Log in Menu Home Advice, tools & guidance Life events Receiving an inheritance Receiving an inheritance Helping you understand what to do with an inheritance, why you might invest it and who pays inheritance tax. Important information - The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may not get back what you invest. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. Receiving an inheritance Passing on wealth Articles Investing your inheritance wisely If someone's thought enough of you to leave you an inheritance, we understand how important it is to make decisions you feel comfortable with - both now and in the future. It's an emotional time, so don't rush into anything. But when you're ready, you'll find lots of helpful information below about what you might do next. If you've recently lost a loved one who was investing with us and are unsure what to do, you can read about our bereavement process here. Talk to a financial adviser If you're reading this page and the prospect of investing is feeling a little overwhelming, help is at hand. Our financial advisers understand how tough it is to make these kind of decisions - especially if everything is still feeling quite raw. They'll listen and get to know you better, before coming up with an investment recommendation to suit your needs. Learn about Fidelity's advice service A quick note about how inheritance tax works If you were left something by someone in their will and you were wondering who pays inheritance tax on it, the executors of the will normally have already taken care of any inheritance tax that was due. What you will be expected to pay, are any related taxes - such as potential future rent on a house you've inherited or capital gains tax when you sell it. If you're unsure, you should always seek help from a professional. We've got more about inheritance tax, including thresholds, in our passing on wealth section. Read more about inheritance tax Why invest your inheritance? If you've been wondering what to do with an inheritance, investing is certainly one option you might like to consider. It's not for everyone, but here are some reasons why investing could make sense. Investing for growth – you might like to invest your money to give it the best possible chance to grow over time (of course it could fall in value too, but that's the risk of investing). Investing for income – you might want to invest so that you receive a regular income from your investments. There are many ways to do this. Investing for retirement – you might be looking to invest for your future retirement, after all, you need your pension to last your lifetime. Investing to reach financial goals – you might need to invest to save for something specific - like a home, wedding, or for your children. How to invest your inheritance There’s no rush. If you're feeling at all unsure - especially if it's a large inheritance which can feel particularly daunting - you might like to talk to a financial adviser. If, on the other hand, you're ready to invest - start by selecting the account that's right for you (we have tax-efficient options for the short and long term). Then, choose your investments. Open or transfer an account Our accounts offer a great place to hold your investments. Find the right account for you – whether that’s an ISA or SIPP - and see why it can make sense to transfer. Open or transfer account Choose an investment Get help choosing suitable investments to put in your account. Pick from our range of over 3,000 funds and shares, or get a single investment idea with our easy online tools. Find investments Talk to our advisers and retirement specialists Our team of advisers and retirement specialists can help you achieve your investment goals, whether those relate to one-off events or more complex needs with ongoing support. Talk to us Important policies Useful information Other Fidelity sites 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 Service 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. © FIL Limited 2021 Fidelity uses cookies to provide you with the best possible online experience. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on our site. However, you can customise the cookie settings and view our cookie policy at any time. ContinueCustomise