Working From Home as an Estate Planner

Most estate planners work from home, and there are good reasons why this model works. For the complete career overview, see our guide on How to Become an Estate Planner UK:

Benefits for you:

• •No commuting costs or time
• •Lower overheads than renting office space
• •Flexibility around family and life
• •Tax benefits (home office expenses)
• •Work-life integration

Benefits for clients:

• •You can visit them at home
• •More personal, less corporate
• •Often more flexible scheduling
• •Lower costs passed on in fees

The business case:

• •Office rent: £300-800+/month saved
• •Commuting: £100-300+/month saved
• •Professional wardrobe costs: reduced
• •That's £5,000-15,000+ per year in lower overheads

The reality:

Estate planning doesn't require expensive offices. You need:

• •A quiet space for calls and drafting
• •Professional appearance for client meetings
• •Good systems and processes
• •Self-discipline

Many successful estate planners have always worked from home. It's not a compromise - it's a feature.

Your home office doesn't need to be elaborate, but it needs to be functional:

Essential requirements:

• •Quiet space for client calls
• •Desk and comfortable chair
• •Reliable computer and internet
• •Printer (good quality for documents)
• •Secure storage for client files
• •Good lighting for video calls

Nice to have:

• •Separate room with door
• •Professional background for video calls
• •Second monitor
• •Document scanner
• •Quality webcam and microphone

Security considerations:

• •Lock for client document storage
• •Encrypted computer/password protection
• •Secure cloud backup
• •Shredder for confidential waste
• •Clear desk policy

Tax implications:

You can claim a proportion of home costs:

• •Portion of rent/mortgage interest
• •Utilities
• •Internet
• •Home insurance
• •Council tax

Speak to an accountant about the most tax-efficient approach for your situation.

As a home-based planner, you have options for client meetings:

Home visits (their home):

Most estate planners visit clients at home. This is popular because:

• •Clients find it convenient
• •More relaxed environment
• •See family dynamics naturally
• •No accessibility issues for elderly clients
• •Builds trust through personal service

Tips for home visits:

• •Be punctual
• •Dress professionally (but not over-formally)
• •Have materials organised
• •Be aware of family dynamics
• •Confirm appointments day before

Video calls:

Increasingly popular since COVID:

• •Convenient for both parties
• •Saves travel time
• •Good for simple follow-ups
• •Widens your geographical reach

Tips for video calls:

• •Test technology beforehand
• •Professional background
• •Good lighting (face the window)
• •Minimise distractions
• •Send documents in advance

Office meetings (at your home):

Some planners see clients at home, but consider:

• •Insurance and liability issues
• •Professional appearance
• •Family interruptions
• •Appropriate space

Most home-based planners focus on home visits and video calls rather than inviting clients to their homes.

Working from home requires discipline around boundaries:

Work-life boundaries:

• •Set working hours and stick to them
• •Have a dedicated workspace
• •"Commute" ritual (even just a walk)
• •Shut the office door at end of day
• •Don't check emails constantly

Professional boundaries:

• •Separate phone number for business
• •Professional email address
• •Clear voicemail message
• •Response time expectations
• •Business hours communication only

Family boundaries:

• •Explain work requirements to family
• •Signal system when not to disturb
• •Childcare during work hours if needed
• •Dedicated time for family vs work

Common challenges:

• •Feeling always "on" - set cut-off times
• •Family interruptions - communicate needs
• •Procrastination - structure your day
• •Isolation - schedule networking and social time
• •Overworking - protect personal time

The discipline trade-off:

Home working offers freedom, but requires self-management. You need to:

• •Start work without being told
• •Stay focused without supervision
• •Finish work at appropriate time
• •Maintain professionalism without office environment

This suits some people better than others. Be honest about whether you work well independently.