Inheritance Tax & Trust Planning Advice
Inheritance Tax & Trust Planning Advice
Trusts can play a valuable role in inheritance tax planning, but only when they fit comfortably within a wider financial plan.
At Howard Wright, we help clients decide whether trust planning is appropriate, how it could be structured, and how it would sit alongside their income, lifestyle and long‑term objectives. Trusts are never treated as a default solution and are never considered in isolation.
Sometimes the right advice is to proceed carefully. Sometimes it’s to wait. And sometimes it’s to rule trust planning out entirely.
Where trust planning is appropriate, we advise on a range of established trust structures and help clients identify which options may be suitable as part of their wider financial plan.
These commonly include bare (or absolute) trusts, discretionary trusts, discounted gift trusts, loan trusts and revisionary trusts.
How We Help with Trust Planning for Inheritance Tax
Trust planning with Howard Wright is usually part of an ongoing financial planning relationship.
We help clients by first understanding the bigger picture, not just the inheritance tax position, but how their assets are being used today and what they are needed for in the future. From there, we assess whether trust planning is appropriate at all.
Where it is, we ensure it fits sensibly alongside other elements of your plan rather than creating unnecessary restriction or complexity.
How Trusts Fit into Inheritance Tax Planning
Inheritance tax is only one part of effective financial planning.
Our clients typically have plans in place that focus on maintaining income, flexibility and financial security over the long term. Trust planning must support those objectives, not undermine them.
For that reason, trusts are usually considered only after more fundamental questions have been addressed, such as how much income you need, how much flexibility you want to retain, and what level of financial security you are comfortable with.
Do I Have Enough Surplus Capital to Use a Trust?
One of the most important questions when considering trust planning is whether you have sufficient surplus capital.
Although an inheritance tax liability may exist, many people still need their capital to:
- Support their income needs
- Maintain lifestyle flexibility
- Provide reassurance against future uncertainty
Placing assets into the wrong trust too early, can compromise those priorities. Our advice always puts your own financial security first, even if that means delaying or avoiding trust planning.
When Trust Planning Might Be Suitable
Trusts are most commonly explored where clients want to pass wealth on during their lifetime, but prefer not to do so outright.
They can be useful where there is a desire for structure, protection or flexibility; for example where beneficiaries are younger, vulnerable, or where access to funds needs to be managed carefully. There are even some trust structures that allow you to maintain access to capital or income should you need it in later life for your own needs.
That said, trust planning is never assumed to be the best answer. We help clients weigh trusts against other options and consider whether a simpler solution may be more appropriate.
Trust Advice and Ongoing Inheritance Tax Planning
Where trust planning is suitable, we provide advice and ongoing support across the full planning process.
This includes advising on appropriate trust structures, coordinating implementation with solicitors or providers, and ensuring the trust integrates properly with your wider financial plan. Trust arrangements are then reviewed regularly to ensure they remain appropriate as circumstances, priorities and legislation change.
Our role is not to introduce complexity, but to ensure that any trust planning remains measured, proportionate and aligned over time.
What to do next?
To discuss Inheritance Tax and Trust Planning with one of our Chartered Advisers, you can call us on 0345 688 4939 or fill in our enquiry form below; it only takes 20 seconds to complete.
Once you have done this, one of our Chartered Financial Planners will then contact you as soon as possible to discuss our planning process and how we can help you achieve your goals and objectives.
Learn More About Trusts and Inheritance Tax Planning
For clients who would like to explore trust planning in more detail, we’ve created an inheritance tax mini‑series that explains gifting and trusts in clear, plain English.
This page focuses on how we help. The articles are available if you’d like additional background.
Speak to a Financial Planner About Inheritance Tax and Trust Planning
If you’ve been introduced to us by a trusted friend, family member or professional connection, or if our approach resonates we’d be happy to talk.
An initial conversation is simply an opportunity to understand your situation and explore whether trust planning has a role to play within your wider financial plan.
Please feel free to get in touch using the details below. There’s no pressure just a calm, thoughtful conversation.
Testimonials
Contact Our Team
Call Us
Visit Us
Oaktree Rise
Codsall
WV8 1DT
