Capital Planning Partners

18/09/2026

Closing the gap: women, pay and pensions

At a glance:
The gender pay gap stands at 6.9% for full-time workers2.

The effect of career breaks, lower levels of saving (due to the pay gap), and the loss of compounding over time creates an even larger gender pensions gap.

The gap isn’t a personal failing for women, but many will need to take action to ensure they are financially resilient.

18/09/2026

Whole of life assurance: the quiet solution to the IHT landscape

At a glance:
It can be difficult for beneficiaries to pay IHT within the six-month deadline, where an estate has assets that take longer to sell, such as property. Pensions could add similar issues from April 2027.

Beneficiaries may be forced to sell other assets or borrow money to cover an IHT bill where assets in an estate can’t be easily crystallised.

Whole of life assurance policies pay out a guaranteed lump sum on death. This money can be used to pay an IHT bill where an estate is highly illiquid.

From April 2027, most unused pension funds will be included when calculating the value of someone's estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes. This will push more people into the scope of this tax.

04/09/2026

🏃‍♀️ We’re taking on the Great South Run! 🏃‍♂️

An intrepid team from Capital Planning Partners will be running (and walking!) the Great South Run on Sunday 18th October — all in aid of a fantastic cause.

Running doesn’t come naturally to most of us, so the training has definitely been a labour of love… particularly during those warm summer months! But we’re putting in the miles, and we’re determined to make it to the finish line. 💪

We’re raising money for the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, which supports small and medium-sized charities across the UK and overseas, helping them deliver programmes that make a real difference.

We’ve chosen to support the Foundation’s ‘Living Well with Cancer’ funding theme — a cause that is particularly close to our hearts right now.

Help Emily da Costa raise money to support St. James's Place Charitable Foundation

02/09/2026

Finding control when money feels overwhelming

At a glance

Anxiety over financial matters can lead to inaction.

Prioritising tasks can help create a clear plan.

Share your worries with a trusted friend or family member and seek advice to help manage money worries.

Anxiety can make financial challenges feel much worse. Whether you become worried about the sustainability of your financial future, dealing with debt or struggling with cash flow problems, emotions around money can lead to inaction or avoidance.

In these situations, it’s normal to feel like you’re losing control. But there are ways to get things back on track and steer your finances in the right direction.

Anxiety can make financial challenges feel much worse. Whether you become worried about the sustainability of your financial future, dealing with debt or struggling with cash flow problems, emotions around money can lead to inaction or avoidance.

25/08/2026

How pension changes could affect your inheritance tax plans

At a glance
An additional 10,500 estates are expected to become liable for IHT as a result of the rule change in the 2027/28 tax year. A further 38,500 estates are expected to face a higher IHT bill.1

People who may be affected include those with larger pensions, valuable property and families expecting to inherit significant wealth.

Do not make rushed decisions. Start by understanding the value of your estate and reviewing whether your plans are still suitable.

For many people, a pension is one of their biggest assets. From April 2027, it could also become an important inheritance tax (IHT) consideration. From this date, most unused pension funds will be included when the value of someone's estate is calculated for IHT purposes.

12/08/2026

Where there's a Will, there's a say

At a glance:
If you die without a valid Will, the rules of intestacy set out who inherits your estate.

For unmarried couples, a surviving partner would have no entitlement to their partner’s estate unless this wish had been explicitly documented in a valid Will.

For cohabiting couples, how you own your home matters. If owned as joint tenants, the whole property will automatically pass to the surviving partner on death.

According to the 2025 National Wills Report, 79% of UK adults are comfortable talking about death1. Yet when it comes to considering finances, only 36% of people have made a Will2.. This highlights the uncomfortable gap many of us fall into between discussing and doing.

31/07/2026

Interest rates on hold…for now

Six members of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to keep rates on hold, with three voting for an increase. This compared to a seven-two vote in the previous MPC meeting.

31/07/2026

When finances change overnight: inheritance, divorce and new responsibilities

Losing a partner, a parent, or going through a divorce, are among the most difficult life experiences you can face. It can happen quickly too, without much warning. Not only will there be strong and complex emotions to deal with, but for many women it means a sudden and significant change to their f...

28/07/2026

Are millennials failing to protect their future?

For many people in their 30s and early 40s, life can feel like a constant balancing act – managing a mortgage, building a career, raising a family and trying to keep up with day to day costs.

28/07/2026

A new prime minister – and a week of announcements

Andy Burnham’s first week as the new UK prime minister saw a raft of announcements. These included exempting those whose only income is the state pension from income tax, cutting VAT on energy bills and a £2 cap on bus fares. There was also news of a reduction in business rates for pubs, clubs an...