Eleanor is a Chartered Financial Planner with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and holds the prestigious Fellow status (FCII). With 22 years of experience in private wealth management, she specializes in pension consolidation, inheritance tax mitigation, and constructing balanced ISA portfolios. She currently leads a boutique advisory firm focused on holistic financial planning for over-50s.
Eleanor Sterling graduated with distinction in Economics from the London School of Economics before embarking on a career in private banking. She spent over a decade working for major UK wealth management firms, where she honed her skills in asset allocation and tax mitigation strategies for high-net-worth individuals. Eleanor's primary focus is on the intricate mechanics of UK pensions, helping clients navigate the transition from accumulation to decumulation while minimizing tax liabilities. She possesses in-depth knowledge of complex instruments such as Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS), but advocates for their use only within a diversified risk framework. Her writing aims to demystify the often intimidating world of trusts and estate planning, ensuring families can pass on assets efficiently without falling victim to the 40% Inheritance Tax trap. Eleanor is also a vocal proponent of evidence-based investing, often citing long-term market data to discourage emotional decision-making during periods of volatility. She actively monitors HMRC regulatory changes to provide up-to-date advice on Capital Gains Tax allowances and the lifetime allowance for pensions.