John Kirkwood

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.

Areas I can support you with include:

• Growing and protecting your wealth
• Estate and inheritance tax planning*
• Retirement planning
• Business and succession planning
• Financial protection for life's unexpected turns
• No question is too small, and no goal is too ambitious, so I'm always happy to talk things through if you're not sure.

Outside of work, my main interests revolve around aeroplanes and cricket. When I’m not with clients, you’ll likely find me near one or the other. If you’re looking for someone who can bring structure to your financial circumstances, and help make things easy to understand in an empathetic way, I’d be glad to chat.

*Succession planning, Estate and inheritance tax planning is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.