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Explaining Inheritance Tax with a 40% Off Sticker?

ended 28. October 2025

Inheritance Tax (IHT) can be one of the trickier topics to explain to clients — and even harder for people to visualise in practical terms.

Scott Gallacher, Chartered Financial Planner at Rowley Turton, recently shared a creative way to bring the concept to life: using “40% off” stickers to illustrate the effect of IHT.

The idea is simple. If your estate is likely to be subject to IHT, every £1 you spend on yourself — whether that’s on holidays, family experiences, or home improvements — could effectively be seen as spending with a 40% discount. After all, that’s money that might otherwise have gone to HMRC.

It’s a light-hearted but effective way to make a serious point: financial planning isn’t only about preserving wealth, it’s also about knowing when and how to enjoy it.

One client who heard Scott’s idea loved it so much that they’ve started “using” the 40% off stickers themselves — and have already booked more holidays as a result!

It’s a fun reminder that creative communication can help make even complex financial topics more relatable.

What do you think?

  • Have you come across any other creative ways to help clients visualise complex financial concepts like Inheritance Tax or pensions?
  • Do you use any particular metaphors, props, or examples in your own client meetings to make financial planning more engaging?
  • And do you think a bit of humour or creativity can make clients more comfortable discussing serious topics like IHT and estate planning?

We’d love to hear your thoughts — share your ideas and experiences in the comments below.

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Scott Gallacher
Director at Rowley Turton
I’ve always found that a simple visual can go a long way in helping clients make sense of complex financial ideas. The “40% off” sticker started as a light-hearted way to explain Inheritance Tax — but it’s really struck a chord, especially as it helps people think about enjoying life rather than just leaving everything to the taxman!

Another analogy I often use is a “conveyor belt of buckets” to explain Pension Input Periods and annual allowances. Each bucket represents a tax year’s allowance — you fill up this year’s bucket first (up to £60,000), then start filling the earlier ones before they drop off the conveyor belt on 6th April and are lost forever. It’s simple, visual, and tends to stick in people’s minds.

It also helps to sketch it out during meetings — a quick drawing of the conveyor belt and buckets really brings the concept to life.
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Eamonn Prendergast
Chartered Financial Adviser at Palantir Financial Planning Ltd
In my own client meetings, I sometimes compare financial planning to gardening you can’t control the weather (markets or tax policy), but you can prepare the soil, plant wisely, and prune regularly to get the best results. Similarly, estate planning isn’t just about growing the pot; it’s about nurturing it thoughtfully and knowing when to enjoy the harvest.
A touch of humour or visual storytelling not only lightens the conversation but also helps clients truly understand and remember the message. I think anything that turns technical jargon into something human and practical is a win for both adviser and client.