Verity Corbett Dip PFS - Independent Financial Planner.

14/06/2026

The Power of Pausing and Repetition of Carefully Planned Skills

Watching my son at cricket coaching today, the coach made a comment that really resonated with me.

He explained that good bowling is simply the repetition of carefully broken-down skills, practised consistently over time. Success comes from trusting the process and ignoring the noise around you.

It struck me how similar this is to financial planning.

One of the most valuable things we offer our clients is the opportunity to pause and reflect on what really matters to them. Like a coach, a financial planner is there to ask the right questions, provide guidance and help create a clear plan.

Then comes the repetition. Through regular reviews, we revisit your goals, monitor progress and make adjustments where needed. We help you stay focused on your long-term objectives rather than being distracted by market headlines or the latest media story.

And when life throws challenges your way, we’re there to provide reassurance, support and perspective.

Whether it’s cricket or financial planning, the best results often come from sticking to a well-thought-out plan, repeating the right behaviours and trusting the process.

📞 07519 750099
📧 [email protected]

12/06/2026

First Meeting with a Financial Planner?

How Best to Prepare to Make the Most of It

Meeting with a financial planner for the first time can feel a little daunting, especially if you’ve never sat down and looked at your finances as a whole before.

The good news is that you don’t need to have everything perfectly organised. However, a little preparation can help you get the very most out of your first meeting.

📌 Spend some time thinking about what really matters to you

If you’re part of a couple or family, it can be incredibly valuable to have conversations both individually and together about:

• What is most important to you?
• What would your ideal future look like?
• What goals are non-negotiable?
• What areas are a little more flexible?

Financial planning is about much more than money. It’s about using your money to support the life you want to live.

📌 Understand your income and expenditure

Before your meeting, try to get an idea of:

• Your monthly household expenditure
• Your salary or income before tax
• What actually lands in your bank account each month

You don’t need a perfect budget, but having a rough idea can be extremely helpful.

📌 Gather details of your finances

Try to locate information relating to:

• Bank and savings accounts
• Pensions
• ISAs and investments
• Life insurance and protection policies
• Mortgages, loans and credit cards

Don’t worry if the information isn’t completely up to date. Even an old statement with a policy number and the provider’s details can be enough to help us start building a picture.

📌 Check your State Pension forecast

This is one of the most useful pieces of information you can bring.

If possible, check your State Pension online and bring screenshots of both the first and second pages of the forecast for our records.

📌 Bring photo identification

As regulated financial planners, we need to carry out standard Anti-Money Laundering checks, so please bring photographic ID such as:

• A passport
• A driving licence

❤️ Most importantly… don’t let this list put you off

Reading all of this may feel a little overwhelming, and if that’s the case, please don’t worry.

This is the ideal preparation, but the reality is that many people come to their first meeting without having all of these things organised. That’s completely normal.

Whilst having this information can help us get the most out of our first conversation, the most important thing is simply taking that first step.

If you need help gathering information or understanding where things are, that’s absolutely fine. Part of my role is helping you work through it all, one step at a time. I can metaphorically hold your hand throughout the process and help make things feel far less overwhelming.

After all, every successful financial plan starts with a first conversation, and the team at Croft and Oakes Chartered Financial Planners Limited are ready to help if you need us.

Contact [email protected] or 07519750099.

11/06/2026

📋 “I’ve got a Will, so everything is sorted… isn’t it?”

Not necessarily.

Many people are surprised to learn that some of their largest assets may not pass under the terms of their Will at all.

Pensions, jointly owned assets, trusts and business interests can all have their own rules, which means your estate may not be distributed exactly as you intended.

This is becoming even more important with the proposed changes due to take effect from April 2027, which could see unused pension funds brought into scope for Inheritance Tax. Despite this, pensions are still generally dealt with separately from your Will and are usually distributed based on trustee discretion, taking into account your Expression of Wish nominations.

For higher-net-worth families, this could create unnecessary tax liabilities and complications for loved ones at an already difficult time if plans are not reviewed regularly.

A Will is incredibly important, but effective estate planning is about much more than just having one document in place.

Regular reviews can help ensure your wishes remain up to date, your beneficiaries are protected and your wealth is passed on as efficiently as possible.

Have you reviewed your estate plan recently?

11/06/2026

Having a will is important but there are other important things you can do to keep your estate as well organised as possible for your loved ones.

📋 “I’ve got a Will, so everything is sorted… isn’t it?”

Not necessarily.

Many people are surprised to learn that some of their largest assets may not pass under the terms of their Will at all.

Pensions, jointly owned assets, trusts and business interests can all have their own rules, which means your estate may not be distributed exactly as you intended.

This is becoming even more important with the proposed changes due to take effect from April 2027, which could see unused pension funds brought into scope for Inheritance Tax. Despite this, pensions are still generally dealt with separately from your Will and are usually distributed based on trustee discretion, taking into account your Expression of Wish nominations.

For higher-net-worth families, this could create unnecessary tax liabilities and complications for loved ones at an already difficult time if plans are not reviewed regularly.

A Will is incredibly important, but effective estate planning is about much more than just having one document in place.

Regular reviews can help ensure your wishes remain up to date, your beneficiaries are protected and your wealth is passed on as efficiently as possible.

Have you reviewed your estate plan recently?

11/06/2026

All things State Pension and why it can matter.

People regularly undervalue the importance of ensuring you have a full State pension if at all possible.

Although I understand you might be annoyed they have made the age you can receive it older, it still has a lot positives.

The fact it is guaranteed for life and is currently triple locked to increase each April by the highest of the three measures below is a real positive.

The three measures are:

Inflation: The rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) in the previous September.

Average Earnings Growth: The average percentage increase in wages across the UK (measured from May to July of the previous year).

A fixed 2.5%: A guaranteed minimum percentage increase, regardless of how low inflation or wage growth might be.

This safeguard is designed to protect the purchasing power of pensioners over time and ensure your incomes keep pace with both the cost of living and general economic growth.

The maximum full rate of the new State Pension is £241.30 per week (£12,547.60 per year) for the 2026/27 financial year.

To receive this maximum amount, you generally need to have at least 35 qualifying years of National Insurance (NI) contributions or credits. If you have between 10 and 34 qualifying years, you will receive a proportionate amount.

It’s always a good idea to keep track of your State pension entitlement. The link to do so is here:

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

10/06/2026

This is something we get asked a lot!

How Much Is Enough in a Pension?

It’s one of the most common questions we hear, but the honest answer is… it depends.

There is no magic pension number that works for everyone because retirement planning is about much more than the size of your pension pot.

A few of the many factors that can make a huge difference include:

✅ Will you receive the full State Pension?

✅ Do you have any final salary (defined benefit) pensions?

✅ Will your mortgage be paid off by retirement?

✅ What are your expected monthly outgoings?

✅ Do you have a partner or spouse, and what does their retirement situation look like?

✅ Are you both retiring at the same time?

For example, someone retiring a couple of years before State Pension age who needs £20,000 a year for those first two years and then only £8,000 a year on top of their State Pension until age 80 may need significantly less than someone who wants £100,000 a year for ten years before State Pension age and then continued higher spending throughout retirement.

Your attitude to risk and capacity for loss also play an important role.

Are you comfortable adjusting your income from year to year depending on investment performance and changing circumstances? Or is your desired retirement lifestyle non-negotiable?

These are important questions that are best considered well before retirement.

Seeking financial advice early can make a real difference. It gives you more time to maximise your available resources, make informed decisions, and potentially adjust your spending or saving habits while there is still time to influence the outcome.

We can help you understand what retirement might look like based on your current position and explore ways of making your money work as effectively as possible. Sometimes that means having difficult conversations about spending differently today to increase the likelihood of achieving the retirement you want tomorrow.

Too often, we meet people who have delayed seeking advice and find that their options have become more limited. Planning ahead puts you in control of the decisions you make, rather than having decisions forced upon you later.

If you’re wondering whether your pension is on track for the retirement you want, we’d be happy to help.

📞 01952 897377

📧 [email protected]

⚠️ The value of investments and pensions can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested. Pension and tax rules can change and their benefits depend on your individual circumstances. Financial advice should be sought before making decisions regarding your pension arrangements.

09/06/2026

💷 What Are Pension Freedoms? 💷

Since 2015, Pension Freedoms have given people much more flexibility over how they access their pension savings but not everyone is aware of this. I regularly have meetings with clients where our meeting is the first time they learn about it and for many it is a real revelation that changes the retirement options considerably.

In simple terms, once you reach the minimum pension age (currently 55, rising to 57 from 2028), you may be able to:

✅ Take tax-free cash from your pension
✅ Draw an income when you need it
✅ Take lump sums as and when required
✅ Leave your pension invested
✅ Pass any remaining pension funds on to your loved ones

Sounds great, right? More flexibility means more control over your retirement.

But here’s the catch…

Just because you can access your pension doesn’t always mean you should.

Taking money from your pension can affect:

📌 How long your pension savings last
📌 The amount of tax you pay
📌 Future pension contributions
📌 What you leave behind for your family

Every situation is different, which is why it’s important to understand your options before making any decisions.

⚠️ Pension withdrawals will reduce the value of your pension fund and could affect your future income.

⚠️ The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested.

⚠️ Pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on your individual circumstances.

If you’re approaching retirement and wondering how Pension Freedoms could work for you, getting professional advice can help you make the most of the choices available. I pride myself on creating trusting long term relationships with my clients where I help them feel more informed and empowered about their choices knowing I am there by their side to help when needed. Therefore I’d be happy to have a conversation about how I can help you so please get in touch, call 07519750099 or email [email protected]

05/06/2026

Why I love my job!

This week I’ve had an amazing mix of client appointments, CPD sessions, networking, admin and last but not least Charity fundraising.

I have had meetings with amazing clients where we’ve discussed what is most important to them in their lives and different options for how best to help them achieve them. Some appointments were the first time I’ve met prospective clients which is always interesting because I love finding out about new people and then working out how best to help them. For existing clients that’s equally rewarding but in a different way, I love building up a deep and trusting relationship with my clients and look forward to seeing them again.

On Wednesday we had a team meeting day at Theatre Severn where we completed a mix of sessions ensuring we have the most up to date knowledge and we are best placed to give excellent up to date advice to those in our care.

Today I visited the Oswestry Women Who networking group for the first time. It was great to see a number of familiar faces as well as new ones. The empowerment and support in the room was evident. Women who is always such a supportive group and this new venue was no exception.

And then another reason this week has been especially wonderful is that I get to support charities through my work. This week Croft and Oakes took part in the Let’s Eat Cake fundraising activity for Hope House Children’s Hospice. I’ve loved meeting new people when they’ve come to buy our cake and it’s been overwhelming how generous and supportive people have been.

If you’d like help with your finances then please get in touch as I’d love to add you to the list of people I take care of and support in achieving their dreams.

03/06/2026

Something simple but an important thing for your pension.

When was the last time you checked the beneficiaries on your pension?

One simple but important task is making sure your Expression of Wish (sometimes called a nomination of beneficiaries) is up to date.

Your Expression of Wish tells pension trustees or scheme managers who you would like to receive any remaining pension benefits when you die.

While it is not usually legally binding, trustees will generally take your wishes into account when deciding who should receive benefits. Keeping it up to date can be especially important after major life events such as marriage, divorce, having children or bereavement.

Some providers also allow you to name secondary beneficiaries, providing additional guidance if circumstances change.

Updating your nomination only takes a few minutes but could make a significant difference to the people you care about most.

If you haven’t checked yours recently, it may be worth adding it to your financial to-do list.



Important Information

The value of investments and pensions can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested.

Pension and inheritance tax rules are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances.

This post is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Professional advice should be sought before taking any action.

31/05/2026

💫 Why I’m Not Your Average Financial Planner 💫

There are over 27,000 financial planners in the UK, but no two are exactly the same. Here are a few reasons why my clients often tell me I’m different:

1️⃣ Experience from a different path

Before becoming a Financial Planner, I spent 14 years as a maths teacher and Head of Department. That experience taught me how to explain complex subjects clearly, listen carefully, and help people make confident decisions.

2️⃣ A different perspective

Only around 16% of financial planners are female. I understand that financial decisions affect people in different ways and I aim to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable asking questions and getting involved in the planning process.

3️⃣ I know what it’s like to feel unsure about money

I haven’t always worked in financial services and there was a time when financial planning felt overwhelming to me too. That’s why I focus on making advice understandable, practical and free from unnecessary jargon.

4️⃣ Truly independent advice

I work for a Chartered Financial Planning firm and provide independent advice. That means I can recommend solutions based on what’s right for my clients, rather than being restricted to a limited range of products or providers.

5️⃣ I invest in my own learning

Financial planning is constantly evolving, so I believe learning should never stop. I’ve gone well beyond the minimum qualification requirements, passing all of my professional exams at the first attempt and achieving distinction-level results. Along the way, I’ve received awards from the Chartered Insurance Institute for outstanding exam performance and continue working towards Chartered status to ensure my knowledge remains current and my clients receive the best possible advice.

6️⃣ Real client feedback

I’m proud to be rated Excellent on VouchedFor, with reviews from clients who have trusted me to help them navigate important financial decisions and life transitions.

When you put all of that together, plus a genuine passion for helping people feel confident about their finances, it’s fair to say I’m not your average Financial Planner.

If you’re looking for someone who will take the time to understand what’s important to you, explain things clearly, and help you build a plan for the future, I’d love to have a conversation.

📅 Get in touch to arrange a free discovery meeting.

📞 07519750099
📧 [email protected]