Thomas Raby Financial Planning

09/01/2026

How business owners should approach 2026

At a glance

Why clarity on your 2026 destination is the ultimate competitive advantage

How to identify and close the gaps that limit growth and optionality

The key steps to reduce owner dependency and build resilience Martin Brown, CEO of business growth advisory firm Elephants Child, shares his tips for business owners to successfully navigate 2026, especially those considering when and how they will exit their business.

How business owners should approach 2026

09/12/2025

Autumn Budget: Sweeping up the Budget announcements.

Summary

Chancellor Rachel Reeves extended the freeze on the income tax and inheritance tax (IHT) thresholds, meaning more people are likely to pay IHT in future and more workers will be pushed into higher income tax bands.

Tax relief on venture capital trusts (VCTs) is being cut, while the tax rate on dividends, savings and property income will increase.

There were also announcements about the lifetime ISA, tax breaks for home workers, a levy on electric vehicles and IHT agricultural and business property reliefs.

Autumn Budget: Sweeping up the Budget announcements

29/11/2025

Here we go again!!! 13 shows in 5 days. Thank you all the volunteers involved. You make this wonderful gift to the commutativity possible!!!

Look out… it’s officially ONE WEEK until The Wonder 2025!
The cookies are baking, the actors are rehearsing and the whole team is getting everything ready for your arrival. We can’t wait to welcome you – it’s going to be amazing! 🎄✨

26/11/2025

Could a buy-and-build strategy help you to grow your business?

In summary:

A buy-and-build strategy can drive SME growth by acquiring and integrating complementary businesses into a scalable platform.

Key to success is a strong platform, targeting fragmented sectors, effective integration, a clear acquisition pipeline, and aligned investors. Disciplined pre- and post-acquisition ex*****on is also key.

Ex*****on matters most. Plan the first 100 days, manage integration risks, and follow a clear roadmap.

Could a buy-and-build strategy help you to grow your business?

24/10/2025

Budget 2025: Beware of the rumours!

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to unveil her second Budget next month, there’s plenty of speculation about what could be announced. Yet experience shows us that making decisions based on unfounded rumours can often lead to unintended consequences.

It’s widely anticipated we’ll see some tax hikes in the Autumn Budget on 26 November, as Rachel Reeves looks for ways to meet spending commitments and address fiscal challenges.

There has been speculation around a range of areas where tax could be changed or increased. These include: property, inheritance tax gifting rules, pensions, and potential reform to ISAs.

However, many of these rumours around possible tax changes will fail to become reality, underlining the importance of taking a considered view before making financial decisions.

Budget 2025: Beware of the rumours

14/10/2025

Calling all small business owners. What could the Autumn Budget mean for you?

Rachel Reeves’s Autumn Budget could unveil plenty of changes for business owners. The government has already said it will use the fiscal event on 26 November to deliver an update on reforming business rates. It could also announce an increase to the National Minimum Wage, as well as tax hikes to raise revenue.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) thinking about expansion, the Autumn Budget should arguably be used as more than just a policy update. It’s also a moment to pause, reflect and prepare for what’s next.

What could the Autumn Budget mean for growing SMEs? Thinking ahead with head, heart and hand

13/10/2025

Real Life Advice Report 2025: Chapter 1 - The value of advice in a volatile world.

The volatile geopolitical and economic backdrop is driving greater uncertainty about the future among nearly half of all adults.

This is according to SJP’s 2025 Real Life Advice Report. It surveyed 8,000 people to find out how people’s attitudes to their money, financial advice and the future had changed over time.

Summary:

One in two people are feeling more uncertain about the future now than they did two years ago. Only 18% feel more certain.

51% of those who have a financial adviser and ongoing advice are optimistic about the remainder of 2025. This compares to just 34% of those who do not receive advice or have a financial plan in place.

95% of those receiving ongoing professional financial advice say it helps them reach and stay on track with their goals

The value of advice in a volatile world

25/09/2025

Spire Solicitors , and all the other sponsors of Parkinson's UK. You nailed it the Moveable Feast yesterday, and raised some important funds for a great cause. THANK YOU!

24/09/2025

Here are 7 myth busting pension facts.

Recently I have been able to change the perception of a number of business owners who innocently believed the money would be lost on death and/or thought that an income for life would have to be purchased at retirement but instead you can now flexibly drawdown your pension like a savings account where some is tax free and part is taxed as income. As a result of this they're now thinking about funding a pension from their limited company.

Whats' your perception of saving into a pension? Is it time to review and change it?

Seven pension myths busted: What savers often overlook about their retirement pot

23/09/2025

Everything you need to know about tax in retirement

Do you, or don’t you, have to pay tax in retirement? Some of your income may be taxable, and some may be tax-free. These are the key tax traps you should know about to stay on top of your taxes.

Paying tax when you’re retired is quite different to paying tax when you’re still working. You may be drawing income from a variety of different sources; all with slightly different tax implications.

Today, you’ve got far more flexibility in how you plan your retirement income, and how you withdraw it. But there are some retirement tax traps you need to look out for.

A financial adviser can help you make a tax-efficient plan for your retirement – so you can spend on the things you really want

Everything you need to know about tax in retirement

10/09/2025

What is the right age to think about selling your business?

When is the right time to start thinking about selling your business?

It’s a question many entrepreneurs avoid until they’re either forced into a decision or feel too burned out to continue.

But if your goal is to get the best price AND walk away on your terms, the answer may be sooner than you might think.

Geoff Gwynn, from business growth advisors Elephants Child, explores the reasons why it’s beneficial to plan your exit as early as possible.

What is the right age to think about selling your business

05/07/2025

Mark Baker - Thank you for inviting me to your business and the tour. It exceeded all my expectations! The moment you walk in the visuals hit you and the signs are truly show stopping.

Mark has to be one of the most humble business owners I've had the pleasure of meeting and you only have to look around the signs in Norwich to see the teams work and what a great reputation they have and excellent customer service they deliver.

The company has signs in the name but it does so much more and the team could not wait to explain their roles. The team use hi tech machinery and cutting edge technology that makes the whole process efficient. From wrapping cars to signs of all shapes and sizes to embroiding company logos on T-shirts!

We took time out from the business to reflect on the important things in life and how we can do more of them such as spending time with the family and retiring to achieve lifetime dreams and goals.

You might love what you do but one day you will probably want to stop and people don't plan to fail they fail to plan. We use sophisticated cash flow software to see how much you have, what you want and therefore what you need to do to achieve your plans. I help individuals to make big
decisions like when to retire, how much to save, how much to give away to children and how to save the dreaded Inheritance Tax!

I help business owners / directors to plan their exit from the business using succession planning, business risk assessmentss, extracting profits tax efficiently , saving for retirement , estate and inheritance tax planning plus much much more.