Take out an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) on all family members over 18 by October 2007
If an individual loses their decision making abilities prior to age 18 then they fall under the jurisdiction of their next of kin. Once an individual achieves the age of 18 then in the event of losing decision making abilities they fall under the jurisdiction of the Court of Protection. Having heard first hand stories of this latter scenario I suggest an EPA is written. By completing this document you are placing the decision making process with individuals you trust and know whilst leaving the bureaucracy and likely £3000 annual costs to the people who don’t bother.

From October 2007 EPA’s will be replaced by Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA’s), although existing EPA’s will continue to be valid. An EPA enables someone to deal with your financial affairs; but in addition with an LPA they will be able to make health and welfare decisions on your behalf. It is likely that LPA’s will be considerably more expensive to create than EPA’s as there will be a system of compulsory registration. We therefore recommend that any individual considers granting an EPA before October 2007. The cost to have an EPA written is between £35 to £50 per person. Should you wish to have one written please send your contact details and I will arrange for a form to be sent to you.

Insure without commissions
We discount commissions on all variety of products/policies. With life assurance and income protection policies this is in exchange for a one off fee often saving the policy holder thousands of £’s over the course of the contract.

Invest without initial commissions
Our first choice investment in the UK stockmarket has a 5% initial charge on each unit purchased. We can obtain a discount of 5% giving clients every possible opportunity of making a profit. We can do this with many different funds and products and regularly do so for our clients.

Protect your assets against Inheritance Tax and Community Care Tax
No couple in the UK should have to worry about Inheritance Tax unless their joint estate is over £570000 (2006/2007) or over £600000 post 6th April 2007. By writing their Wills correctly they can make use of each of their Nil Rate bands (the amount of capital any individual can pass on to the next generation without paying IHT) without impairing the surviving spouse’s standard of living. (also protecting as much as half of the estate against Community Care Taxes) We advise about whom you should employ to write your Will.

Dissolve your total IHT liability in two years with a capital guarantee to the beneficiaries.
There is a unique product on the market that enables an individual or a couple to invest capital into a product that is treated as outside of their estate for IHT purposes after two years. They still have access to the capital if needs must and they know that at death the beneficiaries receive at least the capital sum invested or the market value of the product whichever is the greater sum guaranteed. Again please contact us for further information and we can discount the initial commission.