These case studies are not based on real clients but are shown for illustration purposes only.

Margaret is currently in receipt of care at a local nursing home and is almost 90 years old.

She has assets in excess of £21,000 and must therefore fund her care fees entirely from her own means. She has income of around £600 per month from all sources including her Attendance Allowance, and her outgoings amount to around £2,000 per month, which covers the home's fees and some personal spending. She therefore needs to find £1,400 per month to meet the shortfall.

Margaret had no assets other than her then empty house, which was valued at £200,000. Although the Local Authority will never force the sale of a property, they will withhold payment of care home fees after a period of 3 months under these circumstances. If the house was sold, we would have the resultant funds with which to find a solution.

Using all the tools available to us, we would be able to ensure that all of Margaret's fees will be paid for the remainder of her life, and over £150,000 invested for her potential beneficiaries. The family would have peace of mind knowing that Margaret's was being fully looked after, and that 75% of her estate would have been protected under trust.

These case studies are not based on real clients but are shown for illustration purposes only.

Lily is 84 years old and lives in a nursing home in Kent .

Lily's family were concerned that her savings would be used up paying for her care at £650 per week, and that eventually her house (the family's projected inheritance) would also disappear. Her savings amounted to some £90,000, and the house was valued at a further £160,000.

Lily was in extremely poor health, and had a limited life expectancy. Specialist Care Plans could be considered and quotations obtained, but the risk of Lily dying sooner rather than later meant the possible loss of capital associated with plans of this type. We would therefore examine pure investment type solutions to provide an income to cover the shortfall in fees.

Lily died within two years, but fortunately, the investment arrangement we would have recommended would have paid out in full the original capital invested on her behalf. The family then would have the benefit of all of her original capital and the house, illustrating that it is possible to protect 100% of the resident's estate with careful planning.

These case studies are not based on real clients but are shown for illustration purposes only.

Joyce is almost 80 and currently enjoys her stay in a residential home in London .

She is considerably wealthy, and has an income of over £1,700 per month. Her Care fees are in excess of £3,000 per month. She therefore requires an additional income of £1,300 to meet her fees each month.

Because of the degree of wealth she has, she also has a considerable Inheritance Tax problem, to be borne by her grandchildren when she eventually dies.

With the skilful use of Trust planning we would be able to provide an income, tax free, from her investment portfolio, which met the shortfall and immediately removed £118,800 from her estate. Should she live another 7 years, the total removed from her estate would reach £312,000, and she would still enjoy a continuing income. The family has been saved a minimum of £124,800 in Inheritance Tax by this single piece of planning at current tax rates.

Levels, bases and relief's from taxation are subject to change.

These case studies are not based on real clients but are shown for illustration purposes only.

Edith is 87 and has just gone into full time residential care, funded by the Local Authority.

Tony, her husband remained at home with their 42-year-old disabled son David. Tony and the rest of the family were aware of the ruling that decreed that a spouse remaining in the home after their partner had gone into care meant that the property did not form part of the assets used in the Local Authority financial assessment. However, within 18 months Tony had passed on, and Edith, still being alive and well in the home, inherited the property. Tony and Edith's daughter, aware of the ruling, became immediately concerned for David's security.

The good news is that David, through his disabled status, qualifies to stay in the property for as long as he likes. No charge or other financial pressure will force him to leave. However, if he voluntarily leaves at any point in the future, the property becomes immediately liable for assessment, and Edith, currently enjoying Local Authority funded care, would have to start paying for her care under the current rules. This inevitably would mean the sale of the house to raise funds.

Once again we would be able to use the funds to ensure that Edith enjoyed care in the home of her choice for as long as she lived.