Wills Month usually prompts the practical questions. Have you written one? Is it up to date? Does it actually say what you think it says?
But there’s another question worth asking too: does your will reflect your values?
A will isn’t just a legal document that divides assets and appoints executors. It’s one of the final financial decisions you’ll ever make, and for many people that means it is also a statement about what mattered during your lifetime.
“With thoughtful planning, people can ensure their money supports the causes, people and principles that mattered to them during their lifetime,” says Anthony Fuller, Chartered Financial Planner at Path Financial.
More than just who gets what
Traditionally, wills have focused on distribution – making sure partners, children and other relatives are provided for, while minimising inheritance tax where possible. Those fundamentals still matter enormously.
But increasingly, people are thinking beyond the mechanics. They are asking whether their final financial plans align with the way they have tried to live.
If you’ve spent years switching to a greener energy tariff, moving your pension into sustainable funds, or choosing ethical financial providers, it’s natural to wonder what happens to your money next. Should some of your estate support the causes you care about? Should investments held in trust continue to be managed responsibly? Can your will help shape a positive legacy rather than simply pass on assets?
For many, the answer is yes.
Leaving money to charity – intentionally
Charitable gifts in wills are nothing new, but they are often treated as an afterthought rather than a deliberate choice.
“Leaving a gift to charity in your will is one of the most direct ways to reflect your values,” says Fuller. “This can be done by leaving a fixed amount to charity or a percentage of your estate.”
Some families prefer to leave a percentage so the gift remains proportionate whatever the final value. And while tax shouldn’t be the sole motivation, there can be tax advantages to charitable giving. Leaving 10 per cent of your estate to charity reduces the inheritance tax rate on the remainder from 40 per cent to 36 per cent.
More importantly, a will offers a rare opportunity to think carefully about impact. For some, that means supporting a local hospice, school or community group. For others, it might involve climate action, biodiversity or global development.
Whatever the focus, this is one of the few moments when you can make a considered, long-term decision about the role your money will play after you’re gone.
The rise of the “green will”
Alongside charitable giving, there is growing interest in what advisers sometimes call a “green will”.
This might include leaving specific gifts to environmental charities, expressing preferences for lower-carbon funeral arrangements, or ensuring that assets placed in trust are invested in line with sustainable principles.
“If you intend to leave part of your estate in a trust structure, then clear instructions can be left to encourage responsible or sustainable investment approaches by the named trustees,” Fuller explains.
If you are setting up a trust for children or grandchildren, trustees are often given discretion over how the money is invested. Providing guidance that reflects your priorities is less about controlling the future and more about signalling intent.
Don’t forget pensions
There is also another asset increasingly entering the conversation: pensions.
“Pensions do not often fall under a Will on death and are usually controlled by the scheme trustees and your expression of wishes (so be sure you do one and keep it updated),” says Fuller.
That distinction matters. Because pensions typically sit outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes, they can be a powerful legacy planning tool. And with changes to pension death benefit tax treatment proposed for April 2027, more people are reviewing how they want their pension savings to be used.
“More people are now considering leaving part or all of their pension to charity because of changes to the way pensions will be taxed on death which are proposed for April 2027,” Fuller says. “This is a technical area and can require financial advice to get right.”
In other words, your will is only part of the picture. Your expression of wishes form, kept up to date, is just as important.
Having the conversation
Of course, values-based estate planning can feel sensitive. Some families worry that charitable gifts will reduce what children receive, while others assume everything should automatically remain within the family.
In reality, open conversations about legacy often bring clarity rather than conflict. If children have already benefited from lifetime support – whether through education, housing help or financial gifts – they may be entirely comfortable with a charitable element in a will. Many even expect it.
Wills Month is therefore not just a prompt to write a will, but to review it. Circumstances change, assets grow, and priorities evolve. A document written years ago may no longer reflect your intentions today.
A legacy beyond numbers
Most people do not want to be remembered purely for the size of their estate. They want to be remembered for the values they lived by.
A will cannot capture everything about a life, but it can reflect your intention. And at a time when significant wealth is set to pass between generations – and inequality remains an issue – how we choose to pass money on is not neutral.
Whether you prioritise family, community, climate or a blend of all three, your will gives you the chance to make that choice consciously.
