Are you looking for a rewarding career change that offers flexibility, excellent income potential, and the chance to genuinely help people? Becoming an estate planner in the UK could be your perfect next step.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about starting a career in estate planning in 2025 - from the qualifications you'll need, to expected salaries, training options, and how to land your first clients.
Quick Summary:
- No law degree required - anyone can become an estate planner
- Training takes 3 weeks to first paying client
- Average first-year earnings: £35,000-£47,000
- Experienced planners earn £60,000-£100,000+
- Work from home, set your own hours
- Growing industry with 67+ million people in the UK needing wills
Table of Contents
1. What is an Estate Planner?
An estate planner is a professional who helps individuals and families plan for the distribution of their assets after death and manage their affairs if they become incapacitated. This involves:
- Will Writing: Creating legally valid wills that reflect clients' wishes
- Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs): Setting up legal authority for trusted individuals to make decisions on someone's behalf
- Inheritance Tax Planning: Advising on strategies to minimize tax liabilities
- Trust Creation: Establishing trusts for asset protection and distribution
- Probate Assistance: Guiding executors through the probate process
Unlike solicitors who often handle estate planning as just one of many legal services, dedicated estate planners specialize exclusively in this area, allowing them to provide personalized, cost-effective service to clients.
2. Why Choose Estate Planning as a Career in 2025?
Massive Market Demand
The UK has a will-writing crisis:
- 67 million people live in the UK
- Only 38% of adults have a will
- That means 41.5 million people need estate planning services
- The UK's aging population is driving demand even higher
Excellent Income Potential
Estate planning is genuinely lucrative:
- Part-time (10-15 hrs/week): £18,000-£30,000/year
- Full-time first year: £35,000-£47,000/year
- Experienced (3+ years): £60,000-£100,000/year
- Top performers: £150,000+/year
Flexibility & Work-Life Balance
- Work from home or clients' homes
- Set your own schedule
- Choose your own clients
- No commute required
- Perfect for parents, carers, or anyone wanting flexibility
Meaningful Work
You're not just making money - you're providing peace of mind to families and protecting their futures. Many estate planners report this as the most rewarding aspect of their career.
Important Note: While you don't need to be a solicitor, you do need proper training and professional indemnity insurance. Never practice without appropriate qualifications.
3. Qualifications & Requirements to Become an Estate Planner
No Law Degree Required
Here's the great news: You do NOT need to be a solicitor or have a law degree to become an estate planner in the UK. The profession is open to anyone who completes appropriate training.
What You DO Need:
- Professional Training: Completion of a recognized estate planning course
- Professional Indemnity Insurance: Coverage for your services (typically £50-150/month)
- Will-Writing Software: Professional tools for drafting wills (usually £150-300/month unless included in training)
- Age Requirements: Must be 18+ (no upper age limit)
- Criminal Record: Must pass a basic DBS check
Ideal Candidate Profile:
The best estate planners typically have:
- Good communication and listening skills
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
- Attention to detail
- Basic IT skills
- Self-motivation (if self-employed)
- Professional demeanor
Previous careers of successful estate planners include: Teachers, nurses, accountants, retail managers, police officers, administrators, financial advisors, and many others. Your existing skills transfer beautifully.
4. Estate Planning Training Options in 2025
Traditional Options (What to Avoid)
Older training providers typically offer:
- Cost: £2,000-£5,000
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Age restrictions (often 30-60)
- Mandatory expensive memberships
- Software sold separately (£150-300/month ongoing)
- Limited ongoing support
Modern Training (Recommended 2025)
Modern providers like ProjectWill offer:
- Cost: £299-£995 (all-inclusive)
- Duration: 3 weeks to first paying client
- Inclusions: Software, templates, marketing materials, ongoing support
- No age restrictions: All ages and backgrounds welcome
- Flexible learning: Self-paced or live training options
- No mandatory memberships
What Your Training Should Cover:
- Will writing fundamentals and UK law
- Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs)
- Probate and estate administration
- Inheritance tax planning basics
- Trust creation and management
- Client consultation skills
- Marketing and business development
- Practice management and compliance
5. Estate Planner Salary in the UK (2025 Data)
Service Pricing
Estate planners typically charge:
- Single will: £150-£300
- Mirror wills (couple): £250-£500
- Will + LPA package: £400-£750
- Full estate plan: £750-£1,500
- Complex trusts: £1,200-£3,000+
Realistic Income Projections
Year 1 (Part-Time: 10-15 hrs/week)
- Clients per month: 5-8
- Average fee: £350
- Monthly income: £1,750-£2,800
- Annual: £21,000-£33,600
Year 1 (Full-Time: 35-40 hrs/week)
- Clients per month: 10-15
- Average fee: £450
- Monthly income: £4,500-£6,750
- Annual: £54,000-£81,000
Year 3+ (Established Practice)
- Clients per month: 15-25
- Average fee: £600 (higher-value services)
- Monthly income: £9,000-£15,000
- Annual: £108,000-£180,000
Remember: These figures are before expenses (insurance, software, marketing). Most estate planners have low overheads (10-20% of revenue) compared to other businesses.
6. How to Get Started: Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Research and Commit (Week 1)
- Read guides like this one
- Watch training provider comparison videos
- Book discovery calls with training providers
- Check local market demand in your area
- Decide if this career is right for you
Step 2: Choose Your Training (Week 1-2)
- Compare training providers based on:
- Cost (all-inclusive or hidden fees?)
- Inclusions (software, support, materials)
- Duration (when can you start earning?)
- Reviews and graduate success rates
- Ongoing support offered
- Enroll in your chosen program
Step 3: Complete Training (Weeks 2-4)
- Attend all training sessions (live or self-paced)
- Practice with software and templates
- Study case examples and scenarios
- Pass any assessments required
- Obtain your certificate of completion
Step 4: Set Up Your Business (Week 4)
- Register as self-employed with HMRC
- Purchase professional indemnity insurance
- Set up business bank account
- Create simple website or landing page
- Order business cards
- Set pricing structure
Step 5: Launch Marketing (Week 4-5)
- Join local networking groups
- Connect with financial advisors and accountants
- Set up Google Business Profile
- Launch Facebook/LinkedIn presence
- Offer introductory discounts to first clients
- Ask friends/family for referrals
Step 6: Land First Clients (Week 5-8)
- Follow up on all inquiries promptly
- Offer free initial consultations
- Deliver exceptional service
- Ask for testimonials and reviews
- Request referrals from happy clients
Ready to Start Your Estate Planning Career?
Book a free discovery call to discuss your goals and see if our training is right for you. No pressure, no obligations.
Book Your Free Call →7. Finding Your First Clients
Best Marketing Channels for New Estate Planners
1. Networking (Highest ROI)
- Join BNI or similar business networking groups
- Attend local chamber of commerce events
- Partner with financial advisors and accountants
- Connect with funeral directors
- Build relationships with solicitors (for overflow work)
2. Digital Marketing
- Google Business Profile (free and essential)
- Facebook ads targeting 50+ demographic
- LinkedIn for professional networking
- SEO-optimized website
- Email marketing to warm leads
3. Community Engagement
- Offer free seminars at community centers
- Write guest articles for local publications
- Sponsor local events
- Partner with age UK and similar organizations
4. Referral Marketing
- Implement formal referral program (£50 gift card for referrals)
- Ask every satisfied client for 3 referrals
- Follow up with referrers to close the loop
What NOT to Do
- ❌ Don't buy leads from lead generation companies (low quality, expensive)
- ❌ Don't rely solely on paid advertising (expensive, unsustainable)
- ❌ Don't undervalue your services (race to bottom)
- ❌ Don't skip the testimonial-gathering process
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Choosing Training Based on Price Alone
A £2,000 course with £300/month software costs £5,600 in year 1. A £995 course with free software costs £995 total. Always calculate the TOTAL cost including ongoing fees.
2. Underpricing Your Services
New planners often charge too little thinking it will help them win clients. Reality: it attracts difficult clients and makes you appear inexperienced. Charge market rates (£350-750 average) from day one.
3. Not Specializing
While you should offer the full range of services, consider specializing in a niche: blended families, business owners, expats, etc. Specialists can charge 20-50% more.
4. Poor Client Experience
Estate planning is emotional. Small touches matter: handwritten thank-you notes, follow-up calls, remembering details about their family. This drives referrals.
5. Neglecting Continuing Education
Laws change. Stay current through CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses, webinars, and industry publications.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a solicitor to write wills in the UK?
No. Will writing is an unregulated activity in the UK, meaning anyone can offer these services. However, you should have proper training and insurance to practice ethically and competently.
How long does it take to become an estate planner?
Modern training programs can have you ready for your first client in 3-4 weeks. Traditional programs take 6-12 months but aren't necessarily better.
Can I do this part-time?
Absolutely. Many successful estate planners start part-time while keeping their day job, then transition to full-time once established.
What's the hardest part of being an estate planner?
Most planners say finding the first 5-10 clients is the hardest part. Once you have testimonials and referrals flowing, it gets significantly easier.
Is the market saturated?
Not even close. With 41.5 million people in the UK needing wills and only a few thousand professional estate planners, there's plenty of opportunity.
Can I work from home?
Yes. Most estate planners work from home offices and visit clients at their homes or meet in neutral locations like coffee shops.
What if I make a mistake?
This is why professional indemnity insurance is mandatory. It protects you (and your clients) if errors occur. Good training also minimizes this risk significantly.
Final Thoughts: Is Estate Planning Right for You?
Becoming an estate planner in 2025 offers a unique combination of benefits that few careers can match:
- ✅ Excellent income potential (£35K-£100K+)
- ✅ Low barrier to entry (no degree required)
- ✅ Quick to start (3 weeks to first client)
- ✅ Total flexibility (work from home, set your hours)
- ✅ Meaningful work (helping families)
- ✅ Growing industry (massive unmet demand)
- ✅ Low overhead costs
If you're looking for a career change that offers both financial rewards and personal fulfillment, estate planning deserves serious consideration.
Take the Next Step
Book a free 30-minute discovery call to discuss your specific situation and whether estate planning is the right career move for you.
We'll cover:
- ✅ Your career goals and income targets
- ✅ Which training path suits you best
- ✅ Realistic timeline to first client
- ✅ Local market opportunities in your area
No pressure, no obligations. Just honest advice.
Last updated: November 8, 2025 - Information accurate as of publication date. Always verify current regulations with official sources.