The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) offers UK taxpayers some of the most generous tax reliefs on the planet. However, for years, Venture Capital Trusts have been the more comfortable choice for many advisers seeking to provide clients with tax efficiency. Being listed vehicles, being available on familiar platforms, push-button applications and integrated reporting made VCTs feel effortless.

Across the UK, thousands of SME directors are quietly accumulating excess cash within their companies, often a by-product of years of disciplined trading, prudent cost management, and perhaps a touch of post-pandemic caution. However, while this surplus may seem like a sign of healthy business management, it could also represent a hidden threat to business owners’ estates, a missed opportunity for financial advisers to deliver value, and a threat to wider prudent tax planning. 

Patriotism and what it means to be “patriotic” has been at the forefront of news over recent months, but it could be defined as a love for one’s country and a commitment to its prosperity. Therefore, in the context of financial advice and investment, patriotism can mean choosing to support domestic businesses, innovation, and economic resilience. For UK investors and financial advisers, this is not just a sentimental notion; it could be a strategic imperative.