Financial Planner who is qualified as a Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner, one of the few financial advisers to hold both qualifications.

We offer a confidential exploratory discussion, without charge or obligation, to discuss your circumstances and establish whether we can add value through professional advice. In the meantime, you are welcome to download our free guide on Exempt Gifts.

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Some scenarios we can help you with:

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