Many of us will go to great lengths to protect our hard-earned assets that we have built up over the years, especially our homes.

Unfortunately there are people who will take advantage of this desperation and will flog financial services that appear to ‘protect’ your assets from Inheritance Tax.

Universal Wealth Preservation (UWP) was an unregulated company that set up trusts, handled investments and even dabbled in will writing – often appointing themselves as executors and trustees.

Having held information seminars locally to Basingstoke and Reading, they spoke to attendees about how they can help avoid tax and paying care home fees by signing up – a tempting thought, that sadly went very sour for many clients.

The media has reported that UWP has gone under and Steve and Melanie Long had fled. It is believed they are now under a full investigation however many clients have found they had lost their savings and their properties had been put into the Long’s names.  

Lamb Brooks LLP is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which means our clients will always be protected, unlike Universal Trust. We have successfully removed Steve and Melanie Long’s names from our client’s property and reviewed their trust documents and advised on their planning going forward.

If you are concerned that you may have been affected then please get in touch with James Phipps, Head of Private Client and Partner at Lamb Brooks LLP on 01256 844888 or email james.phipps@lambbrooks.com