Wills, Trusts & Estates · High Earners & Retirement Planning
Part of our wider Wills, Trusts & Estates services
Estate Planning for High Earners Approaching Retirement
Retirement is one of the most important moments to review your estate plan. Your pension, property, and accumulated wealth may now be worth significantly more than when you last made a will — and the tax landscape has changed substantially.
We advise high earners and professionals on pension estate planning, IHT mitigation, and structuring their estate to pass wealth to the next generation as efficiently as possible. Chester-based, acting across Cheshire, North Wales and England and Wales.
No obligation — talk through your options first. Costs explained clearly.
2024 Budget: Pensions will be subject to inheritance tax from April 2027
The October 2024 Budget announced that unused pension funds will be brought into the scope of inheritance tax from April 2027. Currently, pensions sit outside your estate for IHT purposes — making them a highly tax-efficient way to pass wealth to the next generation. From 2027, this advantage will be significantly reduced.
If you have a significant pension pot, this change could add hundreds of thousands of pounds to your IHT liability. Planning now — before the rules change — may allow you to mitigate the impact. We advise on the options available.
Who this is for
This page is for professionals, executives, and high earners in their 50s and 60s who are approaching retirement and want to ensure their accumulated wealth passes to the next generation as efficiently as possible.
Significant pension savers
You have built up a substantial pension pot — defined contribution, SIPP, or final salary — and want to understand how the 2027 IHT changes will affect your estate and what planning options are available.
Property-rich professionals
Your main residence and any investment properties may push your estate well above the IHT threshold. We advise on how to structure your estate to make the most of the nil rate band and residence nil rate band.
Executives with share schemes
Shares acquired through employment share schemes, EMI options, or long-term incentive plans need to be addressed in your will and estate plan — including the tax treatment on death.
Professionals with complex family structures
Second marriages, children from previous relationships, and blended families add complexity to estate planning. We advise on how to provide for everyone you care about in the most tax-efficient way.
What we advise on
Estate review and IHT exposure assessment
We review the value and composition of your estate — including property, pension, investments, and business interests — to calculate your current and projected IHT exposure.
Pension estate planning
We advise on pension death benefit nominations, the impact of the 2027 IHT changes, and how to structure your pension drawdown and estate plan to minimise the overall tax burden.
Will drafting and trust structures
We draft a will that reflects the complexity of your estate — and advise on whether trust structures can reduce your IHT liability while maintaining flexibility during your lifetime.
Lifetime gifting strategies
We advise on structured lifetime gifts — including the annual exemption, potentially exempt transfers, and the seven-year rule — as part of a wider IHT planning strategy.
Lasting Power of Attorney
As you approach retirement, an LPA for property and financial affairs and for health and welfare becomes increasingly important. We advise on who to appoint and how to structure the document.
The team advising high earners
Darren Steele
Senior Private Client Executive · STEP Member
High Net Worth Estate PlanningDarren has worked in the legal sector since 1998 and has been a STEP member since 2011. He specialises in estate planning for high earners and professionals — including pension IHT planning, trust structures, and lifetime gifting strategies.
Laura Kirton
Wills & Probate Solicitor · 10 Years Qualified
Retirement Estate PlanningLaura regularly advises high earners and professionals approaching retirement on wills and estate planning. She works closely with clients' financial advisers and accountants to ensure the estate plan reflects the full picture.
David Stahler
Wills, Trusts & Estates Executive
Estate PlanningDavid is our first point of contact for high earners enquiring about estate planning. He brings a warm, personable approach to what can be a sensitive subject.
Nikolina Vukovic
Legal Executive — Wills, Trusts & Estates
Wills & Estate AdministrationNikolina supports high earner clients through estate administration — including estates involving significant pension assets, investment portfolios, and complex family structures.
Related estate planning services
Inheritance Tax Planning
IHT mitigation strategies, lifetime gifting, and nil rate band planning.
IHT Calculator
Estimate your inheritance tax exposure in under two minutes.
2024 Budget IHT Changes
What the October 2024 Budget means for your estate and pension.
Trusts
Discretionary and life interest trust structures.
Care Fee Planning
Protecting your estate from care home costs.
Case Studies
Anonymised examples of tax savings achieved for high earner clients.
Plan before the rules change.
Speak to a specialist about estate planning for your retirement — particularly in light of the 2024 Budget pension IHT changes taking effect from April 2027. Costs explained clearly before any work begins.
No obligation — talk through your options first. Chester, Cheshire & North Wales.
Request a free initial consultation
Tell us about your estate and retirement plans and we will explain your options — no obligation, costs clear from the outset.