Talking Legacies

Talking

legacies

From divorce to death, we hear about the difficult stuff no one wants to talk about until it’s too late. We interviewed a client of our resident will writer Bhavin Gandhi of Paradigm Wills & Legal Services to hear their stories and thoughts on life and death

WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

THE CLIENT

Scott Knowles is the Chief Executive Officer of the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce.

They have 4000 members, and work with approximately 12,000 businesses. They offer business support and representation; that could involve anything from lobbying the government on behalf of its members to helping those who want to start their own business.

THE SERVICE

Will writing and estate planning

Why did you feel now was the right time to make a will?

I had made a will several years ago when I was single, but I got married in 2016, and we wanted to ensure we were protecting all our assets together.

You’re a busy man – what was the advantage of working with Paradigm?

In my line of work, looking after my own affairs often becomes a secondary concern, so to have someone take that burden away and present it back to us in an easily digestible format was great. They took what could’ve been quite a daunting process and made it very straightforward. They were very easy to work with and explained everything in layman’s terms.

You’re involved in many different projects; what do you consider your greatest achievement?

I’d better say marrying my wife, Jo, first in case she reads this! I’m extremely proud to be Chief Executive of the Chamber; I’ve worked there for 24 years, and it supports more businesses now than it ever has, so to see it grow has been fantastic.

Who do you look up to most, and what have you learned from them?

We have so many great business leaders across the East Midlands – Bhav included – and there’s so many you look up to and hope to replicate their success. I look up to my parents, who didn’t have the same opportunities I’ve had. This was during the ‘70s with recessions, short working hours, and blackouts, and all the things I can’t really remember – I’m trying to get across to your readers that I’m actually still quite young! We’ve obviously been through trying times as well, with the pandemic and now the instability in Eastern Europe, so I admire those who’ve persevered through it.

How do you hope to be remembered?

Ideally as ‘the funniest chief executive’, but ultimately, just a good bloke who tried his best.

SCOTT KNOWLES CEO AT EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER

WHO ARE PARADIGM WILLS AND LEGAL SERVICES?

A firm that truly cares about educating on the importance of making a Will and ensuring that a testator’s assets are planned correctly so their families receive the maximum benefit. As Will writers and estate planners, they gain an understanding of customers and their family dynamics and show the best way to guarantee an inheritance for their loved ones, which with the complexity of modern society, a simple Will just does not cover anymore. The use of a trust or multiple trusts is now what we call the modern Will, or as we prefer to call it, ‘The Paradigm Will’ as planning the family succession is vital. This also could include planning the succession of your business as well as business power of attorney.