Wills, Gifts & the Hidden Traps: A Plain-English Toolkit for Advisers

Overview

Wills, gifting, and estate planning are essential parts of a client’s long-term financial plan yet they’re often where things go wrong. From out of date wills and overlooked family dynamics to misunderstood gifting rules and capacity challenges can impact  even the best-laid plans.

This exclusive CPD session will give financial advisers the plain-English tools to navigate these common pitfalls. With real-world examples, myth-busting insights, and practical checklists, you’ll leave better equipped to guide clients and collaborate effectively with solicitors.

What you’ll learn

By attending, you will:

• Be able to spot the hidden risks in wills.
• Explain complex gifting rules by demystifying PETs, CLTs, taper relief, gifts with reservation of benefit, and pre-owned assets tax.
• Integrate LPAs and capacity planning into financial plans to ensure smoother family decision-making.
• Know when and how to collaborate with solicitors, what to ask for, what to document, and how to protect client outcomes.
• Navigate post-death options such as deeds of variation and their impact.
• Avoid compliance pitfalls when discussing legal matters.
  

About the Speaker

Harry McCarthy is a Solicitor at John Hodge Solicitors, specialising in wills, probate, and estate planning. Since qualifying in 2019, Harry has built a reputation for making complex legal matters approachable and easy to understand. With a practical, people-first approach, he helps clients plan confidently for the future.