We also help clients plan their financial affairs effectively so their estate reaches their intended beneficiaries on death: the right amounts to the right people at the right time.

Inheritance Tax can be a significant reduction in the monies received by your intended beneficiaries on death.

After a comprehensive review of a client’s financial circumstances, the following courses of action could be actioned to help mitigate Inheritance Tax:

• Ensure your Will* is written and planned correctly
• Consider transferring assets through the prudent use of lifetime gifts
• Create a tax-efficient fund to enable the beneficiaries of an estate to meet the tax liability without disturbing the family wealth. Under IHT legislation, pensions can play a considerable role in estate planning. This stems from two factors:
• Death benefits under modern pension plans are broadly exempt from IHT although a liability to periodic and exit charges can arise in a limited number of circumstances
• Adequate retirement income with spouse or civil partner and dependant’s pensions may release capital for lifetime giving.

Although pension death benefits are broadly exempt from IHT, if they are passed to your survivor they will form part of their estate.

We offer solutions which allow your survivor access to your death benefits without them forming part of their estate.

As a Partner Practice of St. James’s Place, we have access to a service, in conjunction with four leading law firms, which is designed to provide a wide range of differing legal services covering Inheritance Tax, Matrimonial Issues and general tax planning.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.

* Wills and some areas of Inheritance Tax Planning are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Wills and the writing of them is a separate and distinct to those offered by St. James’s Place.