On 20 October, we set ourselves a bit of a challenge.
Rather than host one event at Kingdom in Penshurst, we decided to run two completely separate events on the same day.
In the morning, guests joined us for The Inheritance Tax Trap. Then, after lunch and a complete reset, we welcomed a new audience through the doors for The Pension Reality Check that evening.
It made for a long day, but a brilliant one.
More than 80 guests joined us across the two events, our Inheritance Tax session had sold out before the day arrived, the questions kept coming and the feedback afterwards was fantastic.
And Kingdom proved to be the perfect setting. Surrounded by woodland, with great food and plenty of opportunity to stay and chat afterwards, it gave us exactly the relaxed atmosphere we wanted for some pretty important conversations.
If you weren’t there, here’s what you missed.
The Inheritance Tax Trap: protecting the legacy you want to leave
Our morning event started with an issue that is becoming increasingly important for many families.
From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included when calculating the value of an estate for Inheritance Tax. That means some families who may not previously have expected to face an Inheritance Tax bill could find themselves in a very different position.
But The Inheritance Tax Trap wasn’t simply about explaining a change in the rules.
The bigger question was: do you actually know where you stand today, and are your plans set up to protect the legacy you want to leave?
David Braithwaite, Karen Gorbutt and Richard Harris looked at how Inheritance Tax could affect an estate, what including pensions from 2027 could mean for families and why understanding the available thresholds and allowances matters.
They also explored some of the planning options people can consider to help protect more of what they have built for the people they care about.
That was the key message from the morning. Before you can decide whether anything needs to change, you first need a clear picture of what you have, what could potentially be subject to Inheritance Tax and what you ultimately want to happen to it.
For some people, that may provide reassurance that they are already in a good position. For others, it could highlight things worth looking at while there is still time to plan.
And there was no shortage of questions. A dedicated Q&A gave guests the chance to put their own concerns to our advisers, before everyone stayed for a complimentary lunch and continued the conversations in a much more informal setting.
The Pension Reality Check: are you on track or just hoping you are?
Most people in their 40s and 50s have done many of the right things. They’ve paid into pensions, built up savings and probably expect to be broadly on track for a comfortable retirement.
But do they really know what those savings could provide?
That was the question at the heart of The Pension Reality Check. Guests looked at what their pension savings could provide as an income in retirement, whether that might be enough for the lifestyle they want, how to bring different pensions and savings into one clearer picture and what role the State Pension could play.
The evening also covered some of the practical steps people can consider now, including making the most of the tax advantages available to them.
For some, taking a proper look at everything may reveal a gap. For others, it could show they’re in a stronger position than they thought.
The Pension Reality Check was about replacing hope with a clearer picture.
Understanding what you have today, what it could provide and whether that fits with the retirement you want gives you the chance to make decisions while there is still time to make a difference.
The evening finished with a dedicated Q&A, followed by drinks and bowl food, with plenty of time for guests to continue the conversation with our advisers.
More than just the presentations
One of the things we particularly wanted from both events was time for people to talk.
Financial planning can be complicated, and sometimes the question you really want to ask only occurs to you once you’ve heard someone explain the subject properly.
That’s why the Q&A sessions and the conversations afterwards are such an important part of these events.
Kingdom gave us the space to do that brilliantly. The Inheritance Tax audience stayed for lunch, while our evening guests enjoyed drinks and bowl food after Pension Reality Check.
There was no rush to disappear as soon as the final slide went up. Guests could speak to our advisers, ask another question or simply enjoy the venue and carry on the conversation.
And an enormous team effort
Running two separate events in a single day takes a lot of people.
While David, Karen and Richard led the presentations, there was an entire Citrus team working behind the scenes throughout the day. Welcoming guests, managing registration, helping with parking, taking coats, answering questions and making sure everyone was looked after.
It was a long day for everyone involved, but also one of those days that reminded us what a fantastic team we have.
Seeing more than 80 people come through the doors, hearing the conversations taking place around the room and receiving such positive feedback afterwards made it more than worthwhile.
Wish you’d been there?
The good news is that this won’t be the last time we run these events.
We’re already planning a full programme for 2027, including more opportunities to join us for:
The Inheritance Tax Trap
Helping you understand where you stand today, what the 2027 pension changes could mean for your estate and whether your plans are set up to protect the legacy you want to leave.
The Pension Reality Check
Helping you bring your pensions and savings into one clearer picture, understand what they could actually provide as an income and find out whether you’re on track for the retirement you want.
First Home, First Steps
Our practical event for first time buyers (and the parents and family members helping them), covering mortgages, property searches, the legal process and the mistakes worth avoiding when buying a first home.
If you’ve read this and thought, “I really should have gone to that”, make sure you hear about the next one.
Register your interest and we’ll let you know as soon as our 2027 dates are announced:
Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstances and is subject to change.
Inheritance tax planning, trusts, tax planning, and estate planning are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Approver Quilter Financial Services Limited. 27/10/2026
