Croft and Oakes Chartered Financial Planners Limited

Croft and Oakes Chartered Financial Planners Limited Expert, Independent, Honest advice covering all areas of Financial Planning. Specialising in Investment, Trust and Tax Planning.

I want to reduce my IHT bill but I don’t know what my options are. This is something I hear regularly, and the answer is...
04/09/2026

I want to reduce my IHT bill but I don’t know what my options are.

This is something I hear regularly, and the answer is that the options available depend entirely on your personal circumstances.

For example:
• Are you single, married, widowed or divorced?
• What is the total value of your estate? Above certain thresholds, you can lose one of your available allowances.
• Are you leaving your home, or the value of your home, to a direct descendant?

Understanding the answers to these questions helps establish what inheritance tax allowances may be available to you.

If your estate is likely to exceed those allowances, we can then help you understand the different planning options.

Some strategies involve giving up access to your money, while others don’t. Some require you to survive for seven years to be fully effective, some become effective after two years, and others can have an immediate impact.

For me, the most important part of the process is taking the time to understand your circumstances, your needs and your goals. Once we have that picture, we can explain your options clearly and help you decide which approach, or combination of approaches, is most appropriate for you.

If you’d like to talk through your potential inheritance tax liability and the planning options available, we’d be delighted to help. In many cases, the earlier you start planning, the more options you have.

📞 01952 897377
📧 [email protected]

Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change in the future.

At Croft and Oakes, we have what we call the “Family Rule.”It’s not written in a compliance manual.It’s not a marketing ...
30/08/2026

At Croft and Oakes, we have what we call the “Family Rule.”

It’s not written in a compliance manual.
It’s not a marketing slogan.
It’s an internal standard we quietly apply every single day.

Before any recommendation leaves our desk, we ask ourselves:

“If this were our own nearest and dearest, would we give the same advice?”

That question matters.

Because financial planning isn’t about ticking boxes, meeting quotas, or producing paperwork for the sake of it. It’s about judgement. It’s about responsibility. And it’s about making decisions that genuinely serve the person sitting in front of us.

We think carefully about what is right for each client, based on the information available at the time. We consider the risks, the trade-offs, the long-term implications and the human side of the decision, not just the technical detail.

If we wouldn’t be comfortable recommending it to our own family, we won’t recommend it to you.

That is our unwritten check.
That is our standard.

⸻

If you would value thoughtful, independent financial planning built on care as well as competence, we would be delighted to speak with you.

📍 Croft and Oakes
🌐 www.croftandoakes.co.uk
📞 01952897377
📧 [email protected]

Hope you all have a paws-itively brilliant long weekend! ☀️🐾Our newest “team members” have made it very clear that the o...
28/08/2026

Hope you all have a paws-itively brilliant long weekend! ☀️🐾
Our newest “team members” have made it very clear that the only thing on the agenda is sunshine (hopefully), naps, and absolutely no emails.
We hope you all get chance to relax, enjoy the warmer weather, and spend some quality time with family and friends over the bank holiday weekend.
Please note our offices will be closed until 9am on Tuesday 1st September
From all of us at Croft and Oakes - have a lovely weekend!

📋 “I’ve got a Will, so everything is sorted… isn’t it?”Not necessarily.Many people are surprised to learn that some of t...
27/08/2026

📋 “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?

How Much Is Enough in a Pension?It’s one of the most common questions we hear, but the honest answer is… it depends.Ther...
26/08/2026

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.

When Should I See a Financial Planner?The simple answer? Any time is a good time.There is never a bad time to have a fin...
23/08/2026

When Should I See a Financial Planner?

The simple answer? Any time is a good time.

There is never a bad time to have a financial health check. Just as you would regularly review your physical health, it’s important to review your financial wellbeing too.

That becomes even more important when you’ve experienced a significant life event, such as:

✔ Starting a new job or changing career
✔ Approaching retirement
✔ Getting married or entering a civil partnership
✔ Going through a divorce or separation
✔ Receiving an inheritance
✔ Selling a business
✔ Receiving a pension lump sum
✔ Becoming a parent or grandparent

Life rarely stands still, and neither do your finances. Your circumstances, goals and priorities can change over time, while legislation, tax rules and pension regulations continue to evolve. What was the right strategy five years ago may not be the most suitable one today.

Having regular financial reviews can help ensure you remain on track towards your objectives and make informed decisions as your situation changes.

As a Chartered and Independent Financial Planning firm, Croft and Oakes is able to provide expert, unbiased advice tailored to your individual circumstances. Whether you’re planning for retirement, looking to protect your family, invest for the future or simply want reassurance that you’re making the right decisions, we’re here to help.

📞 01952 897377
📧 [email protected]



Important Information

The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. Pension values are not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise. The value of pensions may be affected by investment performance, charges, taxation and legislative changes. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change in the future. Financial planning and investment advice should be sought before making any financial decisions.

23/08/2026

🏃‍♂️ What a day in Ellesmere! 🏃‍♀️

Proud to have part-sponsored a Shropshire 10K in Ellesmere, with 850 runners taking on the challenge — and even prouder to have our newest (and youngest!) team member, trainee IFA Zak, lining up on the start line. 💪

With Marc originally entered to run but called into last-minute marshalling duty thanks to an injury, it was a slightly different team effort than planned! 😂

Huge congratulations to Zak and everyone who took part, and a massive shout-out to the team at Adrenaline Sporting Events for putting on such a brilliant local event.

Great community spirit, great atmosphere and plenty of very tired legs! 👏

Do you understand your pension?With the introduction of auto enrolment, most people now have at least one pension. Howev...
22/08/2026

Do you understand your pension?

With the introduction of auto enrolment, most people now have at least one pension. However, because pensions are often something that happens in the background, many people don’t fully understand what they have, how it is invested, the level of risk involved, or the charges they are paying.

Pensions have also changed significantly over time. More modern pension arrangements may offer retirement options that older pensions do not, such as flexible access to your pension savings and a wider range of investment choices. These can include opportunities to benefit from managed portfolio services or discretionary fund managers, helping to ensure your investments are aligned with your goals and attitude to risk.

Having your pension in the right place for your needs can help you feel more informed, reassured and confident about your pathway to retirement. Understanding your pensions is an important step towards making better financial decisions for your future.

If you would like help from an independent Chartered Financial Planning company to make sense of your pensions and ensure they are right for your needs, please get in touch. One of our eight excellent Financial Planners will be happy to help.

📞 01952 897377
📧 [email protected]



Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. Pension values are not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise. The value of your pension can be affected by investment performance, charges and changes in legislation and taxation. Pension and tax rules may change in the future and depend on your individual circumstances. Transfers and withdrawals from pensions may not be suitable for everyone and could affect your benefits. Financial advice should be sought before making any decisions.

Have you had your inheritance tax liability calculated recently?Many people have spent years building successful busines...
21/08/2026

Have you had your inheritance tax liability calculated recently?

Many people have spent years building successful businesses, growing investment portfolios and accumulating valuable pension funds… but have never stopped to calculate what the eventual Inheritance Tax bill could look like.

For some families, the liability can now be significantly higher than expected, particularly following years of investment growth, rising property values and changes to the treatment of pensions from April 2027 within estate planning discussions.

Additionally changes to your family circumstances can make a difference, are you divorced, widowed or living together but have never married. If you are widowed previously have you remarried as all these things can make a difference to the options and allowances you have available to you and what is likely to be the right course of action.

We are increasingly speaking to people who arranged planning years ago, but have not revisited the figures to include:
• Increased asset values
• Larger pension funds
• Additional properties or investments
• Changes to tax rules and allowances

A recalculation can often be eye-opening and can help identify opportunities to reduce the eventual tax burden for your family.

At Croft & Oakes, we help clients understand their current position and explore practical planning options to help preserve more of their wealth for future generations.

☎️ 01952 897377
📧 [email protected]

🌟 Why We Aren’t Your Average Financial Planners 🌟At Croft and Oakes, we believe how we work matters just as much as what...
20/08/2026

🌟 Why We Aren’t Your Average Financial Planners 🌟

At Croft and Oakes, we believe how we work matters just as much as what we do. Here’s what truly sets us apart 👇

🔍 Truly Independent Advice
We are directly authorised by the FCA, meaning we are genuinely independent. There are no restrictions on the advice we give or the investments we recommend, every solution is chosen solely because it’s right for you.

🎓 Chartered Financial Planning Firm
We’re proud to be a Chartered firm, a real badge of honour in our profession. It recognises the consistently high standards we demonstrate across ethics, professionalism, qualifications and client care, not just once, but every day.

🤝 The Perfect Size
We’ve struck the balance perfectly.
Not so small that you’re left without support if your planner is unavailable, and not so large that clients become just another line on a spreadsheet. You’ll always be looked after, personally and professionally.

🏆 Award-Winning Team
Our financial planners have been recognised, shortlisted and awarded for their individual achievements, and as a firm we were ranked third in the Boutique Financial Planning Company of the Year awards by FT Adviser. Recognition we’re incredibly proud of.

✨ Built Around People, Not Products
Everything we do is centred around long-term relationships, clear advice and helping our clients feel confident and in control of their financial future.

💬 Croft and Oakes: Financial Planning Done Properly.

Address

Suite 7 Business Development Centre, Stafford Park 4
Telford
TF33BA

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 7:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 7:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 7:30pm
Thursday 8am - 7:30pm
Friday 8am - 7:30pm
Saturday 8am - 7:30pm

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