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You've inherited some investments. Now what?

Important information - please keep in mind that the value of investments can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future.

Inheriting investments

If you've inherited some investments, here are some things you will need to know. If you'd like to talk to someone to help you decide what to do with your inheritance, financial advice might be for you. Call us on 0800 058 4443.

Learn more about advice

Here's what we'll cover

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What happens when you inherit investments?

The executor will have had to go through a number of complex stages before the bequeathed investments become yours. The executor will have to:

  • Write or call you to tell you that someone has left some investments to you in their will after they've died.
  • Show the provider (the company where the investments are held) that they're authorised to deal with the deceased's estate. This is called obtaining probate. It’s very important the executor gets this, as without it you can't receive anything that's been left to you in the will.
  • Tell you that proof of probate has been received. This means the ownership of investments is transferred to you and you can then decide what you want to do with them.

Inherited a Fidelity account? Here's what you need to know 
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Stay invested

If you've got longer-term plans for your inherited investments you might like to keep them in the account they're in and just take ownership of the account, if it's one that suits your needs.

Check which account is right for you
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Buy, sell or switch your investments

Perhaps you were happy with your inherited investment. Perhaps you weren't. Once you've decided which account you want to hold them in, you can then decide if you want to buy, sell or switch them.

Get help with choosing investments
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Transfer your investments

If you hold investments with us (or elsewhere) already, you could combine your inherited investments with what you already have.

Learn about transferring investments
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Cash them in

While you can choose to stay invested to capitalise on your investments' potential, it may be that you need cash more at this point in your life, for example if you need to pay off debt you may have.

Are you ready to invest

What about pensions?

Although loved ones can leave you their pensions, they sit outside of your estate. If you’d like to know more about inheriting pensions, we can help you understand the basics.

Learn about inheriting pensions
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Looking for advice?

If you've inherited a large portfolio of investments it might feel overwhelming - especially if investing is new to you. If you're not sure what to do, why not talk to a financial adviser? An initial call is free and there's no obligation to go down the financial advice route if you don't feel it's right for you.

Talk to a financial adviser

Investments and tax

By the time you've received your inherited investments, any inheritance tax (IHT) owed on them will have been paid. You can learn more about IHT by clicking on the link below. It's a particularly complicated topic, so if you're in any doubt, please contact a professional to understand more about your personal situation.

Read about IHT rates and thresholds 

How we can help

Deciding what to do with an inherited portfolio isn't easy. If you want more of a personal recommendation, our financial advisers can help. Equally, you can invest with help from our online guidance and tools. The choice is yours. 

I'm thinking about taking financial advice

If you're looking for a personal recommendation that considers tax efficiency, and which will give you peace of mind, our financial advisers can do all the hard work for you.

Learn more about financial advice

I want to open or transfer an account

If you already know which account you'd like to open - or transfer into - you can open and transfer from here.

Open or transfer an account

I want to know which account is best for me

If you're not sure which account is right for you, this simple quiz will help you decide.

Help with choosing an account

I want to choose investments

After you've opened an account, we have thousands of investments to choose from. We can provide tools and guidance to help you choose your investments.

Find investments

Important information: please note that this information and our guidance tools are not a personal recommendation in respect of a particular investment. If you need additional help, please speak to an authorised financial adviser.  You should regularly reassess the suitability of your investments to ensure they continue to meet your attitude to risk and investment goals.
 

What next?

What to do with an inheritance

Learn more about your options and ways to get your inheritance working harder for you.

Learn ways to invest your inheritance

All inheritance topics

To learn about the different types of inheritance and the topics surrounding them, head to our inheritance home.

Go to inheritance home

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Please remember that past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance, the performance of investments is not guaranteed, and the value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. When investments have particular tax features, these will depend on your personal circumstances and tax rules may change in the future. This website does not contain any personal recommendations for a particular course of action, service or product. You should regularly review your investment objectives and choices and, if you are unsure whether an investment is suitable for you, you should contact an authorised financial adviser. Before opening an account, please read the ‘Doing Business with Fidelity’ document which incorporates our client terms. Prior to investing into a fund, please read the relevant key information document which contains important information about the fund.

This website is issued by Financial Administration Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (FCA Register number 122169) and registered in England and Wales under company number 1629709 whose registered address is Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 6RP.

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