What we do

We look after the financial affairs of wealthy individuals and families – utilising our vast experience and extensive network to bring you the best outcome.

John and Frances established a successful consulting business 20 years ago which they have recently sold a significant stake in. They have been comfortably off for years but have never had this level of wealth before. They find it all a little daunting.

First of all they want to decide what to do with their money – how much will they need to live off for the rest of their lives, and how much can they afford to give away to their family and to charity.

They will then need to find an investment manager or managers who they can trust their wealth with, and set an appropriate risk level and asset allocation; but they do not know where to start or who to speak to.

Everyone seems to talk a good game but how can they tell if they are doing a good job or not?

They also want to make sure that their newfound wealth is structured tax efficiently but certainly not aggressively.

Do Trusts have a role to play? How about Family Companies and Insurance?

They may buy a new UK home and holiday home abroad – should they borrow to fund this and, if so, who is in the market for competitive loans? They have heard that it may be cheaper to borrow against their portfolio.

They may want to make investments in other small businesses. How should they do this?
They now have fairly complex tax affairs and need to update their wills. Who should they speak to?

Family X comprising grandparents, 4 children and 9 grandchildren had historically complex investment and tax arrangements across multiple jurisdictions. We ‘hand hold’ and guide all members on the transition of wealth and responsibilities to younger generations. The process had to be accelerated following the suden death of the charismatic and omnipotent patriarch (the grandfather) who had imposed decisions and values upon junior generations with little or no consultation or involvement. We stepped into this ‘void’ to ‘steady the ship’, and explained current arrangements, and involved all family members to the extent that they wished.

We believe that there are no stupid questions; just inadequate prior education or involvement. Whilst encouraging unity and family purpose and pride, we seek to accommodate informed and individual preferences and choices.

For this family and others we have arranged and hosted Seminars and ‘1-1’ meetings so all generations, particularly for those not interested in or trained in financial matters, are empowered and given the chance to air views and concerns in a ‘safe’ space.

Whilst no two families are the same, we acknowledge that there is a commonality of issues, challenges, concerns and opportunities, which we seek to highlight and address.

We liaise with all family advisers (e.g. investment, legal, tax and accountancy) and explain and relay advice to family members at the appropriate level, depending upon expertise.

From experience we believe that it is better to involve (or seek to involve), circulate communication and advice – and be ignored, rather than be accused at some later point of exclusion!

We work with banks, investment managers, family offices and external asset managers who need to access specialist wealth planning advice for their clients as they do not have the in house capability.

XYZ Bank has a UK Resident Non-domiciled client (Felix) who will become taxable on worldwide income and capital gains from 6 April 2025. For wealth planning reasons Felix is considering wrapping his portfolio with XYZ bank in an International Life Assurance Bond (ILAB).

Although XYZ bank has a good working knowledge of ILABs they are not able to provide financial advice on the suitability of these products and so cannot advise Felix to set one up.

Felix would also like to take advice on consolidating a number of his existing pension plans and possibly international plans into a Self-Invested Pension Plan (SIPP) to be managed by XYZ Bank.

XYZ are wary of introducing their clients to an external advisor as they have had prior bad experiences and are concerned that their client may not receive the highly personal service to which he is accustomed. They also have concerns that an external advisor might subsequently try to introduce other services to their client or, in an extreme case, try to introduce their client to another bank or investment manager.

Both Ken Chapman and David Beck have years of experience in the Private Banking sector and therefore understand the service expectations of Private Banking clients. They also understand that your client is ‘your client’ and nothing should get in the way of this.

Our services

Estate Planning

At 40% the UK has one of the highest Inheritance Tax rates in the world. This applies to UK long term residents on global wealth, short term residents on UK wealth including property and non UK residents on UK wealth including property.

Planning is important whether this involves using an off-the-shelf packaged product like a special gift trust or life insurance policy, or structures together with a plan for passing on assets through the generations.

Reviewing where you are is even more important now with the changes to agricultural and business relief and inclusion of pensions and Inheritance Tax (IHT) from 6.4.2027.

International

The UK has introduced the most significant reform to the way it taxes its international residents in over a hundred years. Resident non domiciled taxation was abolished from 5/4/2025 and replaced by a tax system based on the number of years of UK residence with an attractive tax holiday on foreign income and gains in the first 4 tax years.

Although the UK’s statutory residence test can be very complicated, high net worth individuals have some flexibility in terms of where they chose to live. Where would suit you? The UK or somewhere else?

Do you have property or business interests outside the UK? If so, have you considered the succession laws that might apply?

Investment Manager Selection and Monitoring

Have you had a liquidity event and would like some guidance on who you might appoint to manage your wealth? Someone to hold your hand and to make sure that your newly invested wealth is managed in accordance with your expectations.

Should you consider placing some of your assets into trust or a tax efficient portfolio wrapper. How does the strategy you set fit with your family’s long term succession planning.

RISK WARNING – The value of investments may go down as well as up, and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Tax Efficiency

Tax impacts investment returns; taking up to 45% in the case of income returns and 24% in the case of capital returns.

How can various portfolio wrappers help? How much do they cost to implement and maintain? What are the downsides?

The government incentivises investment in smaller and growing companies by providing tax relief at up to 50% and in some cases the ability to reinvest otherwise chargeable gains into the newly issued shares of a qualifying company.

Pensions & Retirement Strategy

The government recently announced that pensions will be subject to Inheritance Tax on the death of the pension holder, effective from 6 April 2027. Should you review your long term planning strategy in light of these changes?

Do you have an international pension plan in relation to previous non UK service?

If you are planning to leave the UK would you like to discuss how this impacts your existing pensions?

Mortgages, Loans and Equity Release

All can have a role to play in acquiring property assets whether residential, commercial, investment or a non UK holiday home. Due to the relationships we enjoy with a number of banks we can help you to find the right home.

Have you thought about the role that Equity Release can play in long term Estate Planning or if you are a non -UK resident buying a UK property, how a loan can help reduce exposure to UK Inheritance Tax?