Tax Planning
What makes whole of life cover so powerful is that it creates a known solution to an unknown problem. While none of us can predict when we’ll pass away, many of us can forecast the financial consequences that will follow.
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Unlike ISAs or pensions, investment bonds are not commonly discussed at dinner tables or cited in mainstream financial coverage. But for many investors, they offer a tax-deferral mechanism that, when paired with careful planning, can significantly shape long-term outcomes.
ISAs are for rainy-day funds or cautious savers. But they’re also one of the most flexible and tax-efficient vehicles available in the UK, capable of supporting everything from first-home ownership to long-term investment growth and retirement planning. And because the allowance resets every April, how you use it — or fail to — can have a cumulative impact on your financial outcomes for years to come.
What makes AIM especially relevant to inheritance tax planning is that many of its listed shares qualify for Business Relief (BR). This is a powerful exemption under UK tax law that allows certain business assets — including AIM shares held for at least two years — to be passed on free from inheritance tax.
The nil rate band and residence nil rate band exemptions determine how much of an estate can pass tax-free to beneficiaries. While the nil rate band has been fixed at £325,000 since 2009, the residence nil rate band adds an additional allowance when a home is passed to direct descendants, subject to certain conditions.
When approached deliberately, tax efficiency becomes a way to strengthen your portfolio from the inside out—preserving more of what you earn and bringing your long-term goals closer without unnecessary compromise.
A will answers one of the most important questions in estate planning: what happens to everything you’ve built—your assets, responsibilities, and personal wishes—when you’re no longer here to make those decisions yourself.
Annuities promise a steady stream of income, but they don’t promise a tax-free one. How much tax you’ll pay—and whether you could be keeping more of your money—depends on where the annuity was funded from and how HMRC classifies the income.
At their core, VCTs operate similarly to investment funds, pooling capital from investors to acquire stakes in a portfolio of qualifying companies. Unlike traditional equity investments, however, VCTs focus exclusively on businesses that meet strict eligibility criteria set by HMRC.
Introduced to protect businesses from the disruption of inheritance tax, BPR ensures that family-owned enterprises and certain business investments can be transferred to heirs without triggering excessive tax liabilities.
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Note: This page is for information purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. Always consult an Independent Financial Adviser for personalised financial advice tailored to your individual circumstances.