Lynda Croome your Independent Financial Adviser and Planner

04/11/2026

This one is for my accountancy contacts.

Last week’s Budget halved the Business Asset Disposal Relief lifetime limit, from £1m to £500k, for sales on or after 6 April 2027. For some of your business owner clients, that brings the exit conversation forward.

You’ll be their first call on the tax. But selling a business raises bigger questions too: what the proceeds need to do, whether they can afford to stop working, how their pensions fit in, and what it all means for their estate planning.

That’s where I come in. I work alongside accountants, so each of us does what we do best, and the client gets joined-up advice.

Have you been thinking about collaborating with an IFA? If so, I’d love to meet for a coffee and a chat about how we might work together.

Based on Budget announcements made on 28 October 2026, which may change before becoming law.

03/11/2026

It's Talk Money Week, and this one is worth a conversation at the dinner table.

If you, your children or grandchildren were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, there's a good chance a Child Trust Fund was set up in their name. Plenty have never been claimed, and some are now worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

This week's top tip: use the free Find a Child Trust Fund tool on GOV.UK. You'll need their National Insurance number and date of birth. The money can be claimed from 18, and young people can take over managing the account from 16.

One more thing: you don't need to pay anyone to trace it. The official tool costs nothing; https://www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund

03/11/2026

This is so worth a read.
A sound foundation of protection planning is key to future financial security.
Dm to arrange an initial conversation to provide peace of mind for you and your family

Recent research shows that NHS waiting lists are affecting people financially.

Being unwell is difficult enough without having to worry about money too.

Time off work, reduced income and unexpected costs can all put pressure on family finances.

In our article, we look at how having the right financial protection in place can help you prepare for these situations.

Read more here: https://talisifa.com/can-i-protect-my-family-from-the-impact-of-health-challenges/

30/10/2026

With Halloween looming, we thought we'd talk about the tax people often worry about most: Inheritance Tax. What does it actually mean, and how can you plan for it? Here's the plain English version.

29/10/2026

If you’re planning to sell your business one day, Wednesday’s Budget included a change worth knowing about.

Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) reduces the Capital Gains Tax due when you sell all or part of a qualifying business. It comes with a lifetime limit, and for sales on or after 6 April 2027, that limit is being cut from £1 million to £500,000.

In practice, if you’ve been counting on the relief to cover the gain on a future sale, more of that gain could now be taxed at the full Capital Gains Tax rate. There are special rules for sales already agreed but not completed before April, which is worth checking if you’re part way through a deal.

That’s not a reason to rush a sale. With a little over five months until the change, it is a reason to take a fresh look at your exit plan and the numbers behind it. Timing, how the business is structured and what you hold outside it can all make a difference. It works best when your financial planner and accountant are looking at it together, and I’m always happy to work alongside your accountant on this.

If an exit is anywhere on your horizon, even years away, it’s worth a conversation sooner rather than later.

(Based on Budget announcements made on 28 October 2026, which may change before becoming law. This post is not personal financial advice)

28/10/2026

Today’s Budget will generate plenty of headlines. Here’s the calm version.

The big picture: no increases to Income Tax, National Insurance or Corporation Tax. For most people, nothing announced today calls for a rushed decision.

There are some changes worth knowing about, though:

Business owners: the lifetime limit on Business Asset Disposal Relief (the relief that reduces tax when you sell your business) is being reduced. If an exit is on your horizon, now’s a good time to review your plans.

Approaching or in retirement: a new allowance is intended to mean those receiving the new State Pension won’t pay Income Tax on it.

Savers and first-time buyers: ISAs stay as they are, with a new Starter ISA for first-time investors and a First Time Buyer ISA to replace the Lifetime ISA.

Carers: the earnings cliff edge for carers is being removed.

Much of this still needs legislation, and the detail will matter. Over the next few days and coming weeks, I’ll unpack what it means for you, one topic at a time

In the meantime, if anything in today’s announcement has you wondering about your own plans, I’m happy to talk it through.

Based on Budget announcements made on 28th October 2026, which may change before becoming law. This post is not personal financial advice.

27/10/2026

Read this and face the fears.
Sitting down with a financial planner can elevate that worry and can help to create the future you want.

Get in touch for an initial discussion

Financial worries can feel overwhelming, especially when they involve your family, your future or whether you are doing enough.

In this article, we look at five common fears and how financial planning can help you feel clearer and more in control.

Read more here: https://talisifa.com/the-top-five-fears-that-keep-us-awake/

27/10/2026

It's a form most people fill in once and never look at again. This week's top tip: check who's named on your pension's expression of wish, and update it if life's moved on since.

26/10/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it's one that means a lot to me.

In January 2024, on my first proper day at Talis, I was told I had breast cancer for the second time. What followed was chemotherapy, surgery, more chemotherapy and more surgery. Earlier this year I was given the news I'd been hoping for: I've been discharged from the oncology team.

My journey doesn't end there. I'll keep having yearly checks, and I stay mindful of any changes I notice. So my message is simple: check yourself regularly, and if you notice anything that isn't normal for you, go and see your GP. Don't wait. (And yes, men, that includes you.)

Throughout it all, Maggie's Nottingham has been an amazing resource for me. They're there for anyone affected by cancer, including family and friends, and you don't need an appointment. You can just walk in. That's why Maggie's is the charity I choose to support 💗 💛

23/10/2026

"Trust" gets used loosely, but it's a specific legal tool with real planning uses, especially around passing on wealth.

This week's jargon buster is a plain-English starting point.