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Estate Planning

IHT planning strategies for 2026

2026-02-28 · 8 min read · Richard Cole, Estate Planning Specialist

IHT planning strategies for 2026

Inheritance tax receipts continue to rise, largely because the nil-rate band has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009 while asset values have not.

Business Relief and AIM portfolios

Qualifying investments in AIM-listed shares held for two years can attract 100% Business Relief. This isn't suitable for everyone — liquidity and volatility matter — but for clients with IHT exposure above £1m, it's worth a structured conversation.

Gifting and the seven-year rule

Regular gifts out of surplus income remain one of the most underused reliefs. Documenting intention and surplus income is essential; we work with your solicitor to ensure records are robust.

Trusts still have a role

Discretionary trusts are not right for every family, but for clients concerned about generational wealth transfer, a discounted gift trust or bare trust for grandchildren may reduce a meaningful IHT liability.

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026-06-01

This Privacy Policy explains how Meridian Wealth ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use our website and advisory services.

Information we collect

We may collect the following categories of personal data:

Identity and contact data — name, address, email address, telephone number, and date of birth
Financial data — income, assets, liabilities, investment objectives, and risk tolerance disclosed during consultations
Technical data — IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited on our website
Communications — records of correspondence, meeting notes, and advice given

We collect this information directly from you, from third parties you authorise (such as accountants or solicitors), and automatically through cookies and analytics when you use our website.

How we use your information

We use your personal data to:

Provide wealth management, investment, and financial planning services
Meet our regulatory obligations as an FCA-authorised firm
Communicate with you about your portfolio, appointments, and relevant market updates
Improve our website and client experience
Prevent fraud and ensure the security of our systems

We process your data on the basis of contractual necessity, legal obligation, legitimate interests, and — where required — your consent.

Sharing with third parties

We do not sell your personal data. We may share information with:

Regulated service providers — custodians, platform providers, and fund managers who execute transactions on your behalf
Professional advisers — solicitors, accountants, or tax specialists where coordinated advice is in your interest
Regulators and authorities — the FCA, HMRC, or law enforcement where we are legally required to do so
Technology providers — hosting, CRM, and secure communication tools bound by data processing agreements

All third parties are required to handle your data securely and only for specified purposes.

Data retention

We retain client records for a minimum of seven years after the end of our relationship, in line with FCA requirements. Marketing preferences and website analytics data are retained for shorter periods unless a longer retention period is justified.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request erasure in certain circumstances
Object to or restrict processing
Data portability where applicable
Withdraw consent at any time where processing is consent-based

To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Contact

For privacy enquiries, contact our Data Protection Officer at privacy@meridian-wealth.example or write to Meridian Wealth, 42 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HP.

Terms of Service

Last updated: 2026-06-01

These Terms of Service govern your use of the Meridian Wealth website and your relationship with Meridian Wealth in respect of information and services presented on this site.

Acceptance of terms

By accessing this website or engaging with our services, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, you should not use this website. These terms supplement — and do not replace — any client agreement or terms of business issued when you become a client.

About our services

Meridian Wealth provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and related advisory services to high-net-worth individuals and families. Information on this website is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice, an offer, or a recommendation to buy or sell any investment.

A formal advisory relationship is only established following completion of our client onboarding process, including suitability assessments and execution of our client agreement.

Website use

You agree to use this website lawfully and not to:

Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems or client portals
Transmit malware, spam, or harmful code
Scrape or reproduce content without our written permission
Misrepresent your identity or affiliation

We reserve the right to suspend access where we reasonably believe these terms have been breached.

Intellectual property

All content on this website — including text, graphics, logos, and design — is owned by or licensed to Meridian Wealth. You may view and print pages for personal, non-commercial use. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our prior written consent.

Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

We do not warrant that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from security vulnerabilities
We are not liable for any loss arising from reliance on general information published on this site
Our liability for direct losses arising from our negligence is limited to the extent permitted by applicable law

Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be excluded by law.

Regulated advisory services are subject to separate terms of business and FCA rules governing client money, complaints, and compensation schemes.

Termination

We may update or withdraw this website or these terms at any time. Changes take effect when published on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from your use of this website, subject to your statutory rights.

Contact

Questions about these terms should be directed to legal@meridian-wealth.example or Meridian Wealth, 42 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HP.