News & Guides
Plain-English updates on UK life insurance, trusts and inheritance tax. Newest first.
Retirees using annuities to dodge April 2027 pension inheritance tax bill
A growing number of retirees are using a combination of annuities and life insurance held in trust to convert pension savings into tax-protected family wealth as the April 2027 inheritance tax deadline approaches.
8 September 2026Read more →Families urged to rethink pension inheritance planning ahead of April 2027 tax change
Financial advisers are highlighting a major shift in how UK families should approach inheritance planning as a significant change to pension taxation draws closer.
7 September 2026Read more →FCA urges life insurance industry to close UK protection gap as majority of adults lack vital cover
The Financial Conduct Authority has warned that millions of UK families remain unprotected, with 58 percent of adults holding no life, critical illness or income protection insurance.
6 September 2026Read more →Zurich reports strong growth in life protection as demand for family insurance rises
The global insurer saw protection premiums jump 10% in the first half of 2026, with UK and European markets leading growth as families seek to protect their dependents.
6 August 2026Read more →Royal London reports surge in life insurance sales as families rush to plan for April 2027 pension tax changes
The UK's largest life and pensions mutual has seen demand for protection policies spike as customers look to shield their families from new inheritance tax rules on unused pensions.
21 August 2026Read more →The inheritance tax gift rule that catches families out
The Treasury has recovered £336 million from people who failed to follow the gift rules properly, often by accident.
10 August 2026Read more →Customers rush to buy life insurance as April 2027 pension tax change looms
Royal London reports a surge in protection sales as families scramble to plan for the new inheritance tax rules on pensions.
9 August 2026Read more →FCA sets new expectations for insurance firms managing conflicts of interest
New guidance aims to ensure customers aren't disadvantaged by the way insurers handle conflicts in their business models.
9 August 2026Read more →Families should now use life insurance to cover pension inheritance tax bills, advisers warn
From April 2027, pensions will be included in inheritance tax calculations for the first time.
6 August 2026Read more →Rising mortgage costs force families to cancel life insurance, widening the protection gap
As five million households face higher repayments, many are dropping the cover they worry most about needing.
5 August 2026Read more →Rates frozen: why stable interest rates matter for your life insurance costs
The Bank of England holds firm at 3.75%, giving families certainty as protection policies hold steady in cost.
4 August 2026Read more →Thousands could be overpaying inheritance tax on life insurance
A simple oversight, not writing cover into trust, may have cost families £340m in inheritance tax in a single year.
3 August 2026Read more →Number of £1m+ estates left without a will more than doubles
Official figures show wealthy Britons dying without a will has surged in two years, adding delay and tax risk for families.
2 August 2026Read more →Inheritance tax now touches more deaths than at any time since 2007
New HMRC figures show 4.72% of UK deaths led to an inheritance tax bill, the highest share in 18 years.
1 August 2026Read more →Funeral costs climb again: average bill now £4,713
A typical UK funeral has gone up by £151 since January, and where you live still makes a big difference.
30 July 2026Read more →FCA calls for action to close life insurance protection gap
Half of British adults go without life cover, leaving families vulnerable.
29 July 2026 Read more →Pension trustees get new rules for inheritance tax reporting
Updated guidance kicks in this week as pensions join the inheritance tax picture from April 2027.
28 July 2026 Read more →Cut the paperwork: HMRC simplifies inheritance tax returns
Most estates will soon skip the inheritance tax return entirely, with only around 15% needing to file.
26 July 2026 Read more →Your pension could now trigger inheritance tax
From April 2027, unused pension pots will count as part of your estate for inheritance tax, dragging in thousands more families.
23 July 2026 Read more →Life insurance is the new must-have in inheritance tax planning
With pensions set to attract IHT from April 2027, advisers are turning to whole of life cover and term assurance to help families protect what they pass on.
18 July 2026 Read more →Insurers paid out £7.84bn last year, and said yes to 98% of claims
Reassuring new ABI figures: 97.9% of individual protection claims were paid in 2025. Why cover, held in trust, works when it matters.
17 July 2026 Read more →Probate fees jump 75%: why a trust can help your family
The fee to unlock a loved one's estate has risen to £526. A timely nudge to look at trusts and how your money reaches your family.
16 July 2026 Read more →Why waiting to buy life cover can cost you triple
L&G figures show the same cover bought at 20 can cost about a third of the price it does at 40. Why buying early, and in trust, pays off.
15 July 2026 Read more →Free life cover for parents: Tesco and Aviva launch new offer
Each parent gets £15,000 of free life cover for every child under four, no medical needed. Here's what it is and how it fits your protection.
July 2026 Read more →What the April 2027 pension change means for your family
From 2027, most unused pensions start to count towards inheritance tax. What that could mean, and why life cover in trust matters more.
Guide Read more →Writing a life insurance policy in trust: a simple guide
What "in trust" really means, why it can keep a payout out of your estate, and the questions to ask your broker before you buy.
Guide Read more →Single vs joint life cover: the tax difference explained
Why two individual policies can sometimes beat one joint policy on inheritance tax, and how to weigh them up.
Guide Read more →What is life insurance?
The plain-English basics: what it is, how it works, who needs it, and the tax step most people miss.
Guide Read more →What is term insurance?
The simplest, cheapest cover: how it works, the types, and when it's the right fit.
Guide Read more →What is whole of life insurance?
Cover that lasts your whole life, why it costs more, and why it's used for inheritance tax planning.
Guide Read more →How to use life insurance to reduce inheritance tax
Keep the payout out of the tax net, and use cover to help meet a bill without selling the family home.
Guide Read more →How to make sure your life insurance pays out tax-free
The simple steps, writing it in trust, naming trustees, avoiding the couples trap, that keep the full amount.
Guide Read more →