Financial advice helps one client get the right mortgage

Though he’s only 18 years old, Adam is already one of the hottest names in professional boxing and predicted to reach the very top. He’s also one of SJP’s youngest clients.

Here, he shares his story of meeting his Partner, Ben, and how advice has given him the knowledge and confidence to manage his growing wealth, from the start of his career.

Meet Adam

Eighteen-year-old Adam Maca is not your average school leaver. He started sparring aged seven, and became National Boxing Champion five times and European Champion twice before making his professional boxing debut in front of thousands at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 2025. Dedicated and ambitious, Adam is already signed to one of the world’s top boxing promoters, earning significant sums of prize money, and he’s aiming for the top. Anything less, in his words, will be a failure.

Adam’s life story so far is unconventional enough, but equally unconventional is the way he met Ben, his financial adviser, which led to him becoming one of SJP’s youngest clients.

“Learning about finances and money was like starting a new subject in school.”

Adam,

SJP client

A chance meeting that sparked an immediate rapport

“I was at a World Wrestling Entertainment show with one of my friends and Ben, who’s now my financial adviser, was sat behind us with his son,” explains Adam, who asked Ben to take a photo of him and his friend. The two quickly found common ground. “I asked Adam what he did, and he said, ‘I'm a boxer’ “, Ben continues. A passionate boxing fan himself, Ben recognised the name of Adam’s manager, and the two clicked.

Adam mentioned that he might need financial advice in the near future, as he was on the point of signing his professional contract. They exchanged numbers, and Adam messaged Ben within a few days. “I didn't have a clue what a financial adviser was or what they did“, Adam says. “But I knew I’d need advice. “

“The sport I'm in, the only people you want around you are people you get along with and can trust. I had that with Ben straight away.”

“I’ve boxed, I’ve family who box, and when Adam and I met we just clicked. “

Ben,

SJP Partner

Building knowledge, gaining confidence

Given his young age, Adam’s financial situation is unusual – but the topics they discuss are relevant to many clients and their advisers. “Much of what we’ve done together is laying the groundwork on how money works,“ says Ben. “It’s been very rewarding to be part of his journey, guiding and supporting Adam’s financial education and seeing his confidence grow.“

“Like many people who are self-employed, we’ve discussed whether it would suit Adam better to be a sole trader or a limited company, and then we got up to speed with things like corporation tax and different income tax brackets. “

It was a steep learning curve for Adam, but he’s laser focused on the best way to achieve his goals. “I knew the word ‘tax’ but I didn’t have any idea about it,” he says. “Ben has taught me so much.

It’s never too young to plan for retirement

Already, Adam can see the benefits of long-term financial planning. “Boxing isn’t a long career,” he reminds us. “My retirement will be a lot earlier than most people's retirement. If I end my fighting career in my mid-30s, I need to plan for that. So Ben and I have already discussed setting up things that will provide me with an income.” Talking about and preparing for retirement is a key element of financial planning, but it’s one that most clients address with financial advisers when they’re in their 40s or 50s.

For professional athletes, retirement planning must happen much sooner than for most people.

“Meeting Ben has helped me understand and plan to put myself in a secure position financially when my fighting career ends – I can be confident that I’ll have money coming in, and money to live on.”

What they don’t teach you in school

Adam is planning to open a Lifetime ISA* and is looking at further ISA and unit trust investments as well as developing a property portfolio so that he has a sustainable income when he hangs up his gloves. He has a detailed monthly income and expenditure plan, putting money aside for the tax he’ll pay. Managing money is a life skill, and one that you can acquire at any age, especially with the help of a financial adviser.

“Learning about finances and money has been like starting a new subject in school,” Adam says. “I knew the word ‘tax’. but that was about all. “

“Working with Ben, I can explore different avenues of how to spend, save, and plan for my long term future when I retire from boxing. Ben has taught me so much.”

You can follow Adam on Instagram here: adammaca01

* Please note that Lifetime ISAs are not available through St. James's Place.

Find an SJP adviser

This is just one client’s story, and each situation is unique. The advice given to Adam was provided after a full evaluation of specific needs, circumstances and requirements, and was correct at the time it was given. The solutions provided may not be suitable for everyone, and the information provided here does not constitute advice.

If you’d like to learn more about financial advice, or help your children establish good money habits, we’d be happy to help. Find an SJP Partner close to you.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

Links from this website exist for information only and we accept no responsibility or liability for the information contained on any such sites. The existence of a link to another website does not imply or express endorsement of its provider, products or services by us or St. James's Place. Please note that clicking a link will open the external website in a new window or tab.

"I learnt more from my adviser than I did in school"

Meet Adam

A chance meeting that sparked an immediate rapport

Building knowledge, gaining confidence

It’s never too young to plan for retirement

What they don’t teach you in school

Read more client stories