 who has grown your company beyond its early days, you may eventually see 

 as an opportunity to sell and allow the business to thrive without you. Others choose to sell to pursue a new venture, or simply because the right opportunity presents itself. Whatever the motivation, it is important to recognise that there are several key factors to evaluate before completing a sale.

What Is the First Step in Preparing to Sell Your Business in the UK?

The first step in preparing to sell your business is creating a clear exit strategy. This involves valuing your business, reviewing financial and legal structures, and defining personal goals. Early planning helps maximise sale price, attract suitable buyers, and ensure a smooth UK business exit process.

Preparing for the Exit When Selling Your Business in the UK

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.”

Alexander Graham Bell knew that success begins with careful planning, and the same principle applies when preparing for a company sale. When selling your company and preparing for the exit in the UK, planning must start long before an offer is on the table. This means building relationships with advisers early and seeking the right legal advice on 

 implications, potential buyers, and the best price achievable.

Building Early Relationships with Advisers

, reminds us that a good relationship with advisers is key. “It's important for entrepreneurs to take time to meet a range of advisors and establish with whom they would like to work. The relationship and trust are essential.”

Engaging advisers in advance helps you prepare for legal and tax issues, secure a strong sale agreement, and approach potential buyers with confidence 

The Road to Exit guide

Creating a Strategic Business Plan for Potential Buyers

Similar advice is shared by Stewart Sanderson, Senior Private Client Director & Head of UK Private Clients at 

. “Invest in a (business) plan with both a short-term and a long-term strategy. This means looking at your current position and thinking about where you’d like to be in the future. But most importantly, ask yourself why you are exiting your company and build your plan after that. This is commonplace in your corporate planning but rarely prioritised for personal wealth.”

A clear business plan reassures potential buyers that the company can thrive under new management or a future new owner, while also positioning the company to achieve the best possible price.

Understanding the Business Valuation and Exit Process

When preparing your exit process, one of the most important steps is knowing how to value your business before putting it up for sale. Professional valuations assess assets, earnings, and industry benchmarks to provide a realistic figure.

The exit process often takes months or even years, so starting early gives you the best chance of success and a smoother transition.

What Documents Do I Need When Preparing to Sell My Business?

When preparing to sell, ensure you have accurate and up-to-date financial statements, tax returns, legal contracts, and details of ownership or partnership agreements. Employment contracts, intellectual property documentation, and supplier or client agreements are also essential. Having these ready streamlines due diligence and builds buyer confidence.

It’s a Team Effort: Preparing for a Business Exit in the UK

 goes beyond reviewing the offer—it requires coordinated planning across legal, tax, and financial areas. “Taking that step requires a lot of previous preparation, and for that, there needs to be skilled legal, accounting and 

 teams working with the individual beforehand,” Rosie reminds us

Top ten tips for preparing to exit your business

Are There Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a Business?

Common mistakes include undervaluing the company, rushing the process without adequate preparation, or failing to consider tax implications. Others neglect succession planning or overlook cultural fit with potential buyers. Working with experienced advisers reduces these risks and ensures you achieve the best long-term outcome.

, highlights that pre-sale preparation begins with legal and accounting due diligence, including negotiation and drafting legal documents. Both the business and the owner should be in a strong position to start discussions if the necessary pre-exit reviews, planning, and structure have been completed.

“Many entrepreneurs don’t start a business with the end in mind, so they might need to reconsider the way their company is structured and how they can extract some wealth for themselves,” warns Atkins. “Pre-exit you've got some opportunities to make decisions that you cannot do once you've entered a binding contract of sale. If you want to put assets into a discretionary trust or create a benefit for your employees, you need to prepare beforehand, and you need the right people to advise you on how to prepare and accommodate that.”

Carry out legal and accounting due diligence to ensure compliance and uncover risks.

Extract surplus cash efficiently while considering tax implications.

Develop a business continuity plan to safeguard operations during the transition.

Clarify ownership and shareholding structures to provide transparency for potential buyers.

Plan pre-sale cashflow and gifting strategies to maximise personal wealth outcomes.

Review wills and power of attorney to protect long-term family interests.

Create a financial and investment plan aligned with post-sale goals.

Experts stress that preparing two to three years ahead gives owners time to optimise tax structures, strengthen continuity plans, and demonstrate stability to potential buyers. This early planning creates flexibility and ensures the exit process is not rushed.

Sanderson adds: “At one point there's going to be a transaction, so make sure long before that that the corporate structure is the right one from a tax perspective, and that the lawyers and the accountants have been upgraded. If you started this as a ‘mum and pop’ business or just an idea that has grown rapidly, the local solicitor may not be familiar with the advice needed for this type of business transaction. Therefore, it's critical to lay the foundations early on, ensuring the more efficient path taken, with a sensible structure created to deliver the best outcome.”

Choosing the Best Exit Strategy When Selling Your Business in the UK

Alongside protecting your team and finances, it is vital to decide which exit strategy best suits both you and the business’s future. The right choice balances personal goals with continuity, ensuring a smooth transition and the best long-term outcome. when preparing for an exit: how to prepare for the exit, thinking carefully about strategy is just as important as 

Small businesses: is an employee ownership trust right for you?

Selling to a trade buyer or private equity firm can provide immediate liquidity and, in many cases, the best price 

. However, it usually involves giving up control quickly, so weighing both financial return and cultural fit is important.

Private equity can defy the gloom narrative

An employee ownership trust or management buyout provides continuity and rewards those who helped build the business. This often allows for a phased exit, giving the entrepreneur more influence over the handover.

Passing the business to the next generation secures your legacy but requires planning. Ownership transfers, tax implications, and governance must be considered to give the new management the best chance of success.

The best exit strategy should also reflect your vision beyond the sale. Atkins calls this “business continuity planning.” Entrepreneurs should decide whether they want to reinvest in ventures, act as an angel investor, stay involved as a consultant, or establish a charitable trust that combines philanthropy with long-term growth.

For many, the ultimate goal is financial independence. Creating a balanced investment portfolio ensures that sale proceeds support the same standard of living enjoyed pre-exit, while leaving room for future flexibility.

Considering All Possible Outcomes When Selling Your Business in the UK

Even with careful planning, a business exit may not unfold exactly as expected. That is why preparation must include contingency planning and trusted advisers. When selling your business: how to prepare for the exit, it is essential to think ahead, discuss potential scenarios, and make sure your strategy covers both financial and personal objectives.

, Director at James Hambro and Partners, advises that “ideally entrepreneurs should come to see us long before the sale” so post-sale structuring can be optimised. Skilled legal advice and experienced tax advisers are critical in maximising outcomes and protecting wealth. He explains: “Most entrepreneurs will typically have two primary objectives post sale, firstly ensuring they have enough funds to meet their own expenditure for the rest of their lives, and secondly how to maximise the level of wealth that passes on to the next generation and intended beneficiaries. The weighting of these objectives will often change over time and is analysed as part of the review process.”

Effective cashflow planning helps ensure personal needs are met and that wealth is structured efficiently for long-term security.

 is equally important. Jenkins suggests preparing the next generation early by running smaller investment portfolios for children, giving them first-hand experience of how markets work and how wealth should be managed responsibly.

“Education is key,” remarks Stewart Sanderson, who stresses patience when preparing for a business sale. His advice on how to prepare for exiting your business is clear: “Don't be afraid to take your time. There are important factors to consider, such as maximising your 

 contributions, maximising any allowances for previously unused years. Now more than ever, pension planning is complex, if there’s family involved in the business there may also be broader allowances to consider, these things require time and analysis.”

Education applies not only to preparing family members for wealth but also to understanding the complexities of pensions and allowances.

The exit process can take months or even years. Taking the time to address pensions, allowances, and succession planning ensures the best outcome for entrepreneurs and their families. Rushed exits often leave value on the table; thoughtful planning secures wealth and smooths the transition to new ownership.

Surrounding Yourself with the Right Support

Selling your business is not something to manage alone. Surrounding yourself with a strong management team of advisers provides clarity, protects wealth, and builds confidence in decision-making 

. At Compare Wealth Managers, we offer an impartial route to finding a wealth manager for your needs. Our carefully selected partners, including private banks and leading wealth management firms, provide clients with access to the full spectrum of services needed for a successful exit.

Understanding growth journeys of small and mid-size businesses

 – Engage lawyers, accountants, and wealth managers early to structure a tax-efficient exit and prevent costly mistakes when selling your business UK

 – Whether for freedom, retirement, or reinvestment, define your “why” so your exit strategy supports both financial security and personal fulfilment.

 – Complete full due diligence, audit finances, and optimise contracts; failing to do so can erode value and delay negotiations.

 – Early business exit planning gives time to restructure ownership, strengthen governance, and attract higher offers.

 – Weigh options like trade sale, management buyout, employee ownership, or family succession to align with your future wealth protection goals.

 – Use cash-flow forecasting to test lifestyle, tax, and legacy scenarios, ensuring proceeds sustain you for the long term.

 – Explore philanthropy, reinvestment, or mentoring to make your post-sale planning both financially rewarding and personally meaningful.

Selling your business: How to prepare for the exit

Having a successful business means also owning a company that investors find attractive. 

 takes time and things may not go as planned. Learn how to protect your business (and yourself) during a sale.

 in the UK, the decision to sell their business can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Whether you're planning to 

, move on to new ventures, or simply cash in on your hard work, selling your business is a significant milestone. However, amidst the exhilaration of putting your business for sale, it's crucial not to overlook the importance of business protection.

, reflects on the importance of business protection, particularly during this time. “If you are on your two-year plan to exit and something unexpected unfortunately happens to you during that period, what happens to your business, does it disappear? How does that affect your family?” Saisha suggests thinking about protecting your company from an early stage, even before considering selling: “There can be some short-term protection requirements, such as having a power of attorney or an appointed executor. When life throws the unexpected at you, halfway through a business transaction, your lawyer or your spouse can act for you”.

Bear in mind that even the best thought-out plans can be altered by unforeseen circumstances, so make sure that you have the right people making the decisions for you, and a plan B in place, that can start with putting all the facts and the information together to work on a contingency plan 

Half of business owners have no exit strategy

If things go according to plan, the exit takes place at the time and for as much money as we agreed on with the buyer. However, an exit (or merger, or family succession) still requires 

 and cautious procedures from both sides: Be ready for thorough due diligence from potential buyers, a process that involves risk and compliance check, conducting an investigation, review, or audit to verify facts and information about your business. They will want to review everything, from financial records to operational processes. Having all relevant documents and information readily available will expedite the process and build trust with potential buyers 

Record keeping and due diligence – Fulfilment House Due Diligence Scheme

Your business's financial health is also a critical factor in attracting buyers and securing a favourable deal. Therefore, maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. If your business has any outstanding debts or financial liabilities, work to resolve them before entering negotiations.

The “triple D” threat (Death-Divorce-Dispute) and how to protect yourself from it

Lots can go wrong while you're getting things sorted, like arguments with a business or partner, a breakup, or even death. Saisha Penny suggests acquiring the services of either an adviser who would represent your interests in these situations, or a third party who can offer you a protection package 

How can I ensure our business continues after I die?

“There will be a cost but if you became ill, or if you passed away, you’d still make sure that the business takeover can continue and your employees keep getting paid during that time. Often entrepreneurs have small businesses at the beginning, which can often be all-encompassing, so if they are unable to work, protection policies can offer peace of mind”.

Employee or Customer Transition and business value

Consider how the sale will impact your employees and customers. Prepare a plan for informing and reassuring employees about the transition to new ownership. At the same time, maintain open communication with key customers to ease their concerns and ensure a smooth transition, as customer relationships often play a significant role in a business's value 

Retail Banking: Business Continuity Planning

Stewart Sanderson, Senior Private Client Director, Head of UK Private Clients at Brooks Macdonald, points out that the protection in these cases is not just for you, but for all those involved in the sale: “It's about ensuring that there is the ability for the business to continue operating in the event of the loss or absence, or illness of a key member of staff or an investor. If you want to sell only a part of the business, but the holder of the other part passed away or was getting divorced, their capital could end up being settled on the open market, meaning you could lose control of your business”.

To avoid getting an unfair price for the business or having it stuck in a scenario where you couldn't make decisions, Stewart strongly recommends setting up a structure where you would be in control of the entire business in such situations. “You can have an agreement in place to buy the shareholder’s capital at a predetermined value, and after around seven days you carry on running your business. You maintain control and can proceed with the sale”.

Contracts, NDAs and Intellectual Property Protection

One of the most valuable assets of any business is its intellectual property (IP). This includes trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. Before putting your business on the market, it's essential to safeguard your IP to maintain its value during the sales process. Ensure that all IP registrations are up to date and consider consulting an intellectual property attorney to protect your intangible assets 

The Knowledge Asset Commercialisation Guide

, suggests revising the structure of the company not only to potentially alleviate taxes at the selling point but also to protect the assets of the company. An example can be carving off elements of your business relative to what you are selling and considering if a pure trading vehicle works or if you should have a holding company and a trading company underneath.

Often clients move valuable intellectual property into one legal entity while they then hold the “trading company” which essentially takes care of the risky activities and holds the liabilities of the business. The Holding may license the intellectual property to the Trading Company to use in the business, but the ownership of the intellectual property always stays with the Holding Company.

Atkins mentions that cashflow forecasts can help project where the proceedings of the sale should best be allocated (for instance, in the holding company) to not pay tax on exit or de-merge and sell the Trading company and pay 

 on the exit but then look to reinvest tax efficiently. Mathematically, you can visualise scenarios in this space relative to your spending patterns, investment views and family situation. No one outcome is the same but seeing it visually with your own views can help you make informed decisions about which route to take and what tax to pay when.

Legal compliance is non-negotiable when selling a business. Ensure that your business complies with all relevant laws and regulations, including tax requirements, employment laws, and industry-specific regulations. Any pending legal disputes or compliance issues should be resolved before the sale. On that note, review all contracts and agreements your business has entered, especially those with suppliers, employees, and customers. Ensure that they are in good standing and that there are no unresolved disputes. As mentioned above, a buyer will scrutinise these contracts during due diligence, so it's important to address any potential issues in advance 

Expectations of firms selling client banks

When sharing sensitive information with potential buyers, protect your business's confidentiality through Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). These contracts stop buyers from sharing or using your private information for anything other than considering buying.

Ann-Marie Atkins also emphasises that there's a need for a better understanding of the business relief environment, particularly when it comes to taxes. A shift in tax position changes hugely at the point of sale, meaning that if the seller's UK domicile died shortly after sale the potential tax position in respect of 

 (IHT) could be hugely different. Before you sell your trading business, those assets are exempt from tax on death, but the day that you sell, that money comes into your bank account, and if you were to die prematurely, you could end up paying tax at 40% on assets within your estate (relative to the overall value of assets and how your wealth is passed) 

Business Relief for Inheritance Tax: What qualifies for Business Relief

Atkins explains that individuals can consider investing back into Trading Businesses or “off-the-shelf trading solutions” and /or the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) within 3 years from the date of sale as this removes assets from being subject to IHT immediately (as long as qualifying).

Alternatively, individuals can consider investing in them later down the line and accept they have to hold them for 2 years before they become exempt. The views here are that if clients are keen to reduce inheritance tax (IHT), are not opposed to risk and want to retain access to capital and income, these options should be considered 

 Preparing to exit your business: It’s your life’s work. Value it.

To get into the business relief space, you need to have a wealth manager or financial advisor who caters to your needs and those of your business. “You need more than the traditional vanilla 

, someone who’s looking at alternatives that give those tax advantageous options which might suit your family situation and your circumstances better. And if you're not sure your advisor can do that, take some time to educate yourself before making any further decisions”, Atkins remarks.

Selling a business in the UK is a complex process, and 

 can make a significant difference. Get assistance from professionals who specialise in law, finance, and taxes. They will help you sell your business and guide you through the process. Their expertise will ensure a successful deal. “It's of utmost importance that you have at least two years ideally three before [the sell] to work with this team of experts”, Atkins reminds us.

Exiting your business is a momentous step in your entrepreneurial journey. While it can be an exciting and financially rewarding endeavour, it also demands careful attention to business protection. To increase your business's value and have a successful sale, prepare and seek professional help. This will benefit both you and the buyer. Remember, thorough preparation and attention to detail are key to a smooth and profitable transition 

Divesting and optimising

 – Safeguard company assets and personal interests with structured risk management during the sale process.

 – Verify financials, highlight risks, and give buyers greater confidence in your business.

 – Address death, divorce, and disputes with clear succession planning and legal safeguards.

 – Ensure a trusted representative can act on your behalf if required.

 – Register trademarks, patents, and copyrights to strengthen business value and buyer appeal.

 – Keep financial statements, tax returns, and shareholder agreements ready to speed up due diligence.

 – Rely on experts to draft contracts, manage NDAs, and resolve disputes for a smooth transaction.

Selling your business: Have you thought about business protection?

Selling your business is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning and execution. We've talked to several financial advisers to compile a list of the most important aspects to consider when exiting your business. They emphasise the importance of preparation and strategic decision-making throughout the process, with the right team guiding you before, during and after the entire operation. 

Embarking on the journey of selling your business is a significant step in your entrepreneurial career. As you prepare for the transition, it's crucial to be aware of the complexities and challenges that come with the process. To guide you through this complex journey, we've compiled a comprehensive guide with insights from financial advisers. Here are the 10 key steps to keep in mind:

1. Build Strong Relationships with Advisers Early On

Develop a comprehensive team of skilled legal, accounting, and 

 professionals to guide you through the sale process."Entrepreneurs need to take time to meet a range of advisors and establish with whom they would like to work. The relationship and trust are essential" remarks Rosie Bullard, Portfolio Manager and Partner at 

 and Partners. Make sure you surround yourself with trusted people who can accompany you throughout the entire process. 

2. Invest in a Comprehensive Business Plan

"Invest in a (business) plan with both a short-term and a long-term strategy... Ask yourself why you are selling your business and build your plan after that." Stewart Sanderson, Senior Private Client Director at 

, reminds us that looking at the whole picture is a must at this stage. 

Craft a business plan that aligns with your short-term and long-term goals, ensuring clarity on why you are selling and how the sale fits into your overall strategy.

Undertake legal and accounting due diligence, surplus cash extraction, and develop a business continuity plan, ensuring that both personal and business considerations are thoroughly addressed. As Ann-Marie Atkins, Managing Partner at 

, remarks: "Both the business and the owner should be in a strong position to start discussions if the necessary pre-exit reviews, planning, and structure have been completed." 

4. Evaluate and Choose the Right Exit Strategy

Leaving the company you've built can be a difficult step to take, which is why Ann-Marie Atkins recommends taking time to consider the best exit strategy for you and your business, "whether it's an external exit, structured exit, or family succession."  

Explore various exit strategies, such as trade buyers, private equity, employee ownership trusts, management buyouts, or family succession, and align them with your post-exit plans.

5. Plan for the Unexpected and protect your business

Acknowledge that not everything may go as planned, and maintain open communication with advisers to discuss potential scenarios. "Don't be afraid to take your time... Education is key.", acknowledges Stewart Sanderson. 

Educate stakeholders, especially family members, about wealth management and involve them in smaller investment portfolios to build financial literacy.

Saisha Penny, Private Client Manager at Brooks Macdonald, reflects on the importance of business protection, particularly during selling. “If you are on your two-year plan to exit and something unexpected unfortunately happens to you during that period, what happens to your business, does it disappear? How does that affect your family?” Saisha suggests thinking about protecting your company from an early stage, even before considering selling: “There can be some short-term protection requirements, such as having a power of attorney or an appointed executor. When life throws the unexpected at you, halfway through a business transaction, your lawyer or your spouse can act for you”. Everything you need to know about Business Protection is summarised in 

6. Strategic Planning Across Three Crucial Stages

There are three crucial stages to selling your business: Pre-sale, Exit, and Post-sale. Each requires careful consideration and strategic planning. Before initiating the sale, explore your options and formulate a detailed exit strategy during the pre-sale stage (more on how to prepare before selling 

, ensuring optimal value and involving the right advisers. Post-sale, focus on protecting yourself, managing funds, and maximising future opportunities.

7. Business Valuation: The Key to a Successful Sale

To get the best deal for your enterprise, business valuation is key. Engage your entire legal and accounting team to ensure a thorough business valuation. This step is crucial for attracting the right partner at the right price, aligning with your personal objectives and providing a strong foundation for the sale process. 

Often the best time to sell your business is when the financials are on the up, sales are booming, the team is strong and demand is high. It may be difficult for you personally to leave when your business is thriving, but it's also when it's most attractive to potential buyers. However, this is also an important factor to consider when deciding what to do with the proceedings. 

Conduct a thorough market analysis, considering the local economy, market conditions, industry trends, and whether the market favours buyers or sellers. Timing is critical, and selling when the business is at its peak can significantly impact the valuation.

9. Financial Planning for Post-Sale Proceeds

After selling your business, careful financial planning is essential. Rosie Bullard advises setting out a financial plan as to how the excess proceeds can be invested. Work with your financial adviser to develop a plan, ensuring a sustainable financial future and avoiding undesirable outcomes, especially in volatile market conditions.

10. Life After Selling: Crafting Your Future

The exit may be complete, but have you considered what comes next? Plan for your life after selling the business. Discuss your goals and timeframes with your financial adviser, assess your risk tolerance, and explore options such as investing, charity work, or taking a break. Consider creating charitable trusts for additional 

 and plan for a smooth transition of ownership to support employees and maintain customer relationships.

By following these five essential steps, you can navigate the complexities of selling your business with confidence. Remember, the sale is not just a financial transaction, it's the legacy of your entrepreneurial journey. Plan meticulously, consult your financial adviser early on, and set the stage for a successful business exit.

Compare Wealth Managers offers a free service to help you find a wealth manager. Simply click the orange "start comparing" button to get started.

Top 10 things to do whilst selling your business

Ann-Marie Atkins has many 25+ years of experience working with Business Owners/Entrepreneurs and high-net-worth families across all generations, specialising in the complexities of various tax entities and how they interlink with wider planning, tax efficiency and overall objectives.

She works with business owners in the lead-up to a transaction to ensure all opportunities are considered linked to the current and future objectives/views.

"I look after many large families with complex financial circumstances and needs. I provide bespoke and creative services that link in with their Accountants/Tax and Legal advisers so that a formal and rounded approach is provided, I manage this for my clients. I have vast experience in this area and business structures".

Managing Partner

Ann-Marie Atkins

Evelyn Partners is the UK’s leading integrated wealth management and professional services group, created following the merger of Tilney and Smith & Williamson in 2020. With £61.8 billion of assets under management (as at March 2024), we are one of the largest UK wealth managers ranked by client assets and the seventh largest accountancy firm by ranked by Group fee income (source: Accountancy Age 50+50 rankings 2023). 

We have a network of offices in 30 towns and cities across the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands. Through our operating companies, we offer an extensive range of financial and professional services to individuals, family trusts, professional intermediaries, charities, and businesses.

Our purpose is to ‘place the power of good advice into more hands’, and we are uniquely well-placed to support clients with both their personal financial affairs and their business interests. Our personal wealth management services include financial planning, investment management, personal tax advice and, through Bestinvest, we have a multi award-winning online investment service for self-directed investors. For businesses, our wide range of services includes assurance and accounting, business tax advice, employee benefits and forensics.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution for financial planning and the service you receive should reflect that and be personal to you. Everyone has different lifestyles and financial circumstances, aims for the future and attitudes towards investing. 

With a service that always begins with a thorough discussion about what you have and what you want to achieve, Evelyn Partners provide financial advice to help people at all stages of life with their financial goals. Whether you need retirement and pensions advice, support with estate planning, guidance when selling your business, would like to invest for children or achieve other goals, the financial planners at Evelyn Partners are there to support you.

Evelyn Partners provide a personalised investment portfolio that takes into account your investment time horizon, attitude to risk and the returns you require, with a focus on preserving and growing your wealth to give you financial security both now and in the future. 

With a discretionary investment management service, you can choose to delegate responsibility for managing your investments to Evelyn Partners, giving you peace of mind that your investments are in expert hands. Your investment manager will build a bespoke, diversified portfolio for you and then manage it on a day-to-day basis in line with your wishes. If you’d prefer more involvement with investment decisions, one of their experienced investment managers can provide investment advice, recommending a bespoke portfolio to suit your needs and provide an ongoing service where you receive support on all your investment decisions.

Evelyn Partners

Investment Director working with Private client multi-generational families, senior executives, and business owners to implement their financial goals, aims and ambitions.



Chris has worked in the industry for more than 25 years with his primary focus on discretionary fund management. He thrives on working with family offices, high net worth private individuals, pensions, companies and trusts. Key to this success is understanding what investment capital can provide for each investor when considering individual longer-term aspirations. Chris works closely with lawyers, accountants and financial planners.



Chris works with several leading professional legal, accounting and financial planning practices for on and offshore clients. During his career he has developed trusted relationship responsible for team assets in excess of £2bn.



Chartered Wealth Manager
Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

Director, Investment Management

As a Financial Planning Partner in the London Gresham Street office, James works with a range of high net worth individuals and families, many of which have worked successfully in professional practices or owned/sold their own business. He also specialises in pensions and retirement planning, helping clients navigate the various aspects of retirement provision that often form a central part of the advice process.



James has been providing private client advice since 1999, working previously within a large accountancy firm before joining Evelyn Partners in 2019. His experience encompasses advising business owners, C-suite directors, partners of accountancy and law firms, and investment professionals.



Working closely with large family groups to help structure adopting strategies for maximising the tax-efficiency of their financial affairs using a variety of structures and tax-efficient investments.

A significant focus is on understanding and challenging client's objectives to help form strong and long-lasting relationships.



Professional qualifications and memberships

Partner, Financial Planning

Divorce; Ben Glassman heads the firm's Family & Divorce practice from the London office. He and his team have a wealth of experience advising clients and their legal representatives during this unsettling time.



Ben has particular specialist knowledge in pensions and divorce and has used this understanding to grow the firms Family team. Ben has a network of family lawyers whom he assists with pension income equalisation and expert witness reports. Ben is particularly adept at identifying strategies to maximise the total settlement size by identifying the true value of investments, pensions and businesses and how best to preserve these were beneficial to do so.



Ben is regularly asked to present to family lawyers and barristers on how best to increase financial settlements and the key issues lawyers should look out for. He has been involved in several high profile and sizable divorces cases, where his advice has increased divorcing parties’ estates by several hundreds of thousands of pounds.



Ben is a Chartered Financial Planner and a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, with 20 years financial services experience. Ben provides expert witness to the courts in regards to matrimonial assets and is a member of Resolution.

Holistic financial planning, wealth structuring, tax-efficient investments, internationally mobile executives, non-UK domiciles, UK and Non-UK pensions, US connected individuals



Mark has over 20 years of experience providing holistic advice to private clients. His career originally started in the world of Private Client tax qualifying as a Chartered Tax Adviser whilst working for KPMG in London, before moving on into the world of investment and financial planning with SG Hambros (now Kleinwort Hambros). Mark joined Evelyn Partners in 2013 and is a Partner in our Financial Planning team in London and heading up our specialist focus on providing advice to clients with an international dimension to their financial affairs. He is also a qualified Pension Transfer Specialist and an expert in the area of tax efficient investments.



Mark is one of a very small number of advisers in the UK who is qualified to a Chartered level in the disciplines of both tax and financial planning, which allows him to be able to provide advice to clients and families with some of the most complex of needs.



Fellow of the Personal Finance Society (FPFS)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT)
Associate Member of the Society for Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP)

Managing Partner working with senior executives, business owners and multi-generational families to achieve their financial goals.



I lead a team in our City office that manages discretionary assets of circa £2 billion on behalf of a wide variety of high net worth private individuals, pensions, companies and trusts. We work in close co-operation with financial planning, accountancy and legal advisers to preserve and grow the real value of our client assets through time.



Manage the investment content of circa 40 Big Four Accountancy Partners, many of which have personal independence restrictions.



Chartered Wealth Manager.
Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).
Masters in Wealth Management

Managing Partner, Investment Management

Stefan graduated from Leeds University with a degree in Politics (with Economics) before training as an IFA. He has over 20 years financial services experience, and he heads up the Leeds Investment management team and so is responsible for significant assets under management. Stefan is part of the charity investment team, and runs numerous ethical investment mandates, being a strong advocate of this investment approach



Successfully grown client assets despite the variety of financial crisis that have struck over the last 2 decades!



Partner, Investment Management

My sector specialisms are working with Senior Executives in all aspects of their financial plan throughout their career and in retirement, with clients at the time of a Divorce particularly regarding the implementation of a Pension Sharing Order and restructuring and rebuilding wealth and with Professional Athletes, in building a plan from the initial stages of their career, including specialist insurance, and into retirement.



I began my career in Financial Services 20 years ago after graduating from The University of Birmingham with a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree.

I am authorised as a Pension Transfer Specialist and have a strong technical knowledge in pensions advice in areas such as annual allowance and lifetime allowance planning considerations, income structuring and pension death benefits planning.

I provide advice to National Lottery winners as one of the chosen Chartered Financial Planners on the Camelot panel.

As a Chartered Financial Planner, I have strong technical knowledge and apply this in an easy to understand manner. I use cashflow modelling as a valuable tool to help demonstrate a client’s financial future and to provide clarity and comfort.



I have worked at Tilney Financial Planning since January 2013, being promoted to Director in 2018 and then to Partner in 2019.
I was a Finalist in the Women in Financial Advice Awards 2020 and 2021.



I have been a Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the Personal Finance Society since 2010.
I am a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute and Personal Finance Society.
I am authorised as a Pension Transfer Specialist.

Inheritance tax planning
Retirement planning
Business exit and succession planning



Worked in the industry for over a decade. I have been with Evelyn Partners for just over 2 years. Before this I worked for a top 500 UK law firm in their IFA arm where I worked alongside solicitors in both the corporate and private client teams to help clients achieve their objectives.



Chartered Financial Planner
Distinction Grade MBA



Financial Planner

Richard specialises in complex pension and investment matters with a particular focus on business owners and SMEs.



Ann-Marie Atkins

Bio

Articles from author

Selling your business: How to prepare for the exit

Selling your business: Have you thought about business protection?

Top 10 things to do whilst selling your business

Start your journey to your
Financial well-being

FIND OUT MORE

LEGAL

CONTACT US

Ann-Marie Atkins

Bio

Articles from author

Selling your business: How to prepare for the exit

Selling your business: Have you thought about business protection?

Top 10 things to do whilst selling your business

Start your journey to your Financial well-being

FIND OUT MORE

LEGAL

CONTACT US

Start your journey to your
Financial well-being