The Life of Brian Riley, Phase 3 University

Over the next 4 years, Brian's paternal grandparents support the school fees and a number of expenses for the family.

They have made it plain that now Brian is to move up to the senior school, they feel it about time that their daughter-in-law and her family became more self sufficient.

The school fees therefore cease, and Brian and his family move from the old home to another, smaller house. This allows for the mortgage to be repaid in full. Brian, like Susan, has been moved to the local high school, while Veronica has gone through university and subsequently gone off with her boyfriend to live in the USA, to start a new life.

Susan has no intention of going on to further education and will be leaving school at her first opportunity to earn her own way, as she wishes to move out of the family home.

Brian does well in his GCSEs and A levels, and eventually goes on to do an engineering degree at the local university. He receives loans totalling £2,000 a year. His goal at this point is to get a good degree, some sound engineering experience and set up his own business by the time he is 30.

Mavis has been working full time and with this income and the civil service pension, has an income of about £30,000. After many an argument with the Civil Service administrators she manages to 'recover' the balance of the death in service lump sum from Rachel. Mavis is able to give Brian an allowance each month, which he supplements by part-time jobs and holiday jobs.

With the benefit of the information we now know, both Mavis and Brian may have previously planned differently. This part of the case study considers what both Mavis and Brian could have done differently with the benefit of such hindsight.

Review of previous planning

Current Situation

What Mavis should now do

What Brian should do now

REMEMBER You should not use any information contained on this page as the basis of any action until you have discussed matters with your financial adviser.