St. James's Place Financial Adviser Academy Reviews 23

Really simple process. I had thought about this career for years but felt daunting making the leap alone. With the support of the academy I have found a practice that supports my personal ambitions whilst receiving all the training and support to become the best financial adviser I can be.

The SJP financial advisor academy was fantastic from start to finish. Extremely well organised and professional. From my initial dealings with Craig Townsend, all the way through the process. Having looked at alternative networks to join, I am 100% confident I have made the right decision to join SJP.

Last Summer, I made the move from project and operational management within healthcare into financial planning; a significant and slightly daunting career change, but one I had been considering for some time, after completing my initial exams 3 years ago.

I began my journey in term 2 and from day one, the level of support I received was fantastic. The Academy team, mentors, and wider network gave me the knowledge, encouragement, and confidence to fully commit to a new career path and begin building my own business. Today, I’m proud to be part of a successful financial planning practice, helping clients achieve their goals while enjoying a career that is really beginning to transform my life.

If you’re considering a new career and wondering whether it’s possible, I can honestly say that with the right support (like the support I received), it absolutely is. Thanks to the SJP Financial Adviser Academy, what once felt like a big leap became not only achievable, but incredibly rewarding.

I had a really positive experience at the academy. The support throughout was excellent, the training was informative and easy to follow, and everything was delivered in a thorough and professional way. It has positioned me well to move forward confidently in my career following my appointment. I felt well guided throughout the process and would highly recommend the academy.

From the first interaction with the recruitment team (Josh/Craig) 2 years ago, with no pressure applied to sign up or commit, it's been a professional and enjoyable experience, culminating in completing the academy term 2 yesterday.

Fantastic trainers (Martin) and support (Tim) and a real focus on delivering great client outcomes. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a great start to financial advice.

The support from start to finish has been nothing like I have ever experienced. Every single one of the trainers and mentors I have worked with genuinely want me to succeed and they tailor their support specifically to your needs. The confidence the Academy and my Development Manager have provided to me is something I am extremely grateful for and I would encourage anyone looking to get into the industry to heavily consider the SJP Academy.

A really enjoyable experience. I came from a non-financial background and found the academy really helped me to get through the exams quickly and efficiently and cover off the very basics of financial advice. It provided the foundations upon which I am building a new career.

Fantastic!! I made the decision to switch profession aged 29, a daunting decision but one where I have not looked back since making the jump.

The academy has had a huge impact on the transition process. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the academy throughout Term 1, 2 and now 3. It has given me so many technical, theoretical and practical skills that have definitely accelerated my development as an adviser. With that being said, it is high speed and demand but achievable with the support and expertise on hand to help.

In my opinion, the structure and support have been exceptional whether it be virtually or in person. I would and have recommended the academy to others!

Having worked for SJP corporate previously I felt that I had a good understanding of what the Academy had to offer. A change in direction in my career meant that I actually got to experience it first hand! As someone with industry experience, but limited financial adviser experience I found the training to be excellent. The whole Academy experience has been a positive one and I feel well equipped to take my career to the next level.

The outstanding training and continuous growth opportunities have significantly propelled my path toward becoming a financial adviser. The Academy excels in transforming individuals like me, who start without any industry background, into proficient professionals. After completing the foundational and classroom stages, the Academy continues to support you during your initial career phase, enhanced by personalized mentoring sessions. This remarkable program equips you with essential skills and boosts your confidence in performing as a Financial Adviser.

Going through the SJP Financial Adviser Academy was one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made in my career. The programme offers a perfect blend of technical knowledge, practical training, and personal development — all delivered in a highly supportive environment.

What really stood out to me was the emphasis on real-world application. From day one, you’re not just learning theory; you’re being prepared to build a sustainable and trusted financial planning business. The mentors and trainers are experienced, approachable, and genuinely invested in your success.

Whether you’re transitioning from another career or just looking to take the next step in financial services, the Academy equips you with the tools, confidence, and network to thrive.

Highly recommended for anyone serious about making a long-term impact as a financial adviser.

I joined the Financial Adviser Academy after years of encouragement from my own adviser at St. James’s Place, Sonia, who always said I’d make a great adviser myself. Eventually, I listened and I’m so glad I did.

The most valuable lesson I took from the Academy is that you’re never too old to learn something new. I discovered not only that I was capable of starting a new career in my mid 40s, but also that I was smarter and more resilient than I’d given myself credit for.

The support I received from my Academy Development Manager was exceptional — she was a steady, encouraging presence throughout, and having a strong woman in that role really mattered to me. One area where I initially struggled was with the lack of diversity among some of the guest speakers, who were often what I’d describe as “male, pale, and stale.” But to the Academy’s credit, they listened when I raised it, and I was offered a 1-to-1 with a brilliant female adviser whose energy and insight were exactly what I’d been looking for.

Since completing the programme, I’ve launched my own financial planning practice. It’s the most stimulating, rewarding career I’ve ever had, no two days are the same, and I genuinely feel I’m making a difference in people’s lives.

That said, I would encourage anyone considering the Academy to do their homework first. It’s not just about passing exams, you need to be financially prepared for the quieter months after graduating, when you’re building your client base and waiting for income to catch up. It takes time, but it’s worth it.

My one piece of constructive feedback? I’d love to see more female, and forward-thinking voices represented, people who reflect where financial planning is going, not just where it’s been.

If I had to sum up my experience in one sentence: Life-changing, empowering, and not for the faint-hearted, but absolutely worth it.

The training and development I experienced through the St. James's Place - Financial Adviser Academy was fantastic. The academy provided me with all of the skills I required to hit the ground running as a financial advisor. The programme was a blend of face to face training, virtual training, lot's of opportunity for role playing to help get you ready for client meetings and VR. When I graduated I also left the academy with a ready made network of advisors and coaches that I could contact as I built my business.

I started the SJP Academy in March 2022 after deciding that a career change was required. I’ve said to many people how impressed I was right from the start at the amount of resources and support that they put towards new advisors both through the Academy and beyond. The quality of the training is really high and it’s a good balance of live on-line sessions and some off-sites so you can get to meet your cohort and the trainers properly – a great opportunity to start the network building process. I found the learning environment to be a really refreshing change and I thoroughly recommend the SJP Academy to anyone wanting to become a Financial Advisor.

Changing career in my 30's and with a young family was a pretty daunting prospect. However, the SJP Academy did a fantastic job of providing me with the right amount of support and guidance, alongside helping me to develop and learn all the skills required to be able to begin a successful career in Financial Services. The way the academy adopted, and adapted to the needs of online learning was impressive and although online learning in general can sometimes feel disconnected, this was never the case.
Since completing the academy programme, the support has continued to be available which demonstrates that the company genuinely care about you being successful.

World-class training and ongoing development has been instrumental in spring-boarding my journey to being a financial adviser. The Academy is skilled at taking people without industry experience (as in my case) and crafting us into industry professionals. Once the basics & classroom period is over the Academy stays with you throughout your early career. This is further bolstered with 1 to 1 mentoring. It's an amazing programme which delivers the skills and helps to build confidence in doing the role of Financial Adviser.

I began my journey with the SJP Academy in November 2021 having reaching a cross roads in my career. From the very start it was clear that the learning, support and resources on hand was outstanding. I had one-to-one support from my designated development manager from the start all the way through the process and it was clear that all the trainers had years of industry experience for me to draw upon. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the SJP Financial adviser Academy.

The St. James's Place Academy provided a thorough and enjoyable grounding into the world of becoming a financial adviser. They brought a group of people together in a way that has created lasting relationships and provided a safe environment to learn the core skills and the knowledge required to succeed. Well done St. James's Place and Thank You!

My experience with the Academy has been nothing short of outstanding. They provide a world-class rigorous training program which focuses on developing key skills required to become a successful financial adviser. It is a modernised way of learning as it is centered around goal-based financial planning. This approach provides the basis of building long-standing relationships with clients and providing the best solutions.

A highly recommended training program for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in advising.

The SJP Advisor academy has made my transition into financial services a really efficient process. I new I wanted to re-train and get into the industry but I was worried about trying to re-train with no help or framework. The Academy offered coaching and mentoring in groups and 1 2 1 which was very valuable. They have state of the art facilities, offer support to pass exams and give real-world examples to help put the theory into practice.