‘Why I joined’ – Jack Mason-Brown on starting a business at St. James’s Place

Jack Mason-Brown is a financial adviser and owner of Mason-Brown Financial Planning. After 12 years with the National Farmers Union (NFU), he now has over 130 clients. Here’s his experience of joining St. James’s Place (SJP).

1. Why did you leave your previous role? 

I spent 12 years at the NFU, focused on becoming as qualified as possible. I was one of their top 10 performing advisers, but I wanted to build something of my own—something for my family.

Changes to the NFU’s bonus schemes were the final push. It made me realise how much I wanted more control over my future, so I started exploring new opportunities.

    
    2. Why did you decide to join SJP? 

I considered several providers when leaving the NFU. Interestingly, most spent more time criticising SJP than explaining their own proposition. I hadn’t even mentioned I was speaking to SJP! That made it clear who the main competitor was.

In contrast, my conversations with SJP were entirely different. They were about me—my goals, my business, my questions. My Partnership Recruitment Manager was upfront and honest, providing clear information about the proposition, charges, and what support was available. These conversations were open, relaxed, and genuine.

I felt confident the client proposition was one of the best in the market. The support to set up my business was exceptional, and the financial support available from SJP made the whole experience much less intimidating—even with a 2-month-old baby at home! It was a big decision, but after extensive research, I knew it was the right one for me and my family.

    
    3. What was your preconception of SJP and how does it compare now you're here? 

My former colleagues had ‘warned’ me about meeting SJP, and other providers shared negative opinions. But as I dug deeper, I realised most of it was just noise. Much of what I heard was inaccurate.

In fact, I found SJP’s transparency refreshing. Their updates to remuneration and charging structures showed they were leading change in the profession. That gave me confidence it was the right time to join.

    
    4. What are you most excited about? 

I’m excited to keep building my profile both within SJP and externally. My wife runs our Practice’s social media accounts, which has been great for increasing visibility and boosting client confidence. These days, people will always google a Practice or adviser, so having an online presence makes a huge difference—it even helps past clients find you. Social media is like attending a networking event 24/7.

I’ve also been writing for a club and IFA podcast magazine. That’s helped grow my profile and attract new clients, which has been an exciting development for the business.

     
    5. What advice would you give to someone thinking of leaving their role/starting at SJP?

It’s about autonomy without sacrificing the benefits of being part of a larger organisation. You run your business how you want to and choose your clients, while SJP provides the infrastructure and expertise to support you.

Starting a business on your own can be daunting, but having access to experts means you can focus on what really matters—spending time with clients and growing your client base.

Thinking of starting up a financial advice business? Why not start a conversation with one of our Partnership Recruitment Managers now?