IHT Planning-Trusts

[Wings]

Recently carried out my usual three yearly update Wills and IHT tax planning, and from a referral by my newly enlisted accountant, the solicitor I had a brief meeting with, appeared to be against both trusts and life insurance policies. The former due to forming the same, raises one's head above the parapet with HMR&C, one appearing to be seeking avoiding IHT. The latter being that the latter's insurance premiums are too excessively high, and therefore need to be avoided.

Whilst not giving any final advice, the solicitor did briefly mention the advantages of octopus investments, particularly if invested for two years or more.

Are trusts now unfashionable, and what are octopus investments, and are they viable investments to help with IHT planning.

[Wings]

Thanks GliderRider for your advice "Google Octopus, AIM, IHT you should find them. Add Telegraph to that, and you will find that Daily Telegraph articles from a couple of years ago which describe them" interesting read.

My situation is that all wealth is tied up in rental properties, with rental payments presently having to pay off a building project financial loan, therefore limited liquid assets to invest etc.

Each of the financial advisors i have met, including solicitors, everyone has had their own pet product that they want to sale, either with life insurance, offshore trusts, high risk investments scheme, Octopus etc. etc.

From reading all of your posts, i need to knock on a few more doors for financial and legal advice.