In many cases it will be important that the trustees delve further than just the member’s expression of wish form, especially if that form was signed a long time ago.
The role of the adviser
All of this offers great opportunities for advisers both before the death and after the death of what are often key clients.
Prior to death it is important to make sure that any nomination/expression of wish forms are completed and regularly reviewed.
It is also important to precisely understand what the client wants to achieve post-death, and with the different tax treatment on death post-75, there could be a different set of beneficiaries than for death before age 75.
A trusted adviser can be vital to the whole situation.
Mike Morrison is head of platform technical of AJ Bell
