Chris Mead

Have you considered the importance of estate planning?

Many people don’t realise that inheritance tax (IHT) can apply once your estate goes over £325,000, although some people may also benefit from an additional residence nil rate band when passing on a home to direct descendants. This includes property, money, investments, and everyday belongings, and from April 2027, unused pension savings may also form part of your estate for inheritance tax. This can affect how much of your wealth is ultimately passed on to the people who matter most.

Estate planning helps ensure your wishes are followed and that as much of your estate as possible passes to the people you choose. However, the rules around inheritance tax can be complex and lots of people don’t understand how allowances apply or what their tax position will be.

That’s where I can help. I can help you to get a clear picture of the value of your taxable estate, explore ways to manage or reduce any tax liability and put a long-term plan in place that fits your goals and circumstances.

If you’d like to take control of your legacy, let’s talk about how I can support you.

My career spans two disciplines that rarely sit in the same person. I am both a qualified Financial Adviser and an ACCA qualified Accountant with over a decade of commercial finance experience. That combination means I see your whole financial picture, not just the investments, but the tax, the structure, and the long-term strategy.

The reason I became a financial planner is personal. My own finances have been genuinely complex, and working through them led me to take my financial adviser exams, originally just to learn. I quickly realised that many people in similar situations had the means but lacked the confidence to act.

Who I work with
I work with people whose money could be working harder, but who haven’t quite got on top of it.

• High earners: Pension allowances, tax efficiency, and a strategy that aims to maximise what you keep and what you grow.
• Business owners and directors: Optimising wealth extraction, pension planning, and bringing order to finances that have too often come second to the business.
• Expats: Cross-border complexity is something I’ve navigated personally. I help overseas nationals and returning British nationals through the tax and pension complications.

Senior professionals and managers: Those with equity compensation, RSUs, options and LTIPs, where planning needs to reflect the full picture.

How I work
Every client starts with a proper conversation. I take the time to listen and understand your entire situation, asking the right questions to build a full picture before making any recommendations. I build plans that account for everything, not just the straightforward parts. And the relationship does not end there. I work with clients on an ongoing basis, because your plan should evolve as your life does.

Outside of work
I live in Bristol with my wife. We love travel — extended trips across South East Asia and South America, two years in Italy — as well as food, cooking, and the occasional well-crafted cocktail.