St James’s Place results - transparent fees win clients’ confidence
Hugh Fairclough, Partner and Head of Financial Services at RSM UK, comments on St James’s Place end of year results:
“While reported revenues reflect the recent positive impact of a simpler, clearer fee model, new business inflows remain robust reaching record closing funds under management. Greater transparency appears to be reinforcing client confidence, supporting demand for advice at a time when trust, clarity and value are decisive factors for investors.
“SJP’s experience reflects a broader trend across wealth management: as consumers become more fee aware, demand is gravitating toward firms that lead on openness. In a volatile macro environment, advice backed by clarity and accountability resonates with both new and existing clients.
“Looking ahead, structural pressure on operator fee models will only intensify. The rise of AI enabled advice will lower the marginal cost of servicing clients, increasing clients’ expectations that efficiency gains are shared rather than retained. Firms that adapt their pricing to reflect technology driven productivity gains will be best placed to win the next generation of advised clients.
“The direction of travel is becoming clear - for the foreseeable future technology will enhance advice, not replace it – but it will raise expectations on cost. Firms that embrace this shift early will turn transparency and innovation into a competitive advantage.”