Have you heard of St James's Place

Mikeyorks

Mr_Mumble wrote:

Oh, make me do some research, huh!

Really sorry about that - honest:rolleyes:

I did pick up the Bank connection with HBOS - but not the Capital bit. But ... really impressive reading you provided.;)

One bit it doesn't mention is the really good quality paper / envelopes they send me annually, to go to local seminars. Makes the rest of the stuff in the re-cycling bin look really cheap.

Prudent

My ex took out an investment policy with them about 10 years ago. It did not do well. This may be no indication on their present returns though.

McDuck

I've used SJP for a while. I bank with them.

I am supported by a 'partner' who has always seen me and Mrs McDuck well. I use his services when we look a 'product', he of course shows me the SJP product but he also has access to the whole market (currently with Nationwide for example for our home loan via SJP).

I find them helpful as I can send them documents and don't have to get certified (even in my trade it is a pain).

Can't help you in your specific instance but I have no complaints.

Hope that helps.

PS - As for charges they have been 100% upfront (and com) and encourages me to compare with others. Which I do less and less (as I trust my contact)

deb1home

My friend dates one of their senior sales men, he's slick and all sweetness and charm when you meet him (he has failed to mention to her that he's married and I know that has nothing to do with investing but is the mark of any man)! But he redid all her finances and talked her into an interest only mortgage (he gets £600 back per this type of mortgage) I have no idea if an interest only mortgage is a good idea or not but my dear old dad always told me not to touch them with someone elses bargepole never mind my own. SJP have big corporate dos in London and their salesmen need to compete for holidays and cash prizes, which your money pays for. I wouldn't give him the time of day never mind any cash. Find a truly independent financial advisor.

dunstonh

I am supported by a 'partner' who has always seen me and Mrs McDuck well. I use his services when we look a 'product', he of course shows me the SJP product but he also has access to the whole market (currently with Nationwide for example for our home loan via SJP).

They are not whole of market and that is misleading. For mortgage class business they have access to more lenders but for investment and protection they are tied to SJP. Mortgage class business is one category but investment class is another. A common tied agent approach is to give the impression they are whole of market by using the mortgage side.

I find them helpful as I can send them documents and don't have to get certified (even in my trade it is a pain).

Again, mortgage class business and not investment class. Not what the OP is looking for.

PS - As for charges they have been 100% upfront

I knew SJP charges were very high but I didnt realise that they charged that much

and their salesmen need to compete for holidays and cash prizes, which your money pays for.

And that is one of the key reasons salesforces of any type should be avoided. Its an incentive to sell more, sell the product with the most commission and puts pressure on the salesforce to compete which can potentially lead to dodgy advice if the pressure on an individual is too much. Their pay structure puts a debt on individuals as well which they are under pressure to clear.

cheerfulcat

dunstonh wrote:

St James Place is the current name for what used to be called Allied Dunbar. (aka Allied Crowbar to the trade).

dh, where did you get this from? Allied Dunbar were ultimately taken over by Zurich - no connection with SJP AFAIK.

SJP do seem to employ a tied salesforce and the chap I spoke to in the course of an experiment was quite persistent. I have to say in their defense that their in-house funds aren't the worst but I wouldn't use SJP myself, and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

defender_of_the_weak

I haven't got long enough to express my full knowledge and history of SJP in terms of should you give them £150,000. Personally, I would not give them
150p. If you are looking to invest this amount of money do some research, shop around for commission free products, but in terms of SJP

Run

cheerfulcat

defender of the weak, I am all ears! Kindly spill those beans...

Innys

They are sharks. I wouldn't go anywhere near them.

They stitched my mum up with her IHT planning and then wanted to charge her again to fix it. Of course the "fix" was not guaranteed to be effective either.

If you want to invest with them, good luck, you'll need it.

Chrismaths

dh, where did you get this from? Allied Dunbar were ultimately taken over by Zurich - no connection with SJP AFAIK.

The guy who used to run Allied [STRIKE]Crowbar[/STRIKE] Dunbar (Mike Wilson) originally is the guy behind SJP. It's basically what AD used to be.