Business Class UK

16/09/2026

Most people think about passing on wealth in one of two ways: give it away now or leave it in a Will. There's a lesser-known option: a Family Investment Company.

In simple terms, it's a private company structured so that control and value can be separated. Parents or grandparents can retain control over how it's run, while the value sits with the next generation, potentially outside the estate for inheritance tax purposes over time.

If you'd like to know whether this could apply to your situation, send us a message or book your initial consultation.

14/09/2026

Seventy per cent of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation. Ninety per cent lose it by the third.

What's interesting is what actually causes it. It's rarely the tax bill itself. It's a lack of communication between generations, heirs who were never properly prepared to manage what they inherited, and an estate structure that was never put in place while there was still time to do it properly.

The families who avoid this pattern don't have less luck. They started the planning conversation earlier than everyone else.

https://www.soteriatrusts.com/70-lose-wealth-2nd-generation/

04/09/2026

Most of the conversation around the April 2027 pension changes is about how much Inheritance Tax could be paid.

Less attention is being given to how that tax will actually be dealt with — and what that could mean for your family.

From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will come within the scope of Inheritance Tax.

Your personal representatives or executors become responsible for reporting and paying any inheritance tax due on the pension and pension providers may withhold part of the death benefit while that liability is worked out.

Is your pension nomination properly aligned with your wider estate plan? Let's review your situation.

02/09/2026

The residence nil-rate band starts tapering away once an estate passes £2 million; reduced by £1 for every £2 over that line, gone completely by £2.35 million.

For estates sitting near that threshold, a private pension being pulled into the estate from April 2027 doesn't just add its own value to the bill; it can be the exact amount that tips the whole estate over £2m and costs the family part or all of that £175,000 allowance too.

This is why a pension can't be reviewed in isolation anymore. It has to be looked at alongside everything else in the estate, because on its own it might look manageable, and combined with the rest it might be the thing that changes the calculation entirely.

If your estate is anywhere near that £2m mark, this is worth modelling properly rather than assuming.

Worth knowing where your estate actually sits against that line. Send me a message and I'm happy to talk it through.

26/08/2026

She was a former US Supreme Court justice who died in 2020, leaving an estate worth close to six million dollars.

Her children were provided for, her longtime housekeeper was remembered with a generous bequest, and there was nothing left to dispute.

That's what a properly structured estate plan looks like; not headlines, just clarity for the people left behind when they need it most.

26/08/2026

Do you know which side of the 10-year rule you're on?
Under 10 years of UK residence, only your UK property is exposed to UK inheritance tax. Cross that line, and it's your entire worldwide estate — plus a 10-year tail that follows you even after you move back to Hong Kong.
Understanding where you stand could make a significant difference to your long-term estate planning.
👉 Read our latest insight to understand the 10-year rule and the strategies available to you: https://www.soteriatrusts.com/.../uk-property-10-year.../

Do you know which side of the 10-year rule you're on?

Under 10 years of UK residence, only your UK property is exposed to UK inheritance tax. Cross that line, and it's your entire worldwide estate — plus a 10-year tail that follows you even after you move back to Hong Kong.

Understanding where you stand could make a significant difference to your long-term estate planning.

👉 Read our latest insight to understand the 10-year rule and the strategies available to you: https://www.soteriatrusts.com/insights/uk-property-10-year-residence-strategies-hong-kong-investors/

24/08/2026

We're often asked what actually happens once someone agrees to become an attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney; not the legal theory, but the practical reality of taking on that role for a parent, a friend, or someone else who trusts you with it.

Swipe through for what to do before you start acting, and what the role requires once you're registered.

17/08/2026

Most retirement plans were built for a world where pensions sat outside the estate; that world changes on 6 April 2027, when existing inheritance tax rules are extended to most unused private pension funds and death benefits.

If you haven't reviewed what that means for you yet, here are five habits worth reconsidering before then in the carousel below. If any of it sounds familiar, we'd welcome a comment or a message.

14/08/2026

Family conflict over an estate is one of the most painful things we see in our work and almost always, it didn't need to happen.

A clear Will is the simplest way to prevent it. It sets out exactly who receives what, in your own words, so there's no room for assumption or argument once you're not there to explain yourself. Without one, families are often left to guess; and guessing rarely goes well, especially when grief and money are mixed together.

We tend to think of a Will as a legal formality, something to tick off a list. In practice it's closer to a final conversation with the people you love; a way of being clear while you still can, rather than leaving them to work it out afterwards.

The families who avoid conflict aren't usually the ones with the simplest estates. They're the ones who wrote things down early and talked about it openly, before there was any pressure to.

If you haven't looked at your Will in a while, or don't have one yet, it might be worth putting it on the list this month. Has anyone in your family ever had to guess what you'd have wanted?

12/08/2026

The moment you reach 18, you’re eligible to create a lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in England and Wales.

Many people think setting up your LPA is for later in life, but the best time to do it is now, while you are healthy and can articulate your wishes clearly.

Accidents and illnesses can happen to anyone at any time. These may leave you incapacitated.

This proactive step not only safeguards your assets and well-being but also provides peace of mind for your family.

Set up your Lasting Power of Attorneys with Business Class UK - www.businessclassuk.co.uk