Ian Johnston

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT IAN JOHNSTON

I am a Partner in the Private Client team with a focus on advising clients in relation to their wills, tax planning and the tax efficient division of their estates. I am also a member of the Essex branch of STEP. I have a varied caseload but have found that I am being instructed more and more to deal with the administration of estates in the most efficient manner by families, as well as providing advice in relation to succession planning and Lasting Powers of Attorney.I have prepared Wills from the very straightforward Wills for a husband and wife up to and including preparing Wills and Lifetime trusts for businessowners and farmers to ensure that, at the time, their estates can be managed in the most efficient way with as little disruption to their business as possible.I have advised clients on the creation of Lifetime trusts, and assist Trustees on the management of Trusts. Currently I advise Trusts holding anywhere from to £2 million in total assets.I deal on a day to day basis with administration of Estates, either acting on behalf of Professional Executors, or being instructed by lay executors. I take what I believe is a cost sensitive view on these matters, meeting the client for free initially, and discussing what they feel they are confident dealing with, and what they would like me to deal with, and what level of input they want. I don\'t believe in steamrolling a client and dealing with everything if they feel confident dealing with parts of the estate.I deal with the management of estates ranging from the very straightforward to much more complex estates involving Lifetime gifts, Gifts with Reservation and Business and Agricultural Property issues.Specialties: Wills, Probates, Mental Capacity work, Trusts and Lifetime gifting