Standard Life explains tax changes to advisers

A panel of experts from Standard Life spoke to more than 580 financial professionals at 12 events located as far south as Bournemouth through to Glasgow in the north.

The events were an opportunity to provide a comprehensive overview of the regulatory changes that have been introduced in the new tax year. The seminar provided the attendees details on the tax implications when using different savings vehicles, including ISAs, offshore bonds and personal pensions.

Julie Hutchison, head of estate planning, Ian Mobley, Paul Lanigan both regional managers and Julie Curtis, technical manager at Standard Life provided details to help UK advisory community guide their clients through difficult financial planning scenarios including minimising inheritance tax payments, the use of trusts in estate planning and saving for university and school fees.

Julie Hutchison said: "We've regularly toured our ProActive Business Seminars in the past three years and there has always been a very positive response from the attendees. The seminars sparked interesting and insightful debate from the country's financial advisory community and hopefully they have taken with them valuable information that will benefit their business.

"The seminar was designed to not only provide the country's financial advice community with insight into the changing tax legislations but to also offer them a networking opportunity to help the attendees to establish new professional connections across their regions."

Stephen Owen, director at Bolton-based MS Wealth Management, who attended the event in Manchester, said: "The seminar I attended provided useful, highly technical market insight, which will be relevant to my business. Standard Life's events are always worthwhile as they provide information we would struggle to source ourselves, safe in the knowledge it comes from a highly reliable source.

"We're facing changes to our industry in the coming months and years and it's reassuring to have this added support from Standard Life, as they try to help businesses prepare for the future.

"The fact financial advisers, lawyers and accountants attended the seminar shows how important it was and our ability to interact with companies from different professional backgrounds on the day is another added benefit in attending."

This is the third year Standard Life's free ProActive Business Seminars have toured the country, with many events held throughout each year.