Tax-Efficient School Fee Planning Advice
“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail"Benjamin Franklin
It’s no secret that school fees are dauntingly expensive and a long-term commitment for families…
While many parents adopt a ‘pay as you go’ strategy, putting a structured plan in place can help significantly.
At Featherstone, we provide tax-efficient school fee planning and investment advice to support your child’s education costs. We will help you put together an effective school-fee savings plan to make sure your savings are invested in the optimal way.
Our approach is to keep things simple and uncontentious, often making use of unused (and surprisingly generous) tax allowances.
Our School Fee Planning Services
School-Fee Savings Plan
Planning for school fees encourages parents and families to set aside funds for upcoming education costs.
We help them put a plan in place to make sure they are being as tax efficient as possible and to ensure they are investing with a suitable level of risk that considers when the client will need to start paying school fees.
While the main purpose of school fee planning is to cover tuition for school and university, the allocated funds can also be used more flexibly, if required, for other unexpected costs.
These savings plans focus on being tax-efficient and preserving capital to help cover your child’s future education costs.
Tax-Efficient Investment
We recommend suitable investment strategies for clients looking to save and invest for school fees. We use cashflow modelling to assist with planning for the payment of school fees.
Some tax-efficient investment solutions include:
- Investment ISAs
- Junior ISAs
- Pensions (e.g. SIPPs)
Strategies Involving Grandparents
Even with the help of tax-efficient saving and investment strategies, many parents will still struggle to save enough money for private or independent school fees, given the substantial cost of private education. As a result, grandparents may offer financial help.
Some possible methods include:
- Lump Sum Gifts
- Gifts out of Excess Income
- Setting up a Trust
- Setting up a Family Investment Company
Tax Planning beyond School Fees
Our tax planning services go beyond just school fee planning. With experience in comprehensive tax planning, we take a holistic view of your finances, including income, investments, capital gains, and family situation, to uncover tax savings opportunities in every area we can. We aim to minimise your overall tax burden.
What is School Fee Planning?
School fee planning refers to the process of financially preparing and saving for the future or current education costs of your children in the most strategic and tax-efficient way possible.
Benefits of School Fee Planning
“They are a unique firm, I like the fact that they invest alongside their clients and that they have all worked for large companies in London but prefer a more friendly approach in beautiful West Berkshire countryside.”
Google Review
“I am so pleased I came across Featherstone. They are so refreshing in comparison to other advisors I have spoken to. They are very professional and have put an excellent financial plan in place for me and my family. I am really enjoying working with them.”
Google Review
“Alex May and his team deliver a first-class service that help me and my family navigate various investment and financial-planning matters. I highly recommend Featherstone Partners to anyone seeking top-tier advice in this sphere.”
Google Review
“In an era when many firms try to claim the title “boutique” or “family office”, Featherstone is genuinely both.”
Spear’s Magazine
“Working with the Featherstone team has been a fantastic experience. The team and staff here truly go above and beyond to make sure their clients feel valued and supported.”
One of Our Clients
“Their CVs were impressive, all having worked for large firms in London and seem to have more about them than the local people I had spoken to before in Hampshire/Berkshire.”
Google Review
“What’s refreshing about this business is that they seem to be taking a new approach to private wealth management – prepared to spend the time and focus on customer service irrespective of the size of your estate, in order to to win trust.”
Google Review
“Refreshingly current in approach and forward thinking in their advice. I was very impressed with the Featherstone team for providing such a high quality and personal service.”
Google Review
“I have been with Featherstone for the past four years and couldn’t be happier. Good advice given from a very knowledgeable and approachable team.”
One of our Clients
“We are featured in the upcoming Spear’s Wealth Managers Index 2024 as a Recommended HNW Wealth Manager”
Spears 500