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St James’s Place PLC on Thursday reported a bumper 2025 of new business, with the final stretch of the year marked by clients seeking financial advice amid ‘protracted speculation’ ahead of the UK government budget. Shares in the company rose 1.3% to 1,525.00 pence each in London on Thursday morning. The Cirencester, Gloucestershire-based wealth manager said gross inflows in 2025 amounted to £21.88 billion, rising 19% from £18.41 billion. Net inflows improved 42% to £6.16 billion from £4.33 billion. ‘I am pleased to report a strong year for SJP. Our advisers attracted £21.9 billion of new business, up 19% year-on-year,’ Chief Executive Officer Mark FitzPatrick said. ‘The final quarter was marked by protracted speculation in the lead up to the autumn budget at the end of November, and our new business performance reflected clients’ desire for trusted advice amid this period of heightened uncertainty. Client-adviser engagement was unseasonally high in the third quarter, linked to the successful implementation of our new charging structure in late summer, resulting in lower levels of activity early in the final quarter, as expected.’ Funds under management at the end of the year totalled £220.01 billion, a record high, rising 16% from £190.21 billion at the end of 2024. In addition to the net inflow, St James’s Place recorded a net positive investment return of £23.64 billion in 2025, improved from £17.68 billion positive in 2024. CEO FitzPatrick added: ‘The final quarter also saw elevated short-term outflows, as many clients accelerated tax-free cash withdrawals from their pensions in anticipation of reduced TFC allowances. As we exited the quarter, we were pleased to see both outflow rates and client engagement normalise, and this has continued into the early part of 2026. ‘2025 was a year of progress for SJP, where we strengthened our business for the future whilst growing our client numbers, increasing our inflows, delivering good investment returns and achieving record FUM. As anticipated, clients and advisers successfully adapted to the implementation of our simple, comparable charging structure. We also made good progress with our review of historic ongoing service evidence and our cost and efficiency programme.’ The CEO continued: ‘We enter 2026 with confidence and the changes we have made, combined with our broader strategy to strengthen and grow SJP, leave us well placed to extend our long-term leadership in a highly attractive marketplace.’ Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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