Birmingham Lake

"Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it"

-Benjamin Franklin

Traveling in the Alps

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants"

-Epictetus

Traveling in Crete

"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend"

- Laertius Diogenes

Morris Dancing Birmingham

"The glow of one warm thought is to be worth than money."

-Thomas Jefferson

Alan Moran Independent Financial Adviser Birmingham

"I don't care too much for money for money can't buy me love"

- The Beatles

Traveling in the Red Sea

"Simple, genuine goodness is the best capital to found the business of this life upon. It lasts when fame and money fail, and it is the only riches we can take out this world with us."

-Louisa May Alcott, Little Men

cliffs of dover

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

-St. Paul

Finance in the Big City

"Not he who has much is rich but he who gives much"

-Erich Fromm

Birmingham UK Sunset

"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans"

-John Lennon

Travels - A well lived life

"I pity that man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth shall starve in the process"

-Benjamin Harrison

Estate and Inheritance Tax Planning

Many people are keen to ensure they reduce their future liability to inheritance tax by engaging in tax planning to reduce or mitigate the tax bill.

The tax planning is a very important aspect, but it is just that - an aspect. In reality there is much to be said for looking at this differently and thinking about estate planning first, with tax planning second. The two are symbiotic, but should be led by the estate planning aspect.

How does estate planning differ from inheritance tax planning? How can you go about making sure you find the best solutions for your situation? Estate Planning is about taking steps to protect your estate for future generations, not especially about reducing tax. For example, many people want to ensure their wealth and assets are protected for their bloodline.

They want to protect against children inheriting part of their wealth, then a year or two later being subjected to a divorce (or bankruptcy) and part of the wealth disappearing for the benefit of the ex-spouse of that child. Or in the case of bankruptcy for the benefit of creditors.

Making plans today to ensure wealth and assets remain in the bloodline and future inheritors are themselves protected is an example of estate planning. Any Inheritance Tax Planning becomes a part of the wider estate planning exercise. For many this requires a delicate balance between the needs of today for the individual or couple and the future well-being of their beneficiaries.

Leaving a legacy, which is not unnecessarily reduced by future taxation, is a desire many people have. But they don’t want to leave themselves short in their own lifetime. Outright and large gifts can be complicated by this contradictory position, but major gifts also often require the donor, the person or persons making the gift, living seven years. Then there may be nervousness about when an individual is comfortable for their offspring or beneficiaries to receive the gift.

We also have to factor in that future governments might introduce more stringent rules and tax rates. It is a complex position, but the good news is that there are ways to plan for inheritance tax, which can deal with most, possibly, all of these factors. You just need the right solutions and the best advice.

There are inheritance tax exemptions and allowances, making sure these are properly used is a simple but highly effective step. There are gifts which can be made on a regular basis, in a drip/drip fashion. For example, every individual can make a gift of £3,000 per year which is immediately outside of the tax loop.

There are investment schemes, such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme, where the value of the invested sum is outside of an estate for inheritance tax purposes after just two years.

Which of these, or other possible tax savings options, work best for you will be dependent on your circumstances and wider estate planning. How you use these will be subject to a skilled appraisal of your situation, aligned to your wishes.

The key is to make sure the estate planning and inheritance tax planning are co-ordinated into a plan which meets all your requirements both short-term and long-term.

What our Clients say

Alan has the ability to listen and care about people

We first met Alan in 1999; we both wished that weFinancial Planning Clients had known him many years before. Alan has several attributes, in addition to his financial skills, the ability to listen and caring about people. From the first day that we met our financial affairs became organised, now to the point where we can say that we never have any financial worries, in fact we seem to be better off financially now more than ever before. All due to Alan's guidance and expertise. We both consider Alan a very good friend, nice to know he would be there if we needed him.

Norman & Peggy Howell, Birmingham

I always receive a fast and efficient response

Financial Planning ClientsIt has been almost ten years now since David and myself first consulted you for advice and guidance on financial matters, so I feel that it's time that I wrote to thank you for the help and assistance that has always been forthcoming. Shortly after we had moved house in 1992, you advised us to switch from one type of mortgage to another, which turned out to be the most successful financial move we had made in years. Over the years we contacted you for financial advice and guidance when our daughter was heading for University, on taking out life and house assurance policies and general financial overhauls. Your recommendations have always been sound and given in a manner both efficient and friendly, none more so than when I was widowed just over two years ago and needed a considerable amount of help, immediately given upon request and with great sensitivity during what was a very difficult time for me. There is little I can add, except to also thank the rest of your staff, friendly voices at the end of the telephone who take and pass on my enquiries and ensure that I always receive a fast and efficient response. I can recommend, without reservation, Interface Financial Planning Limited.

Maureen Pittaway, Sutton Coldfield

A very special and caring person

Financial Planning ClientsFinancial Planning ClientsAlan - A very special and caring person, who it's been a pleasure to meet - thank you again it's been a privilege and honour, your kindness has been second to none and we know you've helped probably more than you should but I can assure you it was all very much appreciated, more than you know.

Bill & Sue Ralph, Oldbury, West Midlands

Advice that has been invaluable

Financial Planning Clients Financial Planning ClientsAlan has been our financial adviser for 5 years. He is professional, well informed and reliable, and his advice has been invaluable to us. He and his staff are courteous and efficient, and we have no hesitation in approaching him for advice on any aspect of our finances, or in recommending him to relatives, friends and colleagues.

Tony & Sue Critchley, Lichfield

Always friendly and considerate

Alan Moran has acted on our behalf for over 10 years. Alan has over this time always listened to our requirements and fed back to us the best options, given our constraints and made very useful alternatives suggestions. He has always been friendly and considerate. I would not now consider making any financial investment or savings decision without first consulting him.

Ian & Joyce Miller, Birmingham

Honest and always takes the time to explain everything thoroughly

Financial Planning Clients Financial Planning ClientsAlan has acted as our family Financial Adviser for many years. He is honest, non-pushy and always takes the time to explain everything thoroughly as often as needed. Alan is not only our Financial Adviser but we regard him as our friend. We would have no hesitation in recommending him and his staff to anyone who needs a Financial Adviser they can trust.

Malcolm & Sylvia Smith, Perry Barr, Birmingham

Alan's sound advice has improved my life no end.

I was introduced to Alan Moran in 1999. I was juggling my finances just to keep afloat and was wary of taking outside advice. A close friend of mine recommended Alan as a reliable and honest adviser who would take great care in choosing the right path to get my financial affairs on track. Trusting their judgement, I arranged to meet Alan. I was treated with the utmost care, given time to consider the guidance that Alan provided and never pushed into taking on financial services. Meeting Alan and acting upon his sound advice has improved my life no end. Even on a limited income, prudent planning has enabled me to save for annual holidays and even cope with the occasional unexpected expense as well as keep up to date with all of my bills. I count Alan among my friends and have recommended him to both my sister and my parents. He really is the genuine article and I cannot thank him enough for all he did for me.

Zena Davis, Coventry

Alan's knowledge of financial matters is very comprehensive

Alan was introduced to me by a friend at the time when my finances were a mess and I just didn't know what to do for the best. Calmly, kindly and sympathetically Alan sorted everything out. Since then he and his wonderful team have sorted out my house and car insurances, my son's mortgage and pension plan and, last but not least, guided me through the ramifications of buying a property in Spain. I have recommended him to friends, as his knowledge of financial matters is very comprehensive and sound. Alan is able to offer advice without making the recipient feel a complete idiot and he takes time to explain things thoroughly and in a way that is understandable.

Tricia Adams, Cannock, Staffordshire

Alan's sound advice has improved my life no end.

I have been a client of Alan Moran's for 12 years and during that time he has given me valuable advice on all aspects of finance. He always explains everything thoroughly and has been particularly supportive during periods of crisis in my life. He helped my late husband and I when his business went into liquidation and was even more valuable when my husband died, pointing me in the right direction with my finances and getting me to invest my money sensibly and with the just rewards that I am now experiencing. I regard Alan not only as my Financial Adviser, but also as my friend, and would, and in fact have, recommended Interface Financial Planning Services to anyone needing a Financial Adviser they can trust.

Marian Poolley, Sutton Coldfield

Efficient and reliable in terms of financial decision making

Financial Planning ClientsAlan Moran has been our independent financial adviser for a number of years. He has proven to be an efficient and reliable person to guide us in terms of financial decision making with regard to planning and management of current and future economic matters. He is friendly, discreet, careful and always courteous.

Chris & Tony Hampton, Halesowen

Highly professional, friendly and supportive approach

Financial Planning Clients Financial Planning ClientsWe have been clients of Alan Moran (Interface Financial Planning Ltd) for over five years. In this time, his highly professional, friendly and supportive approach has provided us with a thorough review of all aspects of our finances. We are now in a position where both our short term and long term financial planning is well organised and structured to suit our personal needs. We have recommended Alan and his team to many of our friends and know that they, like us, have been impressed and grateful for the care he has taken to provide such individual service.

Ann & Allan Rowlands, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham

Professional and friendly manner

Just dropping you a line to say thank you for all the help you've provided us throughout the purchase of our house and the investment policies you've recommended us. May we both thank you for the very professional and friendly way, in which you handled our business, and look forward to hearing from you in the future.

John Fletcher & Linda Davis, Bromsgrove

Wouldn't hesitate to recommend

We were recommended to Alan by my brother in law and have been very pleased with his advice and assistance. Since using his services, we have organised our Wills, Pensions and re-jigged our finances, and now would not consider making any financial investment or savings decision without first contacting him! We would have no hesitation in recommending his services to anyone requiring sound independent financial advice.

Richard Salaman & Emma Staples, Surrey

Valuable advice on our mortgage, future planning, savings and pension investments.

Financial Planning Clients Financial Planning ClientsSeeking financial advice for the first time, I received details of three local IFAs. However, these cold statistics gave no idea of the actual person to whom I would need to entrust confidential information. Sometime later I came across an article in a local paper by Alan (Moran) in which the writer came over as friendly and trustworthy as well as being a qualified IFA. Having contacted Interface Financial Planning, the result has been a friendly relationship and valuable advice on our mortgage, future planning, savings and pension investments.

Mike & Gloria Nash, Great Barr, Birmingham

I have never had a single financial concern

Financial Planning ClientsThe best thing financially that I ever did when I contacted Alan. I have never had a single financial concern and he has supported me through difficult times including the death of my dear wife.

Norman Howell, Birmingham

“Don’t put off the planning for your financial future as you are
never aware of what lies around the corner”

We first met Alan in 1999; we both wished that weFinancial Planning ClientsIt was very important to gain financial advice in such a challenging time after my wife passed away. I needed to ensure that, as a newly single parent, I had got my finances sorted out and had also made provision for my children in case anything happened to me. As neither my wife or myself had made a will, Alan’s advice and guidance through this very difficult period was invaluable, especially dealing with the paperwork associated with this.

Paul from Birmingham

“Alan, was immediately empathetic, encouraging and, above all, practical and straightforward”

Financial Planning Clients

I realised that I had been operating both my general and particularly financial affairs reactively for far too long and it was time I behaved like a grown up. So I started to think about how I might achieve some sort of practical stasis. Alan, was immediately empathetic, encouraging a nd, above all, practical and straightforward. I hadn’t consciously taken financial advice before, but came to realise that the various salesmen who had sold me policies and pension upgrades were not motivated in the same way a ‘proper’ financial adviser was (or should be). Consequently, I had taken on commitments that weren’t necessarily in my best interests. Alan is genuinely interested in my circumstances, and owns a readiness to go beyond what I had imagined would be the boundaries of the role.

Steven from Cirencester