60-second interview with Ian Bond TEP
Please can you tell us a little about what delegates can expect when they attend the STEP UK Tax, Trusts and Estates Conference (the Conference)?
As a practitioner, the Conference has always been one of the highlights of the year. By attending you are gaining knowledge from leading experts from STEP and staying up to date with latest trends and developments in the industry.
Over the years I have attended in person at different venues and online; I am delighted to be invited to participate as a speaker this year.
Can you tell us what you will be speaking about at the Conference?
I have the daunting task of looking at the potential changes facing practitioners from the forthcoming Wills Bill 2025 currently being prepared by the Law Commission as part of its Will Reform Project.
The future Wills Act, when passed, could possibly be the biggest change in private client practice in the UK for a generation or more, aiming to modernise the process, reduce disputes. It will also look at making it easier for people to create valid wills embracing technology to allow electronic wills, digital storage, virtual witnessing.
What will be the key takeaways from your session?
Whether we like it or not, the Law Commission will open the door to exploring how the latest advances in technology (including AI, blockchains and cybersecurity) can be incorporated into the ancient art of will making, encouraging innovative thinking for practitioners on looking at the future of our work.
As practitioners we look to adapt to those new ways to make wills for clients and overlaying those with changes to our own workplace and working practices, including remote and flexible working.
Which other sessions are you particularly looking forward to?
With the new Labour government there has been much talk about potential changes to both trusts legislation and to inheritance tax which means that the update session on trust and inheritance tax issues will be topical and highly relevant to practitioners.
Changes to trusts, inheritance tax and wills all within a short space of time will mean practitioners will come to rely on organisations like STEP even more.
If someone is considering attending the STEP UK Tax, Trusts and Estates Conference or your session within it, what would you say to them?
The conference in person is fantastic for both expert insight and completing our continuing professional development requirements as part of STEP membership, but also provides the ability to speak with fellow professionals and peers through networking opportunities.
For those who cannot attend in person the flexible attendance of joining by remotely means it is more convenient that ever to fit in with our increasingly busy schedules.
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