William Murray

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.

I work with clients to create financial strategies that are clear, practical, and flexible; plans that adapt as life changes, while still giving confidence for the future. My role is to make the complex simple and to help clients feel secure in the knowledge that they have a plan designed around their goals. Clients often tell me they value the way I cut through jargon, explain options plainly, and deliver advice that feels both personal and forward-looking.

With a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning from the Chartered Insurance Institute (DipPFS), my approach is shaped by more than 20 years as a Royal Navy senior operations officer and helicopter pilot. My naval career focused on strategic planning and complex operations, where I learned to manage risk, align people and resources, and deliver long-term objectives under pressure. These skills now underpin my financial planning - bringing precision, foresight, and a commitment to helping clients achieve their goals as their needs and priorities change over time. In practice, this means tailoring advice across the areas that matter most:

• Investments - Building portfolios aligned to your goals, risk profile, and timescale. Good investment planning is not about chasing the latest trend, but about creating long-term growth and financial security.
• Wealth protection - Ensuring that hard-earned wealth is preserved and passed on efficiently. This includes structuring assets, using trusts where appropriate, and planning for intergenerational transfers so that families can protect and enjoy their wealth across generations.
• Personal and family protection - Putting safeguards in place against life’s uncertainties. From income protection to life cover, I help ensure that families and businesses are financially secure, whatever the circumstances.
• Tax efficiency - Making the most of allowances and structures to reduce unnecessary tax burdens and keep more of your money working towards your objectives.
• Retirement planning - Helping clients not only reach retirement but enjoy it with confidence, ensuring income is sustainable, flexible, and structured to support their lifestyle throughout later life.

Backed by Quilter’s expertise, resources, and rigorous compliance framework, I provide advice that combines the strength of a leading financial planning network with the personal attention of a long-term adviser relationship.

Outside of work, I live in Somerset with my wife and two sons. I enjoy sailing, cycling, and running, and I recently rediscovered my love of singing after a 30 year break, and now perform with a number of choirs in the region. Family life, community involvement, and time outdoors are central to who I am, and they shape the balanced perspective I bring to my work with clients.