Protecting your family - S4 Financial

| Protecting your family

When you start a family, it is inevitable that your financial priorities and goals for the future will change. You will want to ensure that you are in the best financial position to support your children and protect them against whatever challenges life may bring. It is also vital to ensure that, should the worst happen, those who depend on your income will not suffer financial hardship and uncertainty at an already difficult time.

Give your children the best start in life

We all want the best for our children – and there are many ways our wealth can be leveraged to achieve that. You might be looking to send your child to an independent school, build up savings and investments on their behalf, put aside money or assets for when they reach adulthood, or help them with a significant purchase such as a property or a wedding.

Whatever your goals for your children’s future, S4 Financial is here to help you achieve them.

Our approach is centred on cashflow modelling, a scientific approach to financial planning that uses data about your current financial situation to make predictions about what the future might look like according to a range of scenarios.

For example, you might want to see how much you would need to save in order to be able to send your child to private school for 14 years (the total duration of primary and secondary school education in the UK). Your cashflow model would take the resources you have now and use this information to predict what you will need to save or invest in order to cover the shortfall, accounting for variables such as inflation, investment performance and economic conditions to build a fully rounded forecast of your future finances. Your adviser can use these projections to create a tailored investment plan to ensure you can comfortably finance your child’s education for as long as is needed.

Protect what is most precious to you

When you have worked hard to build up your wealth, it is vital to have a plan in place to preserve and protect it. Wealth and personal protection is an indispensable part of any wealth management plan, to ensure a secure future for both yourself and your family should something unexpected happen.

For example, what if you were to lose your income due to illness or injury, or if you died prematurely? Would your family be able to continue enjoying the standard of living to which they are currently accustomed? Could they afford an unexpected Inheritance Tax bill? Do you have an exit or succession plan for your business to ensure your interests can be passed down smoothly to the next generation?

At S4 Financial, we have a wide range of tools at our disposal to ensure your wealth and your family are protected against financial shocks, offering our clients security, certainty and peace of mind. From taking out comprehensive protection cover in the form of a life or critical illness policy, to utilising tax-efficient trusts to safeguard your assets, we are here to ensure that your wealth continues to protect your loved ones long after you are gone.

Protecting your family FAQs

What level of life or critical illness cover do I need to protect my family's lifestyle if I were incapacitated or passed away?

While the right level of protection varies by individual, a common guideline is to have enough life cover to replace around 10 – 20 times your annual income – more if you have children or substantial debts like a mortgage. Critical illness cover can offer a reassuring financial payment if you’re unable to work due to serious illness, helping maintain your family’s standard of living. We use cashflow modelling to test different scenarios, ensuring your cover reflects your real-life needs.

Can I set up tax-efficient trusts or gifts to protect assets for my children or future heirs?

Absolutely, you can gift amounts up to £3,000 each tax year free of Inheritance Tax and unused allowances may be carried forward, while small gifts of up to £250 per person can also be exempt. Trusts are another powerful tool, helping shield assets from Inheritance Tax and giving you confidence that your wealth goes to the right people. We can guide you through options tailored to your long-term family goals.

How do cashflow models help me determine what my family truly needs in different future scenarios?

Cashflow modelling is a dynamic way to explore what your family might need over time – whether that’s covering living expenses, school fees, or managing a life change like illness or loss of income. It lets us simulate different situations, like a change in income or unexpected costs, so you can see how much protection is necessary. With this insight, you’ll feel confident that your cover is neither underwhelming nor excessive but just right for your family’s future.

How much will it cost to fund my child’s education from school through university?

The cost of education can vary widely depending on school type, location, and university choices. In the UK, private school fees typically range from £15,000 to £25,000 per year and university tuition costs are over £9,500 annually (2025/26). By building education assumptions into your cashflow model, we can help you plan how much to set aside each year to meet these goals, without tipping into financial strain.

| Let’s protect your family, together

When you have dependants relying on your income, it can feel like the weight of responsibility is entirely on your shoulders. Partnering with us means that you can share that load. Let us support you in protecting your wealth, so that we can safeguard your family’s future, together.