Trusts

5 Financial Planning Conversations for you and your Family

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Discussing finances can evoke anxiety or discomfort, and this tension doesn’t ease when family members are involved..

How can you make financial planning conversations go smoothly?

  • Your Estate

Discussing who will inherit will help you avoid future disagreements, ensure your Will is up to date and minimise inheritance tax liabilities

  • Succession Planning

Building a succession plan that suits your needs ensures you have laid the firm foundations for your family’s future

  • Lifetime Gifting

It’s possible to gift tax-efficiently during your lifetime using various allowances and exemptions

  • When I’m gone Information

Discuss where you’ll safely leave basic details of your bank accounts, savings, investments, and utility providers

  • Power of Attorney

You can put in place a power of attorney, a legal document enabling you to name one or more people to look after your affairs if you lose capacity

If you would like to discuss your family’s financial future and how we can help, please get in contact

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After Retirement – helping your loved ones

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Your financial adviser will have helped you plan a secure retirement lifestyle and naturally your thoughts will now be turning to how you can help your family now and in the future. Your adviser will guide you through key stages including 

  • Estate planning 
  • Legislation changes and their impact 
  • Tax implications 
  • Gifting 
  • The role of Wills, Trusts and Lasting Powers of Attorneys 

Your adviser’s role is to ensure you enjoy your retirement and bring expertise into successfully passing on your wealth in the right stages. 

If you would like to discuss your and your family’s financial future, please get in touch.

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Financial Planning conversations you need to have

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Protecting your legacy and boosting your children’s financial security

Discussing finances can evoke anxiety or discomfort, and this tension doesn’t ease when family members are involved. Nevertheless, parents of adult children are responsible for discussing their financial future – particularly retirement and estate planning. Doing so ensures their children can provide support or fulfil their wishes as needed.

Open conversations can provide financial planning opportunities and improve your loved one’s future finances. The sooner you talk about money, the better your chances are of protecting your legacy and boosting your children’s financial security.

How can you make financial planning conversations go smoothly?

Your Estate

Let’s begin with inheritance, which is a hugely emotive subject. While discussing who will inherit a portion of your estate after you have passed away might seem difficult, doing so could prevent future difficulties or disagreements.You can explain your plans and why you have made certain decisions. This could also provide an opportunity to consider if your will needs updating. For example, you might need to amend your will to ensure your estate can benefit from the residence nil-rate band, which could reduce your estate’s Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill.

Lifetime Gifting

Although you’ll want to avoid giving away money that you might need in the future – towards care costs, for example – you might wish to consider passing on some wealth to future generations within your lifetime. Using pensions,Trusts, and life assurance are just some ways you can do this.This can be complicated, but we can work with you to give you peace of mind that you’ve laid the firmest foundation for your family’s future.

It’s possible to gift tax-efficiently during your lifetime using various allowances and exemptions. For instance, you can give away up to £3,000 per year free from IHT. Additionally, you can make small gifts, such as potentially exempt transfers (PETs), become exempt from IHT if you live for at least a further seven years after making the gift.

Power of Attorney

Dealing with a deterioration in mental capacity can be particularly tough on your family. If you can no longer make decisions for yourself, you’ll want to ensure someone you trust is legally in this position. You can put in place a power of attorney, a legal document enabling you to name one or more people to look after your affairs if you lose capacity.Without this document, an application must be made to the Court of Protection (the sheriff court in Scotland), which can be a complex, costly, and lengthy process for your loved ones.

“When I’m gone” Information

Discuss where you’ll safely leave basic details of your bank accounts, savings, investments, and utility providers. Compiling a list of this information is time well spent and could be invaluable to your family if you lose capacity or pass away. Talking to your family about inheritance might seem difficult, but we can help start the conversation and guide your through what may be an emotional process.

Succession Planning

Building a succession plan that suits your needs ensures you have laid the firm foundations for your family’s future. It’s crucial to regularly review and update this plan to adapt to any changes in your personal circumstances or legislation. The planning process leads to understanding each family member’s motivations and personal drivers. This will enable you to assess the direction of your vision and the options available to your family to create a plan for your family’s future.

Will you have a financially secure and fulfilling retirement?

Please contact us for more comprehensive advice on managing your family’s financial future, including estate planning, lifetime gifting, and setting up a power of attorney. We’ll assist you in navigating these challenging discussions and ensuring your financial legacy is secure.

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Free Guide: Estate Planning

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What is the importance of estate planning?

Estate planning is about more than just tax. It is about making sure the people left behind are financially supported, that your assets are protected and that the tax your estate pays is fair.

Wealth preservation and wealth transfer are becoming an increasingly important issue for many families today.

Your estate consists of everything you own. This includes savings, investments, pensions, property, life insurance (not written in an appropriate trust) and personal possessions. Debts and liabilities are subtracted from the total value of all assets

There are various ways to legally avoid paying inheritance tax and we have produced a free Estate Planning guide to support you with Inheritance Tax Planning: Download Here

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Why do I need a Lasting Power of Attorney?

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It is critical to consider the potential consequences of not having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place. Many people assume that their loved ones or close relatives will automatically have the authority to make decisions on their behalf. However, this is not the case, and without an LPA, those close to you will not have the legal authority to handle your financial affairs, health decisions and welfare.

Setting up an LPA is vital to ensure that you have a trusted individual who can manage your affairs when you are no longer able to do so yourself. It is essential to think about these scenarios in advance and plan accordingly by setting up an LPA. This legal document will ensure that your wishes are respected and carried out, regardless of your capacity to make sound decisions.

What is an LPA?

Despite the fact that 95% of UK adults are aware of LPAs, a recent study has revealed that only one in three (33%) actually know how to use it effectively, leaving a considerable proportion at risk of costly and time-consuming measures if they were to lose their spouse [1].

An LPA is a legal document that enables you to delegate decision-making authority to one or more trusted individuals to manage your financial matters, property affairs, health and welfare. You can set up an LPA at any time, provided you meet the age requirement of 18 years and have the mental capacity to make sound decisions.

LPA benefits

There are several benefits to having an LPA, including assistance in temporary situations such as hospitalisation or travel abroad, where you may need help with daily tasks like paying bills. It is also beneficial in long-term situations where you want to plan for the unexpected or have been diagnosed with an illness like dementia that may affect your decision-making abilities in the future.

According to the research, although three-quarters (74%) of Britons deem an LPA necessary, only 37% of them have actually put it in place. In contrast, around three-quarters (76%) of people in relationships have discussed Wills and Trusts with their spouse.

Same-sex married couples

The research also highlighted that less than half (41%) of married couples have enacted LPA, and a quarter (24%) have no plans for doing so, which suggests that many couples view this measure as unnecessary, and often mistakenly believe that LPA is automatically granted to married couples.

Notably, this issue disproportionately affects same-sex married couples, where awareness of the importance of LPA is higher than the population average (87% compared to 76%), but uptake is lower (30% compared to 41%).

Estate Planning Services

Do you need advice and expertise on every aspect of your estate? We understand the importance of putting the right planning in place for the future. We’ll help you organise your affairs and plan for the future. To find out more, speak to us today.

Source data: [1] https://adviser.scottishwidows.co.uk/assets/literature/docs/2023-03-power-of-attorney.pdf

Important information: This article does not constitute tax or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. For guidance, seek professional advice. Powers of attorney/will writing and trusts are not regulated by the financial conduct authority.

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Talking about inheritance

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Time to talk: Have you talked about your Will?

  • 57% of parents haven’t spoken to their adult children about their Will
  • 24% of adults haven’t discussed making a Will with their partner or spouse
  • 49% of adults admit talking long-term finances with family is difficult
  • of parents feel responsible for their children’s financial wellbeing if they were to pass

If you would like to speak to one of our Estate Planning Specialists on making a Will, then please get in touch.

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Writing a Will

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Statistics show that 22% of adults aged 75 years and above have no will, along with 39% aged between 65 and 74.

Having a Will in place is essential to ensure your estate is passed down to who you want it to. If you would like more information and guidance on making a Will, please get in touch.

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Wills and Inheritance Tax

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Wealth transfer has become an important issue for many families today. Individuals with assets of any size should prepare for their eventual transfer whilst making provision for any tax or legal consequences.

But more than half of parents (57%) haven’t spoken to their adult children about their Will, according to new research[1]. Nearly a quarter (24%) of adults haven’t discussed making a Will with their partner or spouse, while almost a third (31%) were unsure if they understood the long-term benefits of putting their assets into a trust or finalising a Will.

Long-term finances

The survey also revealed one in two (49%) adults admit that talking about long-term finances, especially in the event of death, with family members is difficult. When it comes to discussing Wills and trusts with adult children or dependents, over two-thirds (69%) of parents say they feel responsible for the financial wellbeing of their children if they were to pass away.

Despite this, 57% admitted they haven’t talked to their children about long-term finances, while nearly one in ten (9%) parents said they weren’t sure how to approach the topic. The survey finds 47% of people have their children down as a beneficiary of their Will – higher than other forms of support, such as a deposit for a house or flat (19%), a savings pot with regular contributions (16%), or covering the cost of transport, such as a car (15%).

Minimal Inheritance Tax

Parents and guardians should make formal arrangements so that, upon their death, the appropriate plans are in place to ensure the people they wish to benefit from their estate will do so, with the estate settled as quickly as possible and with minimal Inheritance Tax.

If there is no Will, the deceased’s estate will be distributed under the terms of law, which may not align with their loved one’s wishes. Receiving the right professional advice and setting up a financial plan can ensure you are best able to look after your family when the time comes.

Giving peace of mind

With so many different options, it can be overwhelming. The research found that two-thirds of adults (69%) understand the long-term benefits of finalising trusts and Wills, but that still leaves many who don’t.

It’s important to have plans in place to protect your assets and loved ones, today and in the future. It might be difficult to think about, but it ensures your wishes will be met, giving you peace of mind. The outcome of not having a Will or trust in place can be costly – so knowing the difference between Wills and trusts, and putting them in place appropriately, can provide vital benefits.

Wealth and assets

When looking to leave assets to family members, Inheritance Tax is a key consideration. Effective estate planning can help in ensuring your wealth and assets go to your loved ones. By setting up a trust you can effectively put the money outside of your estate, which could be efficient for Inheritance Tax purposes.

Assets held within a trust do not usually form part of your estate upon death, provided that you live for seven years after placing the assets into trust. Therefore, it’s likely they won’t be liable to Inheritance Tax.

Understanding the options

Effective estate preservation planning could save a family a potential Inheritance Tax bill amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Inheritance Tax planning has become more important than ever, following the government’s decision to freeze the £325,000 lifetime exemption until April 2028, with inflation eroding its value every year and subjecting more families to Inheritance Tax.

Over half of Britons (57%) believe it’s important to seek financial advice when it comes to long-term financial planning, which is absolutely right. Seeking advice from a professional ensures you fully understand the options available, and recommendations are made in line with your requirements, giving you peace of mind.

Inheritance tax planning services

Are you looking to pass on more of your wealth in the most tax-efficient way? We all have different objectives in life and need different strategies to help achieve them. We can help you build a strategy that provides financial support to your family and helps you pass on more of your wealth in the most tax-efficient way – please get in touch with us for more information on our estate planning and inheritance tax planning services.

Source data: [1] The research was conducted by Opinium Research and surveyed 2,000 UK adults between September 5-13, 2022.

Important Information: Inheritance Tax planning is a highly complex area of financial planning. Information provided and any opinions expressed are for general guidance only and not personal to your circumstances, nor are intended to provide specific advice. Professional financial advice should be obtained before taking any action. Inheritance Tax planning is a highly complex area of financial planning. The financial conduct authority does not regulate Inheritance Tax planning.

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Benefits of setting up a trust

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Trusts have many benefits such as enabling you to pass your assets directly to your chosen beneficiaries. To start your estate planning journey, please get in touch.

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Setting up a trust

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A trust is a way to place assets in the hands of a trusted third party to hold for the benefit of others. Mark Chandler, Head of Estate Planning, explains what a trust is, when to establish one and what the benefits are.

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