One of the first questions most of us ask before proceeding with any service is “How much will it cost?” Unfortunately, unlike solicitors and accountants, financial advisers are unable to offer one-off advice sessions. As a rule, they will also require a minimum investment which will vary depending on the Practice. This is because managing smaller portfolios may not be cost-effective as the on-going fee needs to cover all the elements involved in onboarding and maintaining a client’s portfolio.
While we offer a no obligation initial chat to see if we’re able to help, we’re often saddened when this is just not possible. And so, we devised a page for our website with guidance as to where various helpful information can be found.
Budgeting & Planning
Six quick steps to help build a financial plan
Creating a financial plan – no matter how simple – enables a proactive approach to enhancing both short-term and long-term income. It helps encourage a search for better savings rates, the reduction of household bills by proactively finding better deals, and looking to the future by increasing investments in tax efficient wrappers, such as pensions and ISAs. This active mindset is a key driver for a positive financial outlook.
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.
The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief is dependent on individual circumstances.
Pensions & Retirement
Retirement Living Standards: Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
The Retirement Living standards show you what life in retirement looks like at three different levels, and what a range of common goods and services would cost for each level. CLICK HERE
Top tips on how to track down your lost pension pots
Imagine finding a lost pension you never knew you had. There are now an estimated 3.3 million lost pension pots, containing £31.1 billion worth of assets, with the average size of a lost pot highest among the 55-75 age group, at £13,620. Find out what happened when my Mum discovered hers! CLICK HERE
Is your workplace pension enough?
When imagining your long-term future – in my experience more difficult in your 20s and 30s – we should include how many years we could spend in retirement. Women today have a 1 in 4 chance of living to 94, and men to 92*. How are you doing on your current journey? And what can you do to resolve any gaps along the way? *ONS figures July 2024 CLICK HERE
Does NI pay for my State Pension?
You may believe that paying National Insurance means you’re contributing to your State Pension. This is not strictly true; you are paying into the state pension scheme, but not your personal pension pot, so essentially funding the pot for those already receiving their State Pension. We look at what this means for the future of the State Pension. CLICK HERE [Link page currently being updated.]
Gov.uk Services
Check your State Pension forecast
Money and Pensions Service: Pension Calculator
Plan your retirement income: step by step
Check your National Insurance Record
General Financial Assistance
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice are a national charity and network of local charities offering confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. This includes help with benefits, work, debt and money, and housing. CLICK HERE
MoneyHelper
MoneyHelper offers free, impartial advice backed by the UK Government. It offers money and pensions guidance online, over the phone or in person and can connect you to a free debt adviser. CLICK HERE
PensionWise
Pension Wise is a service from MoneyHelper, backed by the government. They offer free, impartial guidance to over 50s, and have a UK-based defined contribution pension pot (this could be a personal or workplace pension), or you’ve inherited a pension pot, or are able to take your pension early due to ill health. CLICK HERE
Please note that clicking a link will open the external website in a new window or tab. Links from this post/website exist for information only and we accept no responsibility or liability for the information contained on any such sites. The existence of a link to another website does not imply or express endorsement of its provider, product or services by us or St. James’s Place.
SJP Approved 20/01/2026