Good morning and welcome to your Morning Briefing for Monday 22 September 2025. To get this in your inbox every morning click here.
UK individuals pay more than double IHT on gifts than a decade ago
UK individuals paid £221m in inheritance tax (IHT) on gifts during the 2021/22 tax year, which is more than double the £101m amount paid a decade earlier.
This is according to data provided to TWM Solicitors by HMRC.
In total, 1,080 estates paid IHT on gifts in the 2021/22 tax year, compared to less than 590 estates in 2011/12.
TWM Solicitors said many of these tax bills could have been “avoided with more effective planning”.
Quilter Cheviot names John Goddard as new CEO
Quilter Cheviot has confirmed the appointment of John Goddard as chief executive officer, following regulatory approval.
Goddard, who joined the firm earlier this month, succeeds Andy McGlone.
McGlone is stepping down at the end of September after a 31-year career at Quilter Cheviot to pursue other opportunities.
Goddard brings nearly three decades of experience in international financial services, having spent 28 years at HSBC in a range of senior leadership roles.
Oberon acquires WH Ireland wealth management division for £1mn
Oberon Investments has announced the acquisition of WH Ireland’s wealth management division for £1m.
This will result in £850m of client Assets under Administration to be transferred over on completion of the acquisition.
Quote Of The Day
A lack of holistic mortgage advice for later life customers, alongside the absence of property wealth being included in broader financial planning discussions, is holding back consumer access to suitable options
– Key Group chief risk and compliance officer Charlotte Allen in response to the FCA’s future of the mortgage market discussion paper
Stat Attack
Research from Fox & Partners, a specialist employment and partnership law firm has found a minority of senior executives in UK financial services firms are held by women.
19%
of senior executives in UK financial services firms are held by women.
18%
of senior roles were held by women a year ago.
9%
of CEOs of financial services firms are women.
27%
of women were on executive committees for Barclays in 2023.
Source: Fox & Partners
In Other News
Blackfinch Ventures has announced the appointment of Dr Simon Porter as principal.
According to Blackfinch Ventures, Porter brings with him “extensive technical knowledge and expertise, including a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, adding further depth to the Ventures team and building on the team’s ability to evaluate and support businesses across a wide range of sectors.”
He will be integral to managing the portfolio of founders, ranging from being hands-on with portfolio company product design to recommendations for strategic planning.
He also brings more than eleven years of venture capital and corporate finance experience. Porter joins Blackfinch after building his own consultancy firm that helped startups and their management teams with business growth, including planning, strategy, fundraising and exit.
Prior to that that he spent six years at Pembroke VCT as investment director.
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi institute launch joint AI and robotics lab in the UAE (Reuters)
Retail and hospitality chains sound alarm over UK jobs market (Financial Times)
UK stocks steady after worst week of the month (Bloomberg)
Did You See?
Nucleus has launched a new CPD learning zone for advisers and paraplanners across all of its propositions.
The hub provides Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)-certified learning materials, giving users on-demand access to refresh planning knowledge, explore technical topics and keep pace with regulatory change at their convenience.
Content includes exclusive webinars and recordings from live events delivered by Nucleus’ in-house technical experts.
CPD certificates are issued on completion, enabling advisers to track progress. The resource is available via the Illuminate Tech section of the Nucleus website.
Structured modules cover areas such as ‘An adviser’s guide to taxation of trusts’ and ‘Adding value to clients through effective planning’.
A new series will provide analysis and updates in the run-up to the 2025 Autumn Budget, including commentary on proposals from chancellor Rachel Reeves and their implications for financial planning.
