Introduction: A Shift in Season, A Shift in Mindset
In this article, Luke James explores why autumn is one of the most emotionally and practically appropriate times to prepare your financial affairs and how making the right decisions now — before winter arrives, before the year ends — can make all the difference.
Every year, September seems to arrive quietly — almost unnoticed. One minute we’re in the long light of summer, the next, the mornings have cooled, the pace has slowed, and the year feels as though it’s beginning to wind down.
In my experience, this seasonal shift often brings with it a subtle change in perspective. Clients who were distracted by holidays or business deals a few weeks earlier start to pause. They begin to ask different questions. Not “What are markets doing?” or “Can I top up my ISA?” — but “Is everything in place if something happened to me?”
It’s not morbid. It’s natural. As the days grow shorter and routines return, people often find themselves thinking about what’s unfinished — not just in their work or finances, but in life more broadly. It’s a season that quietly invites reflection. And for many, especially those entering later life, it can be a powerful moment of clarity.
The Autumn Effect: A Season That Prompts Reflection
There’s something about autumn that encourages introspection. Maybe it’s the light fading earlier in the evening. Maybe it’s the return to routine after the freedom of summer. Or perhaps it’s the way the natural world models change — leaves turning, temperatures dropping, the world growing quieter.
Whatever the reason, this season often marks a psychological shift. Clients begin to look ahead, not in terms of ambition, but in terms of legacy. They start asking themselves what they’ve left unsaid, undone, or unorganised. In some cases, they’ve had a recent health scare or lost someone close. In others, it’s simply the realisation that time is moving on, and they’re not as prepared as they’d like to be.
This moment of reflection can be remarkably productive — if we respond to it. I’ve found that September and October are often the best months to revisit estate plans, update wills, consider inheritance tax strategies, and bring the family into the conversation. There’s still time before year-end, but there’s also enough emotional space to think clearly, without the urgency or sentimentality that often clouds decision-making in winter.
“Autumn gives us the emotional permission to look ahead — not with fear, but with focus.”
– Keely Woods, Chartered Financial Planner – Lucent Financial Planning
These reflections don’t require crisis to be valid. In fact, they’re often more valuable when they arise gently — as they tend to in autumn. The key is not to let them pass by unnoticed.
Mortality Isn’t Just a Winter Risk — It’s a Constant Vulnerability
There’s a well-established public awareness around the risks winter brings — particularly for older adults. The cold weather, flu season, and reduced mobility all contribute to higher mortality rates, and the data supports this. But while winter often gets the headlines, the reality is that life is fragile at any time of year — and death doesn’t follow the seasons.
I’ve worked with families who assumed they’d have time — to talk, to organise, to get the paperwork in order. But illness, accidents, or sudden decline can happen in any month. Waiting until January to review your will or consider inheritance tax strategy is no use if something unexpected happens in October.
And yet, most people plan reactively. They wait for a diagnosis, or a friend’s funeral, or the first signs of decline before taking action. Unfortunately, by then, the most effective planning options — such as gifting, structuring trusts, using allowances, or setting up life cover in trust — are often off the table, or at least far harder to implement.
That’s not to say every client needs to live as if time is short. But there’s a quiet kind of wisdom in recognising that death is not seasonal. The question isn’t “Will I need to act soon?” — it’s “If something happened now, would my family know what to do?”
“The real risk isn’t that death comes early — it’s that clarity comes too late.”
– Ellie Pemberton, Chartered Financial Planner – Lucent Financial Planning
The opportunity in autumn is that mortality feels present — but not yet pressing. That’s the perfect time to act: when you’re clear-headed, emotionally settled, and still in control of the outcome. That window shouldn’t be wasted.
Autumn Is the Smartest Time to Prepare — Here’s Why
There’s a rhythm to the financial year, just as there is to the seasons. And while the calendar might suggest that planning belongs in January or April, I’ve found that autumn is often the most effective time to get your financial and estate affairs in order — particularly for clients thinking seriously about legacy, tax efficiency, or family continuity.
The summer distractions have faded. The end-of-year rush hasn’t yet begun. And for many, this period between September and November offers both the emotional bandwidth and the logistical breathing room to focus on the things that really matter.
From a purely practical standpoint, there’s enormous value in acting before the year-end deadlines. Many clients want to make use of their annual gifting allowances, structure tax-efficient transfers, or review pension drawdowns — all of which benefit from a calm, considered approach rather than a December panic. Similarly, conversations around inheritance tax, wills, and trust planning tend to land better with family members when they’re held outside the noise of festive obligations or tax-year stress.
Professionally, this is also when advisers — whether financial planners, private client solicitors, or accountants — tend to have more capacity. Come January, inboxes overflow. But in autumn, there’s time for deeper thinking, more considered modelling, and better collaboration across disciplines.
“Autumn gives you enough distance from the year’s end — and enough clarity to act before it’s too late.”
And there’s another reason this season matters: energy. Later in the year, decision fatigue sets in. By January, many clients feel spent — emotionally, financially, and mentally. Autumn, however, offers the last of the year’s momentum. Use it well, and you’ll enter the new year not just reflective, but resolved.
What to Review or Put in Place
Once clients decide it’s time to prepare, the next question is almost always the same: “But what should I actually do?” The answer depends on their circumstances, of course — but there are several core areas I return to time and again. These aren’t just administrative tasks. They’re cornerstones of a well-considered legacy, and autumn is an ideal time to review them.
1. Create or Review Your Will
Start with your will. It’s the most obvious tool, yet often the most neglected. If it hasn’t been reviewed in five years — or if life has changed significantly since it was written — it’s worth revisiting. A new marriage, a divorce, a death in the family, or a win on the National Lottery can all affect how your estate will be distributed. Outdated wills are one of the most common causes of disputes and unintended tax consequences.
2. Lasting Power of Attorney
Next, look at your Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) — both for property and financial affairs, and for health and welfare. These aren’t just for the very elderly. Incapacity can arrive unexpectedly, and without an LPA in place, your loved ones could face lengthy delays and legal barriers when trying to act in your best interests.
3. Review Your Inheritance Tax Position
Your inheritance tax position should also be reviewed. Many clients are unaware they’ve crossed the IHT threshold, particularly if property values have risen or past gifts haven’t been fully documented. Planning options such as lifetime gifting, trust structuring, or life insurance written in trust are only effective if they’re implemented in advance — often years before they’re needed. This has never been more important with upcoming changes to pensions and inheritance tax rules.
4. Financial Housekeeping
This is also the moment to assess your financial housekeeping. Are your key documents organised and accessible? Do your executors know where to find them? Are your pension nominations and life insurance beneficiaries up to date? Is your digital life accounted for — with passwords, investments, or online subscriptions clearly recorded?
Read our article: How Do I Find a Lost Pension
“A strong legacy isn’t built on paperwork — but paperwork can protect it.”
Steven Rowe – Chartered Financial Planner, Founder
Lastly, autumn is a powerful time to open the conversation with family. Whether it’s explaining your wishes, preparing adult children to inherit, or simply ensuring your spouse feels confident if something were to happen, these conversations offer reassurance on both sides. And they’re always easier when held proactively — rather than under pressure.
Read more in our article: Tips on How to Discuss Estate Planning With Your Parents
The Gift of Preparation — What Families Really Appreciate
In the world of financial planning, it’s easy to talk in terms of tax thresholds, allowances, and legal structures. But when I sit down with the families of those who’ve passed away — and those left to manage what’s been left behind — the thing they speak about most isn’t tax. It’s clarity.
They don’t remember whether the will was perfectly drafted. But they remember whether they could find it. They don’t recall every detail of the investment portfolio — but they remember whether they understood the plan. And above all, they remember whether the person they lost had taken the time to think ahead, not just financially, but emotionally.
Because what families truly value — particularly in the fog of grief — is knowing what to do next.
When someone has taken the time to organise their affairs, document their wishes, plan for tax, and communicate clearly, they leave behind more than an inheritance. They leave behind a sense of order, thoughtfulness, and care. They create space for their loved ones to focus on healing — not paperwork. They reduce conflict, delay, and uncertainty. And in doing so, they preserve not only wealth, but relationships.
“Well-planned estates rarely make headlines — but they make a world of difference to the families behind them.”
Of course, no amount of planning can remove the sadness of loss. But it can remove the confusion. It can remove the overwhelm. And in its place, it can leave a sense of calm — the quiet confidence that everything is in hand, and that your legacy has been carried out with dignity.
That, I’ve found, is the outcome families appreciate most. Not the tax saved. But the kindness of preparation.
Conclusion: A Season to Reflect — and Then Act
Autumn has always had a quiet wisdom to it. It marks the turning of the year — a pause between the urgency of summer and the finality of winter. And for many, it’s when the big questions come into focus. Have I said what I need to say? Is everything in place? If something were to happen, would my family know what to do?
These aren’t easy questions. But they are generous ones. Because asking them — and acting on them — is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for the people you love.
Planning your financial affairs isn’t just about tax. It’s about clarity. It’s about reducing stress. It’s about making sure that what you leave behind is not confusion, but confidence.
“Good planning isn’t just a financial decision. It’s a personal kindness.”
And autumn is the perfect time to begin. Before the year-end rush. Before the emotional weight of the festive period. Before complexity becomes urgency.
A Thoughtful Conversation, When You’re Ready
If you’ve been thinking about your will, your estate, or simply whether everything is in the right place, now is a natural time to check. You don’t need to have all the answers — just the willingness to start.
We’re here for that first conversation. No pressure. No obligation. Just thoughtful, experienced support to help you get everything in order — while there’s still plenty of time to do it well.
Feel free to get in touch when the moment feels right.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute financial advice. We recommend that you speak to a qualified financial planner for advice tailored to your individual circumstances and goals. Financial markets may go up or down, and you are not guaranteed a return on your investment. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance.
.jpg)
