Howden
Financial Advisor - Life & Inheritance Tax
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Financial Advisor - Life & Inheritance Tax
Who Are We?
Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance, united by a shared passion and collaborative mindset across 24,000 employees in over 56 countries.
People join Howden for different reasons, but they stay for our culture—what sets us apart and keeps employees turning down headhunters for years. Whether your priorities include work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, or volunteering, you’ll find like-minded colleagues driving change here.
We’re Seeking: Financial Adviser (Technical – IHT & Inheritance Tax Specialism)
Role Overview We are looking for a highly experienced Financial Adviser to join our specialist advisory team, focusing on bespoke life insurance solutions for inheritance tax planning (IHT), business succession, and wealth structuring.
Our mandate centres around:
- High net worth (HNW) and ultra-high net worth (UHNW) clients (typically estates exceeding £10m).
- Complex IHT mitigation strategies, including trust planning and liquidity provision.
- Close collaboration with professional introducers (lawyers, accountants, bankers, private client advisers).
- Large sum assured, technically sophisticated protection cases.
This is not a volume sales role—it’s a consultative, technically led position that delivers high-value, advice-driven outcomes.
Key Purpose
- Design and deliver life insurance solutions within IHT and estate planning frameworks.
- Act as a trusted adviser alongside legal, tax, banking, and other professional teams.
- Manage complex, high-value cases, including:
- UK and cross-border estates.
- Non-UK residents or internationally mobile clients.
Key Responsibilities
1. High Net Worth Client Advice
- Advise clients on:
- Term life and whole of life planning for IHT liabilities.
- Trust-based protection structures.
- Family wealth preservation strategies.
- Address IHT needs beyond protection, including:
- Personal protection (life, critical illness, income protection).
- Business protection (key person, shareholder protection, loan cover, relevant life).
- Tailor solutions for:
- Estate equalisation.
- Liquidity for tax liabilities.
- Succession planning. Clients expect full-financial-position-based, long-term strategy alignment.
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2. Introducer-Led Relationship Model
- Build and sustain strong partnerships with:
- Private client solicitors.
- Tax advisers and accountants.
- Banking and finance professionals.
- Operate as a technical protection specialist in a broader advisory ecosystem.
- Support introducers with:
- Case structuring ideas.
- Evidence of complex protection solutions.
3. Complex & Cross-Border Case Structuring
- Deliver tailored advice for:
- International assets and multi-jurisdictional estates.
- Non-UK domiciled or non-UK resident individuals.
- Navigate challenges:
- Tax treatment and jurisdictional implications.
- Ownership structures and trusts.
- High-value underwriting risks, including:
- Large sums insured.
- Financial justification.
- Enhanced underwriting needs. Must provide bespoke solutions and comprehensive case management.
4. End-to-End Case Management
- Lead high-value cases from inception to placement:
- Pre-underwriting discussions.
- Insurer selection and market positioning.
- Coordination of legal, medical, and financial evidence.
- Collaborate with our in-house underwriting team to:
- Secure competitive terms.
- Achieve practical underwriting solutions.
5. Technical Excellence & Compliance
- FCA compliance adherence:
- Suitability reports and high-quality advice documentation.
- Stay updated on:
- Tax legislative changes (especially IHT).
- Market trends in protection.
- Regulatory requirements.
Candidate Profile
Experience
- Strong protection/financial planning background (advised cases recommended).
- Proven track record with:
- HNW clients.
- High-value life sums (£5m+ akin complexities).
- Introducer-led pipelines (solicitors, accountants).
- Exposure to:
- Complex IHT cases.
- Business owner, landed estate, and farming clients.
Qualifications
- Essential: Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (Level 4).
- Desirable: Progress towards Chartered/STEP qualification.
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Core Capabilities
- Expertise in:
- UK protection products.
- Trusted planning and ownership structures.
- IHT principles and estate liquidity practices.
- Underwriting high-value cases.
- Cross-border considerations.
- Personal Attributes:
- Commercial and relationship-driven mindset.
- High attention to detail.
- Professional-savvy collaboration.
- Technical curiosity and problem-solving.
- Clear communication (complex strategies to clients, medical underwriting discussions).
- Compassionate yet rationale handling of medical data.
What Makes This Role Unique?
- Focus on quality over quantity—complex, high-value cases (not volume sales).
- Direct access to:
- HNW/UHNW clients.
- Advanced tax and estate planning.
- Operate as part of internal financial advisory specialisation.
- Well-established introducer pipeline + potential strategic client influence.
Ideal Candidate Fit
This role suits:
- Protection experts specialising in IHT-led high-value advice.
- Financial planners transitioning into estate liquidity insurance.
- Advisors working introducer pipelines desiring greater technical depth and niche expertise.
What We Offer in Return
A career you define.
Howden champions diversity and collaboration, valuing:
- Bold initiatives (bold ideas fuel our growth).
- Everyday support across challenges.
- Commitment to meaningful impact at work and beyond.
Equitable Adjustments We’re committed to flexible working solutions, whether that includes:
- Hybrid or flexible hours (subject to role agreement).
- Office/software modifications.
If this role resonates but you have accessibility queries, apply! We’ll address reasonable accommodations individually.
About Howden
Still growing from its 1994 origins (three founders, a dog), we now manage $37bn in premiums and remain a majority-employee-owned group. Our shared investment in the business ensures entrepreneurial agility: reduced risk, aligned incentives, and lasting purpose.
Employee ownership drives our ethical mindset—our teams own decisions, actions, and results. Together, we take pride in crafting resilient systems to endure.
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