Mearns-Begley Wealth Management

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Mearns-Begley Wealth Management Mearns-Begley Wealth Management is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. SJP Approved 03/12/2024

James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

The pension rule changes coming in April 2027 are leading many families to revisit their long-term wealth plans. It may...
29/09/2026

The pension rule changes coming in April 2027 are leading many families to revisit their long-term wealth plans.

It may be time to think about intergenerational wealth planning, gifting strategies, trusts and wider estate structures and family governance.

Good estate planning is about more than minimising tax. It’s about helping wealth pass to the next generation in the way you intend.

If you’d like to explore your options, get in touch.

Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Mearns-Begley Wealth Management is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products.



James’s Place

SJP Approved: 27/08/2026

Inheritance Tax planning isn't only about how much tax might be due. There’s another question worth considering:**Will y...
21/09/2026

Inheritance Tax planning isn't only about how much tax might be due. There’s another question worth considering:

**Will your family have access to the money to pay it when it's needed?**

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is generally due by the end of the sixth month after someone dies. This can create practical challenges where much of an estate is tied up in assets such as property and cannot easily be accessed or sold.

Changes from April 2027, when most unused pension funds are due to be included when calculating the value of an estate for IHT purposes, could make this an important consideration for more families.

One option that may form part of an estate plan is whole of life assurance.

A whole of life policy provides a guaranteed lump sum on death, provided the policy remains in force and the required premiums have been paid. When appropriately written in trust, the proceeds will usually sit outside the estate for IHT purposes and can generally be accessed without waiting for probate.

This could provide beneficiaries with funds that can be used towards an IHT liability without necessarily having to sell other assets or borrow money at what may already be a difficult time.

However, whole of life assurance isn't suitable for everyone. Premiums are normally payable for life and the cost can vary significantly depending on factors such as age, health and the level of cover required.

Whether it is appropriate will depend on your individual circumstances and should be considered as part of your wider estate and financial planning.

If you'd like to understand the options available when planning for Inheritance Tax, we're here to help.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

This content is for information only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/whole-of-life-assurance-the-quiet-solution-to-the-iht-landscape

For many people, a pension is one of their biggest assets. From April 2027, it could also become an important inheritanc...
07/09/2026

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.

For some families, this will make little difference. For others, especially those with larger pension pots or estates, it could mean that more tax is due and less wealth passes to loved ones.

In the coming months, we’ll publish a series of articles exploring what the new rules could mean for people and their estate-planning decisions.

In this article, we explain what’s changing, who may be affected and some practical steps to consider.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/how-pension-changes-could-affect-your-inheritance-tax-plans

If you live abroad, there may be many appealing reasons to return to the UK for your later years. But the emotional pull...
17/08/2026

If you live abroad, there may be many appealing reasons to return to the UK for your later years. But the emotional pull – such as wanting to be closer to family or return to a familiar place – should be balanced against the costs of returning home. You will need to weigh up the relative cost of living in the UK and your overall financial position, including the tax rules that apply to returning expats.

If your retirement plans involve sunshine and sandals, moving back to the UK is unlikely to be at the top of your bucket list. But for many, the UK does offer significant advantages. These include the National Health Service, which may be especially valuable to older expats.

Meanwhile, UK savers and investors also benefit from strong consumer protection laws and transparent financial regulation.

And indeed, many people have already been persuaded. In the 2025/26 tax year, 143,000 UK British nationals returned to the UK. Of this group, 12,000 were over-65s, according to the Office for National Statistics1.

If you are considering moving back to the UK, considering a number of different aspects and how they compare in different countries could help clarify your decision.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/coming-home-to-retire-tax-implications-for-returning-expacts

Losing a partner, a parent, or going through a divorce, are among the most difficult life experiences you can face. It c...
04/08/2026

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 finances.

For some women it might be the first time they’ve had to manage a property, investments, or a large sum of cash on their own.

Making decisions about your wealth at such pivotal points in life can be stressful and overwhelming. So how can women be confident they’re making the right choices for their future when their finances change
overnight?

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/when-finances-change-overnight-inheritance-divorce-and-new-responsibilities

With the support of 90% of Labour MPs (349 in total), Andy Burnham has replaced Sir Keir Starmer as the UK’s prime minis...
28/07/2026

With the support of 90% of Labour MPs (349 in total), Andy Burnham has replaced Sir Keir Starmer as the UK’s prime minister for the remainder of this parliament, ending in August 2029 (at the latest). While pledging to do things differently, there are many challenges ahead. We take a closer look at some of the domestic issues the new prime minister may consider priorities.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/burhams-britain-economic-priorities-to-consider

Does your business rely on the talent or expertise of a key individual? If so, how would it fare if they were no longer ...
22/07/2026

Does your business rely on the talent or expertise of a key individual? If so, how would it fare if they were no longer able to work?

Small to medium businesses in the UK are notoriously underinsured, leaving them exposed to serious risks. For many, the loss of a key person may result in a major risk. However, putting protection in place to cover this risk can help shield your business from financial vulnerability in the event that one of your key people falls seriously ill or dies.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/could-your-business-survive-losing-its-most-valuable-person

After losing someone close to you even simple tasks can feel overwhelming – and dealing with finances can be hardest.But...
13/07/2026

After losing someone close to you even simple tasks can feel overwhelming – and dealing with finances can be hardest.

But you don’t have to tackle everything at once. When you feel ready ask a family member or friend to help you.

There are some practical and legal steps to go through. While these can feel daunting, taking it one step at a time can make things more manageable.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/managing-finances-in-bereavement.html

Changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules which will bring most pensions into scope from next April are changing how people...
06/07/2026

Changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules which will bring most pensions into scope from next April are changing how people think about retirement planning, with more turning once again to annuities.

For many years annuities have been firmly out of fashion. This followed the introduction of pension freedoms in 2015 which made it much easier for people to take out money from their pension fund, rather than having to buy an annuity. The low interest rate environment of recent years also made annuities less attractive.

That picture is now starting to shift. Demand for annuities has picked up again in recent years, with sales returning to levels not seen since before pension freedoms.

There are a number of reasons why more people are choosing to use their pension pots to buy annuities. As well as offering a guaranteed income, in some cases, they can also reduce the size of your estate for IHT purposes. Meanwhile, rising interest rates have led to higher annuity rates, making them yet more attractive.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/the-axable-benefits-of-buying-an-annuity

A place in a nursing home can cost £1,267 a week or even more1, and anyone with significant assets won’t qualify for sta...
29/06/2026

A place in a nursing home can cost £1,267 a week or even more1, and anyone with significant assets won’t qualify for state support. As we are all living longer, it is something more of us will need to consider and plan for in later life.

Our guide explores who qualifies for help towards social care and care home costs. It also looks at the complex rules around gifting assets and how this is viewed under the means test for care fees.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/can-i-gift-assets-to-avoid-paying-care-home-fees.html

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18-22 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH37NS

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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