Make intergenerational choices with clarity
Understand potential inheritance tax exposure and evaluate legitimate planning options without compromising your own financial security.
Rising property values across Norwich and Norfolk create significant IHT exposure
With property values increasing across the region, many Norwich and Norfolk residents face inheritance tax bills that can force the sale of family homes. Proper planning is essential.
Effective legacy planning starts with the life you still intend to live.
We estimate the shape of an estate, identify available allowances and consider how assets might pass under current arrangements. Cashflow analysis can help test whether gifts are affordable before any irreversible action is taken.
Potential tools include gifting, insurance, pensions and trusts, but each has conditions, costs and trade-offs. Recommendations are coordinated with solicitors and tax specialists where legal or specialist tax advice is needed.
Key IHT numbers
Watch our guide
Understanding Inheritance Tax Planning
Learn how proper IHT planning can protect your estate and ensure more of your wealth passes to those you love, not to HMRC.
How we help
Strategies to reduce your inheritance tax bill
There's no single solution - effective IHT planning combines multiple approaches tailored to your circumstances. Here are the main tools we use.
Strategic Gifting
Use annual exemptions, potentially exempt transfers, and regular gifts from income to reduce your estate over time.
Trust Planning
Trusts can protect assets, provide for family members, and reduce IHT. We help you understand which structures suit your goals.
Business Relief
Certain business assets qualify for 100% IHT relief. We identify opportunities and help you invest in qualifying assets.
Pension Planning
Pensions are typically outside your estate for IHT. We help you structure withdrawals to keep more wealth in tax-efficient pensions.
Life Insurance
Whole-of-life policies written in trust can provide funds to pay IHT bills, protecting assets you want to pass on.
Main Residence Relief
The residence nil-rate band can add £175,000 to your IHT threshold. We ensure you're structured to claim it.
Common IHT questions
My property has increased significantly - will my family face a huge IHT bill?
Potentially yes, but there are legitimate strategies to reduce this. We can help you understand the options: lifetime gifting, trusts, downsizing, or insurance to cover the bill.
When should I start IHT planning?
The sooner the better. Many strategies require time to be fully effective - gifts take 7 years to become fully exempt. Starting early gives you more options and better outcomes.
Can I give my house to my children?
You can, but if you continue living there without paying market rent, it's a "gift with reservation" and stays in your estate. We can explain alternatives that actually work.
What about equity release to reduce IHT?
Equity release reduces your estate value and can fund gifts or lifestyle spending. But it has significant implications we'd need to discuss carefully as part of your overall plan.
How to meet with us
Our office is based at our Norwich office at St Georges Works, 51 Colegate, Norwich, and meetings can also be held online where appropriate.
rockwealth Norwich IFA
St Georges Works, 51 Colegate, Norwich, NR3 1DD
Putting the subject in context
How this service fits your wider plan
Inheritance tax planning is a long-term exercise in balancing two needs: retaining enough for your own lifetime and passing wealth in the way you intend. Tax is important, but it should not dictate every family decision.
Our local page explains inheritance tax planning for Norwich families. Related support includes tax planning with a Norwich adviser, Norwich-based lifetime financial planning and pension advice in Norwich.
Start at the rockwealth Norwich home page for an overview, or review our fixed-fee advice model.
Start with the question that is on your mind
You do not need to arrive with everything organised. Tell us what has changed, what feels uncertain or what you want life to look like next. We will explain whether our Norwich team can help and what the next step would involve.
