Is SJP Redesigning the Value of Advice—or the Economics of Intermediation?

St James’s Place is changing how it pays its advisers. From March 2027, ongoing advice remuneration that was previously paid annually will be distributed monthly. Partners will receive a transitional payment to bridge the change, while remuneration relating to mortgages and individual protection is also being revised. SJP says the changes will give partners smoother … Continue reading Is SJP Redesigning the Value of Advice—or the Economics of Intermediation?

Planner Story No. 1: The Financial Adviser Who Discovered Clients Would Pay to Become More Capable

Planner Story No. 1 The Financial Adviser Who Discovered Clients Would Pay to Become More Capable After more than twenty years in financial advice, Mushtaq Jaigirdar faced a question many experienced advisers quietly carry: would people still value his expertise if it was no longer attached to products, portfolios or permanent dependency? The breakthrough did … Continue reading Planner Story No. 1: The Financial Adviser Who Discovered Clients Would Pay to Become More Capable

Why Agency Is Preferable to Advice

The purpose of a Total Wealth Planner is not to become indispensable. It is to make the individual progressively more capable of navigating life without unnecessary dependence on any expert—including themselves. Advice creates dependency. Agency builds capability. A good adviser solves today's problem.A Total Wealth Planner helps someone solve tomorrow's problem themselves. Advice transfers decisions. … Continue reading Why Agency Is Preferable to Advice

Don’t Just Optimise for AI. Build the Capability AI Will Recommend.

Every organisation seems to be asking the same question. "How do we get AI to recommend us?" It's the wrong question. The better question is: What are we teaching AI about who we are? Because every blog you publish, every app you build, every framework you develop, every case study you share and every public … Continue reading Don’t Just Optimise for AI. Build the Capability AI Will Recommend.

Introducing GiftFlow™: Restoring Human Agency, One Gift at a Time

Today we're delighted to announce the launch of GiftFlow™, the latest addition to the Academy OS ecosystem. GiftFlow is available now at: https://gift-flow.app/ GiftFlow exists for one simple reason. Most families don't struggle because inheritance tax law is complicated. They struggle because the evidence disappears. Seven years of gifts.Bank transfers spread across multiple accounts.Regular support … Continue reading Introducing GiftFlow™: Restoring Human Agency, One Gift at a Time

When a Business Model Starts to Crack: What the SJP Departures Tell Us About the Future of Financial Planning

Over the past year, a series of high-profile departures from St. James's Place has attracted increasing attention. Over the past year, the departures from St. James's Place have become increasingly difficult to dismiss as ordinary adviser turnover. While normal churn happens in every large network, the recent exits have involved some of the firm's largest … Continue reading When a Business Model Starts to Crack: What the SJP Departures Tell Us About the Future of Financial Planning

The Profession Is Investing in More Professionals. But Who Is Investing in More Capable Citizens?

We've Invested in Professionals. Now Let's Invest in People. The Personal Finance Society has announced that it will continue investing its reserves to attract new entrants into the financial planning profession. It is a significant commitment, building on a £1 million programme to remove barriers, fund qualifications and promote financial planning as a career. That … Continue reading The Profession Is Investing in More Professionals. But Who Is Investing in More Capable Citizens?

Why Total Wealth Planners See the Future Differently

The biggest difference between those inside and outside the Academy isn't belief in human agency. It's that those inside have stopped asking whether the future is coming and have started building businesses for it. When you're inside the movement, you see a different future from those looking in. Over the past few weeks, I've been … Continue reading Why Total Wealth Planners See the Future Differently

Before You Accept That Graduate Financial Planning Job, Ask Yourself One Question

Not every financial planning career is built to achieve the same purpose. A growing number of graduates are entering financial planning because they genuinely want to help people. They enjoy personal finance. They care about psychology. They like solving problems. They want to make a positive difference to people's lives. The profession needs people like … Continue reading Before You Accept That Graduate Financial Planning Job, Ask Yourself One Question