Verity Corbett Dip PFS - Independent Financial Planner.

29/08/2026

We are almost at the end of August and I’m thrilled to have raised £480 so far for Cancer Research UK but I’d love to raise £500.

Please sponsor me if you can. Here is the link: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/veritys-giving-page-2130

Croft and Oakes Chartered Financial Planners Limited

26/08/2026

Happiness is success minus expectations

I didn’t come up with this phrase, but it really resonates with me.

We’re all different. We have different goals, different expectations and different ideas of what success looks like.

And however realistic our expectations might be given our current circumstances, life has a habit of throwing us the occasional curve ball. Things don’t always go to plan.

That’s why I think good financial planning isn’t just about planning for the perfect future.

It’s about building in a margin for error.

Planning for the unexpected. Making sure you have enough flexibility and resources to cope when life takes an unexpected turn, so you can re-navigate and get yourself back on the path you want to be on.

Because having a plan doesn’t mean everything will go to plan.

It means you have the peace of mind and reassurance that, when things don’t, you have options.

And sometimes, that’s what financial planning is really about. ❤️

📞 07519 750099
📧 [email protected]

25/08/2026

Money isn’t important to me.

It is positive for your well-being to have choices around what you do and when you do it.

I’m not a financial planner because I’m obsessed with money. I’m a financial planner because I want to help people achieve the things that matter most to them — and make sure they have resources available if life throws them a curveball.

Because, like it or not, money and how we feel are closely connected.

Having enough money to leave a job you hate can give you peace of mind.

Having the resources to access private medical treatment that dramatically improves your recovery time can be life-changing.

Being able to take your family on a special holiday to celebrate a milestone birthday creates memories.

Being able to support a child or grandchild through university can give you enormous pride.

It’s not about having money for the sake of having money.

It’s about having choices.

Choices about what you do, when you do it and who you do it with — rather than your financial circumstances making those decisions for you.

Because life rarely follows the path we planned for it.

That’s where I believe good financial planning makes a difference.

Having someone on your side who understands what matters most to you, helps you prepare for the unexpected and keeps your goals at the heart of your financial decisions.

Money is simply the resource.
The real value is what it enables you to do. ❤️

Call 07519750099 or email [email protected] for help with your plan.

23/08/2026

If my husband dies, will I get any of his State Pension?

It’s a question I’m asked more often than you might think.

Lots of people think they will but the answer may surprise you…

If your husband or wife is receiving the New State Pension, you generally won’t inherit their State Pension when they die. The New State Pension is primarily based on your own National Insurance record.

There are some limited exceptions and transitional protections, but this is why it’s so important to make sure you’re building your own National Insurance record and understand what State Pension you’re likely to receive.

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, different rules apply and you may be able to inherit some of your spouse’s Basic State Pension or Additional State Pension.

And this is exactly why good financial planning isn’t just about asking:

“How much do we need to retire?”

It’s also about asking:

“What happens financially if one of us dies?”

Because the household income can change significantly overnight — and your financial plan needs to take that possibility into account.

💡 Do you know what State Pension you would receive in your own right? Here is the link you need to find out.



This post is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. State Pension rules are subject to change and your individual entitlement will depend on your circumstances.

19/08/2026

What a team, and what a total. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored us so far.

We are thrilled to announce that our ‘Squatting’ ladies have raised over £1,500 so far for Cancer Research UK and they haven’t finished yet.

Thanks to everyone who has supported them so far, it is such a great cause and we are very proud of them for taking part.

Here are their links if you would like to sponsor them.

Naomi’s page
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/naomis-giving-page-122194

Verity’s page
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/veritys-giving-page-2130

Maureen’s page
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/maureens-giving-page-750

Verity Corbett Dip PFS - Independent Financial Planner.

18/08/2026

**Not all inheritance tax solutions need 7 years to work**

When it comes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning, many people assume the only option is to gift assets and survive seven years.

But that isn’t the case, here is one example below.

Business Property Relief (BPR) can, in the right circumstances, provide an alternative approach.

It may be worth considering for those who:

• Have a significant potential IHT liability
• Don’t want to rely on the seven-year gifting period
• Want to retain access to their capital
• Want to explore alternatives to gifting into trust

One of the key attractions is that qualifying investments can potentially benefit from 100% IHT relief after two years, subject to the relevant rules and conditions.

At Croft & Oakes, our approach is cautious and considered. We focus on established solutions, diversification and liquidity rather than simply chasing investment returns.

BPR isn’t about maximising growth. It’s about using an available tax relief to potentially reduce an IHT liability while retaining access to capital.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to IHT planning. The right strategy depends on your circumstances, objectives and attitude to risk. We very carefully consider your full situation and needs before making a recommendation.

If you would like someone to advise you on your situation please contact us on:
📞 01952 897377
📧 [email protected]

⚠️ Important information:
The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. BPR eligibility is dependent on the underlying investment and applicable legislation, which can change. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and tax rules. BPR investments can involve higher levels of investment risk and may not be suitable for everyone. You should seek professional financial advice before making an investment decision.

This post is for information purposes only and does not constitute personal financial advice.

18/08/2026

Wow!! I’ve now raised over £200 by doing 100 squats a day for Cancer Research UK.

Huge thanks to everyone who has sponsored me, it really does mean a lot.

Here is a video of me doing my second 50 of the day yesterday (sped up so the video isn’t too long).

Croft and Oakes Chartered Financial Planners Limited

14/08/2026

💷 Happy Financial Awareness Day!

Today is a great reminder that **looking after your finances doesn’t have to be complicated**.

Sometimes it’s simply about finally getting around to the things you’ve been putting off…

So, why not use today as your prompt to have a little financial check-in?

✅ Check your pension(s) and make sure you know what you have
✅ Review your savings and emergency fund
✅ Check your investments are still aligned with your goals
✅ Make sure your beneficiaries are up to date
✅ Review your life insurance and protection
✅ Check when you last made a Will
✅ Find that financial job you’ve been putting off… and **actually do it!**

You don’t need to tackle everything today. **Pick one thing and start.**

Because feeling financially organised can be just as valuable as being financially wealthy.

And if there’s something you’ve been putting off because you simply don’t know where to start, **that’s what financial advice is for.**

Croft and Oakes Chartered Financial Planners Limited

13/08/2026

I read the instructions. I still missed it. 🌑😂

Sometimes you read how to do something and think, “That sounds easy enough.”

That was me trying to use the colander method to watch the eclipse. 🌞

I’d read that you could use a colander to project the eclipse. Simple, right?

Except when I actually tried it… I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right, whether I’d missed it, or whether it had all gone slightly wrong.

Either way, I missed it! 🤦🏼‍♀️

And it got me thinking about finances.

There is so much information available now. You can Google it, read articles, watch videos or ask AI.

But sometimes knowing what to do and actually doing it successfully are two very different things.

You might miss an important detail, make the wrong choice or simply miss an opportunity because you didn’t know what you didn’t know.

That’s where professional financial advice can make a difference.

AI and the internet can be incredibly useful, but they have limitations. They don’t know your full circumstances, objectives or what you’re ultimately trying to achieve.

So, if you’d like some help with your finances, book a no-obligation discovery meeting with me.

📞 07519 750099
📧 [email protected]

I promise I’ll try to make sure you don’t “miss it” like I did with the eclipse! 😂

Croft & Oakes Chartered Financial Planning is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.

Croft and Oakes Chartered Financial Planners Limited
Alanna Whitehouse

09/08/2026

I lost a client last week to cancer.

Friday brought news I really didn’t want to receive.

I’d been trying to contact this client for a few weeks about her annual review. At first, I thought she must simply be busy enjoying retirement. Then I started to worry.

We sent a signed-for letter and on Friday, we received the call no one ever wants to get — from a family member telling us she had sadly passed away from cancer.

I’ll remember the time I did get to spend with her very fondly, and we’ll support her family as much as we can.

I didn’t start my squat challenge because of her, but she will now be one of the people I’m doing it for. ❤️

Cancer has touched so many of us, and we have to keep fighting this awful disease.

If you’re able to sponsor my challenge for Cancer Research UK, I’d be incredibly grateful.

Every single donation helps. ❤️

Verity’s page
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/veritys-giving-page-2130

Verity Corbett

Croft and Oakes Chartered Financial Planners Limited

Cancer Research UK