Resources

Atticus Financial Planning Guide to Inheritance Tax and Estate Planning

Your Guide to Inheritance Tax & Estate Planning

"For some people, the purpose of working hard and building up an estate is to pass it on to the next generations, giving them a financial push start that will hopefully allow them to fulfil their dreams and lead a better quality of life; free from some of the struggles and worries that they themselves had to overcome. It’s often about knowing that they have given their loved ones the best possible chance of succeeding.

It therefore comes as a shock for many of them that they may have to pay a substantial portion of that estate to HMRC upon their death. This is a bitter pill to swallow, especially when they have diligently paid their taxes every single year of their adult working life."

This guide covers the following topics:

What is Inheritance Tax?
Who Pays the Inheritance Tax?
What is the Nil Rate Band?
What is the Residential Nil Rate Band?
Estate planning tools
- Why should I make a will?
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Exemptions & reliefs
- Gifts to reduce your IHT liability
- Types of trust arrangements
- Purpose built trusts
- Business Property Relief Qualifying Investments
- Whole of Life Insurance
Step by step estate planning & IHT mitigation

PDF

We have two other guides available on subjects that many of our clients find helpful. If you are interested in more, please complete the form below and we will send you the latest versions of all three guides straight to your inbox.

Your Guide to Investments

Investing can feel confusing at first. Especially if you have never done it before. You might worry about getting it wrong, or feel like everyone else understands something you do not. That is completely normal.

The truth is simpler than you think. Investing is just about putting your money to work for your future. It is how most people build the wealth they need to live the life they want. Whether that is paying for education, buying a home, or enjoying a comfortable retirement.

This guide is written in plain English. No jargon. No pretending to be clever. Just honest explanations of how investing works, what you need to know, and why getting help matters.

This guide covers the following topics:

What Investing Actually Means
Risk and Reward
Types of Investments Explained Simply
Building a Balanced Portfolio
Active vs Passive Investing
Common Mistakes and Emotional Pitfalls
Why Professional Advice Makes a Real Difference
Key Questions Before You Invest

Download Guide

Tax Efficient Investments including ISAs

An ISA is a medium to long term investment, which aims to increase the value of the money you invest for growth or income or both. The value of your investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise. You may not get back the amount you invested. The value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested. Tax concessions are not guaranteed and may change in the future. Tax free means the investor pays no tax.

Your Guide to Inheritance Tax

Understanding inheritance tax can feel daunting. The rules seem complicated, the numbers feel large, and it's easy to wonder whether this is something you actually need to worry about. But here's the thing: inheritance tax affects far more families than most people realise. And the good news is that with a bit of knowledge and the right guidance, you can take meaningful steps to help protect what you've worked hard to build.

This guide is designed to help you understand inheritance tax in plain language. We've avoided the jargon where we can, and explained it clearly where we can't. Our goal is to give you a solid foundation so that when you do speak with a professional adviser, you'll feel confident and informed.

This guide covers the following topics:

What is Inheritance Tax? Why Does It Matter?
The Nil-Rate Band Explained
How is Inheritance Tax Calculated?
Gifts and Exemptions
Inheritance Tax Planning and [...]
- Trusts
- Business and Agricultural Relief
- Life Insurance
- Pensions
The Importance of a Valid, Up-to-Date Will
Six Common Inheritance Tax Planning Mistakes
Why Professional Advice Makes a Real Difference
Key Questions About Your Estate

Download Guide

IHT and Estate Planning

HM Revenue and Customs practice and the law relating to taxation are complex and subject to individual circumstances and changes which cannot be foreseen. For specialist tax advice, please refer to an accountant or tax specialist. Tax concessions are not guaranteed and may change in the future. Tax free means the investor pays no tax. Taxation is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Resources

Our guides to starting your journey to financial freedom

Your Guide to Inheritance Tax & Estate Planning

Download your IHT guide...

We have two other guides available on subjects that many of our clients find helpful. If you are interested in more, please complete the form below and we will send you the latest versions of all three guides straight to your inbox.

Your Guide to Investments

Tax Efficient Investments including ISAs

Your Guide to Inheritance Tax

IHT and Estate Planning

Request Your Guides

Mortgages

General (where there is capital at risk)

Non-Regulatory Warning