Default beneficiaries set up in the settlor’s lifetime
FlexibleTrusts are similar to a fully Discretionary Trust, except that alongside a wide class of potential beneficiaries, there must be at least one named default beneficiary. Flexible Trusts with default beneficiaries set up in the settlor’s lifetime from 22 March 2006 onwards are treated in exactly the same way as Discretionary Trusts for Inheritance Tax purposes.
These trusts are often used for family protection policies with critical illness or terminal illness benefits in addition to life cover. Split Trusts can be Bare Trusts, Discretionary Trusts or Flexible Trusts with default beneficiaries. When using this type of trust, the settlor/life assured carves out the right to receive any critical illness or terminal illness benefit from the outset, so there aren’t any gift with reservation issues.
Allowing someone to make decisions for you, or act on your behalf
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) enables individuals to take control of decisions that affect them, even in the event that they can’t make those decisions for themselves. Without them, loved ones could be forced to endure a costly and lengthy process to obtain authority to act for an individual who has lost mental capacity.
A key solution to significantly reducing a potential future Inheritance Tax bill
If you have business owner status, or have shares of a business, this will be reflected in the value of your estate. Business Relief is a valuable Inheritance Tax relief for business owners, whether making a lifetime transfer or on death. Business relief is either 50% or 100% on an estate’s business assets. The exact relief amount will depend on the nature of the assets.
Factors likely to have a lasting and positive impact on wealth
Whether you have earned your wealth, inherited it or made shrewd investments, you will want to ensure that as little of it as possible ends up in the hands of HM Revenue & Customs.
Harder to support bigger financial commitments of older generation parents
Many people want to do what they can to ensure they maximise the amount they leave to their family and minimise Inheritance Tax, but working out how much you can afford to give away during your lifetime isn’t easy.
Use your tax-efficient allowance or lose it forever!
Time is running out to take advantage of this year’s Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowances. You get one ISA allowance per tax year. So use it or lose it soon, when the tax year ends on 5 April.
Pre-retirees starting their plans but will rising living costs halt their plans?
Retiring early is a dream for many people and it is achievable for people who have been able to plan, save into a pension over a long period and taken financial advice to help them plan their finances. However, it can become a financial problem if retirement is forced upon people before they have had time to prepare.
Helping you feel confident your family’s finances are secure
With a New Year comes resolutions. Everyone should make a resolution to review their protection and estate plans. A solid plan will help you feel confident your family’s finances are secure.
