ESTATE PLANNING
Plan early. Shape your legacy. Leave more to the people you love.
A legacy with a plan
Passing on wealth well starts with knowing what you need yourself. A will says who gets what. It doesn't tell you how much tax your estate might pay, whether you could afford to help your family sooner, or what happens if your plans change. That is where estate planning comes in.
Estate review
Before we talk about giving anything away, we work out what you are likely to need for the rest of your life, including the things that are hard to predict, such as care costs or living longer than expected. Once you can see that figure, you can see what is truly spare, and decisions about gifting become much easier.
From there, we look at how you want to pass money on. Some people want to help now and see the difference it makes. Others want to keep a say in how the money is used, treat children or grandchildren fairly in different circumstances, or set money aside for something specific such as education or a first home. These are family decisions as much as financial ones, so we take time to understand both.
Whatever you want your wealth to do for the people you care about, we will build a plan around it and keep it under review as your life and the rules change.
Passing on wealth
Sharing wealth today
You want to make sure what you've built passes to your children and grandchildren as you intend.
Leaving a legacy
Your property, pensions and investments mean inheritance tax could take a significant share of your estate.
Estate planning: your questions answered
How much inheritance tax could my family pay?
Inheritance tax is usually charged at 40% on the value of an estate above the available allowances. Everyone has a nil-rate band of £325,000, and a residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000 may apply when your home passes to children or grandchildren. Both are frozen until April 2031, and unused allowances can usually pass to a surviving spouse or civil partner.
Are pensions changing for inheritance tax?
Yes. From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included in your estate for inheritance tax. If a large share of your wealth sits in pensions, now is a good time to review how your estate plan fits together.
Can I give money away to reduce inheritance tax?
Yes, within limits. Some gifts are exempt straight away, such as the £3,000 annual exemption and regular gifts made from surplus income. Larger gifts usually fall outside your estate if you survive seven years. We help you work out what you can afford to give without putting your own future at risk.
How do you charge for your advice?
We believe in complete transparency on cost. Depending on the service you choose, there is an initial advice fee and, for ongoing clients, an annual service fee. We will confirm the exact fees that apply to you in writing before you proceed. Third-party costs, such as platform and fund charges, are separate. You can see our fees in full on our charges page.
