Estate planning – making plans to protect your family’s financial future
In addition to organising your finances to ensure your assets are protected for your loved ones on your death, estate planning also encompasses ensuring you have enough money to live on; it is a tenuous balance for many. A good starting point is obtaining a comprehensive view of your assets, to assess the value of your estate and ensuring you have the right documentation in place, such as Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and the formation of any relevant trusts.
To establish the value of your estate; calculate the total worth of your assets, including your home, any other property, money and savings, shares and investments, business equity, cars, jewellery and other personal possessions. To determine the value of non-monetary assets, apply a realistic market value. Then deduct debts and liabilities, including any outstanding bills, mortgage debt, loans, credit cards, overdrafts, and funeral expenses.
Wills, trusts and LPA
Once you’ve valued your estate, outlining a clear plan detailing your wishes about how you want your estate managed upon your death, will ensure that when the person looking after your estate applies for probate they will know what your wishes were. Vital components of successful estate planning include having a valid Will in place and setting up trusts to manage money or other assets on behalf of beneficiaries. There are various types of trusts which provide an alternative to direct inheritance or transfer of certain parts of an estate, giving you control over who receives what and when. Lasting powers of attorney, covering ‘health and welfare’ and ‘property and financial affairs’ are worth establishing at an early stage.
IHT
Estate planning can reduce the amount of IHT payable, enabling you to pass on assets to your family as intended. For individuals, the current IHT nil-rate threshold is £325,000 and £650,000 for a married couple or civil partners. Any unused portion of the nil-rate band can be passed to a surviving spouse or civil partner on death. Beyond these thresholds, IHT is usually payable at a rate of 40%.
A main residence nil-rate band applies if you want to pass your main residence to a direct descendant. For the current tax year, this allowance is £175,000 for individuals and £350,000 for a married couple or civil partners. Added to the existing threshold of £325,000 this could give rise to an overall IHT allowance of £500,000 for individuals, or £1m for those who are married or in civil partnerships. It is important to note that larger estates will find that residence relief is tapered, reducing by £1 for every £2 by which the net estate’s value exceeds £2m.
Gifting from surplus income is a simple way of passing money to the next generation. Conditions apply, and advice would be needed to ensure that the gifts are made in the right way.
We can help
We can advise you, to ensure your money ends up with the people you want, for the reasons you choose. We can help you to pass on assets in the most effective way, and work with you to reduce your IHT liability.
The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate will writing, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and some forms of tax advice.