Your trusted financial planning partner
Our mission is to help families be better prepared for their retirement journey, so that they can achieve greater long-term financial security and peace of mind.
Is your pension IHT-proof?
From April 2027, pensions will fall into the Inheritance Tax (IHT) net.
Our regional seminars help you understand what's changing and what to do next.
Are your pensions in the right place?
Bringing pensions together can save money and hassle
Sara Moore, Senior Financial Consultant
Can you afford to retire early?
A cashflow plan can help to provide answers.
Jason Coppard, Financial Planning Manager
Are your finances in the best possible shape?
An 8-point Financial Health Check can shed light on optimisation potential.
Martin Cotter, Managing Director
Over 3,500 families trust us with their financial planning needs.
Lumin offers comprehensive financial planning services to set clients up for retirement. With a fully dedicated in-house team of financial consultants, we’re trusted to manage £1.3 billion in client assets.
Backed by Switzerland's leading financial experts
We are part of VZ Group, the leading independent financial services provider in Switzerland. VZ Group employs around 1,700 people. The shares of VZ Holding Ltd are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
A growing national presence
Lumin is a leading independent financial adviser headquartered in St Albans, with particular reach across London and the South-East. With five regional offices, we continue to have a growing presence across the UK.
Over 30 years experience
Lumin and VZ have collectively helped many thousands of families be financially prepared for retirement.
Our expertise
Through 1:1 consultations, Lumin’s financial plans are geared toward growing and protecting wealth by optimising our clients’ income, assets, tax burden and financial security. Whatever your financial ambitions, you can count on our sophisticated expertise.
We help you optimise your pensions and savings whilst protecting your family’s future – whether it’s understanding your pension, investing wisely, reducing tax, or planning for inheritance. Learn more
Want to make smart, legal choices to reduce your tax bill and keep more of what you earn, save, and pass on? Our tax planning advice is tailored to fit your personal goals and financial situation. Learn more
With pensions to form part of your estate from April 2027, we help you minimise your tax liabilities whilst ensuring loved ones benefit from your hard-earned money. Learn more
Our team of investment specialists can align your investment strategy with your latest goals, optimise your investments and harvest capital gains to save tax every year. Learn more
Our specialist mortgage team offers expert advice tailored to professionals, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals, helping to make the process smoother, smarter, and aligned with your financial goals. Learn more
By identifying all your protection needs, we ensure your loved ones are secure and your business can withstand challenging times. Learn more
Are you prepared for major IHT changes in 2027?
Regional seminars
Come meet our Financial Consultants in person to learn more about the upcoming changes to IHT taking effect from April 2027. Our regional seminars are designed to help you understand what the government changes mean for you and how to plan ahead tax-efficiently.
In a constantly evolving tax landscape, protecting your legacy has never been more important.
How we can support you
Resources
Factsheets
We produce a range of factsheets and mini-guides to help our clients and consumers stay up to date and informed about key financial planning topics.
Resources
Newsletters
Our financial planning and investment newsletters provide timely insights, delivered directly to your inbox every single month.
Resources
Podcast
Join Financial Planning Manager James Corcoran and Financial Consultant Jack Dudley as they discuss the financial topics you should be aware of.
Resources
Studies
Our studies provide thoughtful analysis, market research, and evidence-based insights to guide our clients through an ever-changing financial landscape.
Resources
Articles
From investing and retirement, to estate planning and tax, we keep you informed on the financial topics that matter, giving you the knowledge you need to stay ahead of the curve.
How Inheritance Tax (IHT) really works: Everything you need to know
Monthly markets review – February 2026
Iran conflict: Stay calm, stay invested
Frequently asked questions
Preserving wealth
Is inflation eating into your savings?Do you have money sitting in cash from a tax-free pension lump sum or an inheritance? Or perhaps you have cash ISAs? Most cash accounts are losing real value over time.
Bank accounts pay very little interest these days. It is often negative, once tax and inflation are taken into account. If inflation returns to the long-term average, it could shrink the real value of your savings by nearly 30% over the next 20 years.
If you’re investing for the long term, a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other assets offers better returns that can grow consistently faster than inflation.
Beat inflation with the right investments. Speak to a Lumin expert about growing your wealth in real terms.
Portfolio check
Am I holding the right investments?How does your portfolio performance compare to the market and other opportunities?
How are (hidden) fees impacting your returns?
Are your investments well diversified to spread the risk and smooth out the ups and downs?
Does your investment strategy align with your latest goals?
Have you selected suitable funds and securities?
An independent portfolio health check by Lumin can answer these questions and ensure financial flexibility, wealth preservation, and optimised investment returns.
Pensions & taxes
Are you paying 60% income tax?A pension has the most generous tax treatment for most people. This includes:
- Tax breaks on contributions by you and your employer
- Tax-free growth inside your pension over decades
- A tax-free sum when drawing your pension in retirement
In addition, your pension can normally be passed on free from inheritance tax.
With an ISA your investments grow tax-free, and can be withdrawn completely tax-free too. Unlike a pension, you can access your money whenever you need it so that may be an important consideration alongside the tax benefits.
The right balance of pensions and ISAs will depend on your personal circumstances. Speak to a Lumin expert to discuss the right solution for you.
Saving taxes
Pay less tax by harvesting your capital gainsHave your portfolio holdings risen in value?
Are you monitoring your capital gains each tax year?
Many people defer capital gains, but could be much better off if they actively manage their portfolios, and use their capital gains tax (CGT) exemption every year.
The CGT tax-free allowance (£6,000 per person for the 2023/24 tax year) must be used each year or it is lost forever.
The annual allowance will be reduced to £3,000 for the 2024/25 tax year, but couples can still realise substantial tax-free gains over time by making use of their annual exemptions.
Once you let capital gains run away, you can’t catch up. It is important to take advantage of your allowances every year. To start reducing your tax liabilities speak with a Lumin expert.
How Lumin can help
- Aligning your financial strategy with your latest goals
- Optimising your investments and tax wrappers
- Minimising tax liabilities and protecting your legacy
Your benefit: Trusted, independent advice to professionally manage your finances.
“Our aim is to be dependable stewards of your wealth over time”
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This free publication is distributed to thousands of households three times a year. Serving as your go-to resource, it offers clear, expert guidance on the financial planning questions that matter most to you.
- Pensions & retirement
- Investments
- Mortgages
- Inheritance
- Protecting family & business
