Balance Briefing: May 2026
Estate planning & protecting family wealth
Passing on wealth well is rarely just about tax. It is often about protecting family outcomes, maintaining control, and ensuring the wealth you have built is transferred as you intend.
In this month’s Balance Briefing, Chartered Financial Planner Sarah Coulson explores the inheritance tax changes introduced in April 2026, including updates to business and agricultural reliefs, frozen inheritance tax thresholds, and the pension changes due from April 2027.
Inside this month’s update
This short 6-minute video explains what the recent inheritance tax changes mean in practice — and why estate planning is becoming an increasingly important part of long-term financial planning.
If you are thinking about how wealth passes to the next generation, this briefing offers a helpful starting point.
What stands out this month
Estate plans can quietly drift out of date
If legislation changes, allowances remain frozen, and family circumstances evolve, even well-structured plans benefit from regular review.
Liquidity matters as much as the tax bill
Inheritance tax is often due before assets can be easily accessed. Having enough available liquidity can help avoid unnecessary pressure or forced sales.
Planning early creates more options
Gifting strategies, ownership structures, pension planning, and succession arrangements are often more effective when reviewed gradually rather than reactively.
Pensions are becoming a more important planning consideration
With unused pensions expected to fall within estates from April 2027, retirement and legacy planning may increasingly need to work together.
Estate planning is rarely about reacting quickly.
More often, it comes from creating clarity early, preserving flexibility over time, and ensuring wealth passes in the way you intend.
Our downloadable Legacy Guide expands on the recent Inheritance Tax changes covered in this month’s briefing, along with practical planning considerations and key areas worth reviewing over time.
The next steps
Inheritance tax planning is not only about reducing tax — it is about ensuring your wealth supports the people and outcomes that matter most to you.
Whether you are reviewing your Will, considering gifting strategies, or thinking about how future pension changes may affect your family, understanding your options early can make a significant difference.
If you would like to explore how your estate planning is positioned, we would be very happy to help with an initial clarity call.
Please note: This update is not financial advice and is provided for information only. You should not take any action before speaking to a Financial Planner, who will confirm what suits you. Past performance is no guarantee of what will happen in the future.