Francis Clark Financial Planning

Important Inheritance Tax changes for business owners came into effect on 6 April 2026.

100% Business Relief and Agricultural Relief is now capped at a combined £2.5 million of qualifying assets. Qualifying assets above this threshold receive 50% relief.

If your estate or succession plan was based on the previous rules, it could be time to review it.

Your financial planner can help you understand your potential liability and explore options including lifetime gifting, ownership between spouses and life assurance.

Click the link in the comments below to learn more 👇

Meet Mike Furniss, Associate Director at Francis Clark Financial Planning.

Mike began his career in financial services in 1995 after leaving the Royal Navy and has since worked across independent firms, wealth management businesses and private banks.

Now a Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the Personal Finance Society, Mike focuses on holistic financial planning that can adapt as his clients’ circumstances and needs change.

Outside work, he’s been putting his DIY skills to the test after moving into a converted police station and enjoys long walks with his family and their four dogs.

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Career paths are rarely straightforward… For Nikki Mitchell, a temporary contract with a global insurance company after leaving school led to a career in financial services spanning almost 40 years.

Since then, Nikki has worked in a variety of roles, from life office administrator and broker consultant to running her own advisory business. She joined Francis Clark Financial Planning 11 years ago as a paraplanner and, through hard work and determination, is now our Head of Operations and a member of the Board.

Alongside her role, Nikki is passionate about encouraging more women to consider careers in financial services. Through volunteering with local schools and conducting mock interviews, she's helping young people discover the wide range of opportunities the profession has to offer.

Reflecting on the changes she's seen throughout her career, Nikki is encouraged by the progress made in improving gender balance, but believes there's still more to do. She hopes initiatives like the Women in Finance Charter will continue to create opportunities for the next generation.

Swipe through to read Nikki's story, including the advice she'd give to any young woman considering a career in financial services.

Recent news of a major data breach affecting millions of UK airport customers is a reminder that cyber threats are becoming harder to ignore.

At Francis Clark Financial Planning, keeping your personal and financial information secure is a priority.

That’s why this year, we are launching our new client portal, which will become our primary communication channel.

It will include secure, WhatsApp-style messaging and give you one place to access documents, portfolio values, meeting summaries and agreed actions. Think of it as your financial plan in your pocket.

We’ll also be on hand to support anyone who isn’t confident using technology.

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Good wealth management is about much more than investments.

It starts with understanding what's important to you, your family and your future.

Our experienced, independent financial planners take the time to understand your goals before recommending solutions tailored to your circumstances.

That's why many of our clients stay with us for years, often across generations.

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Last week, we shared our commitment to improving gender balance in financial services.

Over the coming weeks, we're introducing some of the women helping to shape Francis Clark Financial Planning and sharing the stories behind their careers.

First up is our Senior Chartered Financial Planner, Michelle Willcock.

Michelle has worked in financial services since 1987 and joined Francis Clark Financial Planning in 2001. During that time, she's achieved Chartered status, become a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society, won Financial Adviser of the Year (South West) in 2025 and has been shortlisted for the award again this year.

Her journey also reflects how the profession has evolved. Michelle remembers a time when she was often the only woman in the room at industry events. Today, she's encouraged to see more women choosing careers in financial planning, while recognising there's still more progress to be made.

Swipe through to read Michelle's story and the advice she would give to women considering a career in financial services.

Our B Corp™ journey has been about much more than achieving a certification.

It's encouraged us to continually improve how we support our colleagues, strengthen our culture and make environmental, social and governance considerations part of everyday decision-making.

While we're proud of what we've achieved, we know there's always more to learn and improve.

Click the link in the comments below to learn more 👇

Meet Michelle Willcock, Senior Financial Planner at Francis Clark Financial Planning.

Michelle is a Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the Personal Finance Society with more than 35 years' experience, specialising in retirement, inheritance and investment planning.

She enjoys building long-term relationships with clients and creating tailored financial plans that help them achieve their goals with confidence.

Away from work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, coastal walks around Newquay, cold water swimming, Taekwondo and tennis.

Find out more by clicking the link in the comments below 👇

At Francis Clark Financial Planning, supporting women in finance has been part of our journey for many years. In 2024, we strengthened that commitment by signing the Women in Finance Charter, setting ambitious targets to increase the representation of women across senior leadership, management and financial planner roles by 2027.

Those targets matter because the profession still has work to do. Today, women make up around 18% of financial planners in the UK, despite many clients saying they would value the opportunity to work with a female adviser.

We're proud that our efforts have been recognised, including being shortlisted for the Professional Adviser Women in Financial Advice Awards 2026 for our Contribution to Gender Diversity, while our Senior Chartered Financial Planner, Michelle Willcock, has once again been shortlisted for Financial Adviser of the Year (South West).

While we're proud of the progress we've made, we know there is more to do.

Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing the stories of some of the women helping to shape Francis Clark Financial Planning. They'll talk about what inspired them to build a career in financial planning, the experiences that have shaped them, and the advice they'd give to others considering the profession.

We hope you'll follow the series and join the conversation.

Big life moments often mean it's time to review your finances too.

Whether you've recently:

✔️ Got married
✔️ Bought a home
✔️ Updated your will
✔️ Welcomed a child
✔️ Reviewed your protection
✔️ Changed your beneficiaries

Taking stock of your finances after a major life event can help ensure your plans still reflect what's most important to you.

Click the link in the comments below to get in touch 👇