Beyond a Lifetime: How Our Role as Wealth Advisers Can Help Clients Shape Meaningful Legacies

A guest blog by Clare Stirzaker, Wealth Adviser Committee Chair and Private Client and Tax Partner at Boodle Hatfield LLP.

Being a Chair of Remember A Charity’s Wealth Adviser Committee has made me appreciate that it’s rare to find a space that connects such a thoughtful cross-section of advisers, bringing not only a wide breadth of expertise to the table, but also genuine honesty and openness to discussions on the topic of legacy giving. There’s a real willingness to share challenges as well as successes, and to learn from one another in a way that feels collaborative and progressive.

Whilst the latest Remember A Charity study on legacy giving amongst HNWIs revealed that 50% of millionaires have already included a charitable gift in their Will, there is still work to be done. It is in a large part the responsibility of the wealth adviser community to ensure that leaving a charitable legacy is a permanent fixture in wealth planning discussions and, as a committee, we’re hoping to make this happen.

Traditionally, philanthropy within legal and advisory work has been viewed through a very technical lens – with lawyers advising on charitable structures, tax efficiency, governance and administration. Though this, of course, will remain essential, it is also apparent that the role of an adviser is evolving.

Today, many of the clients we support are looking for something more holistic. They want to work with someone who can help them explore what matters to them and what they want their wealth to achieve, both during and after their lifetime.

Values-based conversations give clients space for reflection

This shift does require us to move away from purely technical advice and towards more values-based conversations, giving our clients space for reflection - not just decision-making.

We will need to have the confidence to ask questions that don’t have easy or straightforward answers such as: what responsibility they feel comes with the wealth they have built; how they have built their wealth; and how their values around family and tax shape the legacy they want to leave after death. In short, we need to understand their philosophy of wealth.

These conversations may feel less structured, but when led carefully and without pressure, they can be deeply rewarding - strengthening trust and laying the foundations for more effective estate and philanthropic planning.

Integrating philanthropy across the advisory ecosystem

Within my role as Chair of the Wealth Adviser Committee, I’m reminded often that philanthropy advisers seldom work in isolation. There is a wide and wonderful ecosystem at play, encompassing legal, tax, financial planning, investment and community expertise. Philanthropy works best when it is integrated into a broader financial plan, not treated as an afterthought.

For clients to confidently commit to significant charitable gifts, they first need clarity around how much they need for their own lifetime, what they want to leave to family, and how different assets should be allocated to different pots. As such, financial planners play a particularly important role. Clients also need to feel confident that the charitable causes they are leaving gifts to are aligned with their personal values and beliefs system. The adviser community can help close the gap between charities and their donors, to ensure all sides feel confident and supported through the process.

The Remember A Charity events and education programme for wealth advisers is building real momentum, and it’s been encouraging to see growing engagement across the sector. As we move into our second year, I’m excited about the committee’s continued growth, expanding pool of expertise, and increasing focus on training and shared learning.

Legacy conversations are not always easy, but they are powerful. When we make space for them, we don’t just help clients plan - we help them understand what truly matters to them. In doing so, we build stronger, more meaningful relationships that can last beyond a lifetime.