[December 2025] In today’s financial climate, the only certainty is change. Headlines warn of economic slowdown, inflation still bites, and a new wave of tax rules is reshaping the landscape for families and business owners alike. From frozen allowances to evolving pension legislation, for most people it’s never felt more complex or frustrating.
At Pinnacle, we believe professional advice is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. The right guidance helps our clients get beyond the noise to focus on what matters, and make confident decisions that protect and grow their wealth over time.
The 2% uplift: Advice delivers real value
It’s one thing to claim advice “adds value.” It’s another to quantify it.
A 2020 study by Numis Securities pointed to a 2% per year improvement* in net investment outcomes
when professional financial advice was added (after fees and taxes). This would have included aspects such as:
- smoother behaviour (avoiding costly panic moves)
- asset allocation shifts at the right times
- smarter tax planning
- investment strategy
- bespoke structuring to protect downside
This was a significant difference and was enough to change a retirement date, support adult children or big-dream purchases at the time.
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Fund values fluctuate and can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested.
One of our clients explained clearly how she has benefited from expert advice from Noah Lasoye, an Adviser who has been with the Practice for 3 years:
We help clients ‘see round corners’
Frozen allowances, new tax thresholds, volatile markets — these are all the realities of today. Our advisory role is to anticipate these changes, stress-test a client’s plan against them, and give them the confidence to act.
Our unique Pinnacle LifePlan process does exactly that. By combining advanced cashflow modelling with hands-on expertise, we help clients see their financial future clearly, highlighting risks, opportunities, and the robust routes forward.
Emotion is expensive
The truth is, financial mistakes are costly. Acting on emotion, chasing headlines, or misinterpreting new rules can derail decades of hard work. Professional-focused advice acts as a safeguard:
- Preventing investment mistakes driven by panic or greed
- Optimising tax efficiency to increase your after-tax returns
- Structuring protection to ensure your family, business, and lifestyle are secure
- Building a legacy by reducing inheritance tax exposure
Financial freedom doesn’t happen by accident, and it certainly isn’t guaranteed by income alone. It requires a clear, well-defined plan and a financial Partner you can trust through life’s inevitable changes. That’s what real value looks like.
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 depends on individual circumstances.
*Source: *Numis Securities Research, Sept 2020.
According to independent analysis the value of professional financial advice amounted to an additional 2% per year. This is based on comparing annual returns for St. James’s Place clients against those who managed their own investments. The research by Numis Securities, which covered all clients’ SJP pension investments, found that between June 2010 and June 2020 the average growth achieved was 7.7% pa. By comparison, the same exercise for pension clients of a large firm where investors usually make their own investment decisions achieved an average of 5.5% pa over the same period.
What does this really mean? £100,000 invested under the guidance of an expert Financial Adviser at the start of the period was worth on average £210,000 by the end. £100,000 invested by a non-advised client on average grew to £171,000 over the ten years. This analysis didn’t include any tax benefits from advice.
Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
Pinnacle is a Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place.
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SJP Approved 02/12/2025
