Thomas and Vishal's journey

An early start and fast progression

Vishal was keen to start working in financial services and after finishing his A-levels, joined the Kings Group, part of the Openwork Partnership, at just 18. He quickly made his mark, becoming the firm’s top mortgage broker in his first year and maintaining it in his second.

At the same time, Thomas was building his own career within the same environment. The two began working closely together, referring clients to each other and developing a strong professional relationship. This would eventually form the foundation of their partnership.

Taking control of their future

Vishal and Thomas were both self-employed while working for Openwork partner firms. But they both realised they were craving greater control over their careers and their future.

Together, they made the decision to explore new opportunities.

The introduction to St. James’s Place (SJP) came through Vishal’s father, who had built and sold his own financial advice business within the SJP Partnership.

From their first conversations with SJP and throughout the recruitment process, the support and care shown gave Vishal and Thomas confidence they were making the right move.

Navigating change and building confidence

As with any major career transition, the move came with a few challenges. But with the support of their supervisor and wider network, Vishal and Thomas were soon able to regain momentum and continue building their business.

This period proved pivotal in strengthening their resilience. It also reinforced the value of having the right professional support and backing.

Growing through business sale and purchase (BSP)

Since joining SJP in 2022, Vishal and Thomas have focused on growing their business in a structured way.

A key part of this has been the Business Sale and Purchase (BSP) model, which allows advisers to acquire existing client portfolios from within the Partnership, providing a faster route to growth alongside developing their business organically.

They have now completed two BSPs, using them to:

expand their client base
create new opportunities
build momentum more quickly than relying on new client acquisition alone.

For Thomas, this also supported a personal move, enabling him to relocate to a new home while continuing to grow the business.

Beyond business growth, BSP can provide a way to build long-term value over time, with access to opportunities that exist within the wider Partnership rather than having to generate everything independently.

Building a business and brand

With support from SJP Vishal and Thomas have been able to establish strong foundations for their business, from systems and processes through to branding and marketing.

They have since begun to expand their presence further, including increasing their use of social media and campaign assets to support client acquisition.

Combined with a strong referral network, this has enabled steady growth and the development of a business that reflects their shared vision.

Learning as they grow

Today Vishal and Thomas are focused on developing their business to ensure they offer the best possible service to clients, and to make the most of future opportunities for growth.

Their experience reflects the reality of growing a business early in your career, combining ambition with continuous learning and development. They’ve also fine-tuned an approach that works for them.