Clarifying some misconceptions

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News

20 Oct 2023

Claire Blackwell | Chief Client and Reputation Officer

Earlier this week we announced some changes to our future charging structure.

Since then, we have had some further questions and would like to take this opportunity to clarify some misconceptions.

At a glance

Earlier this week we announced some changes to our future charging structure.

Since then, we have had some further questions and would like to take this opportunity to clarify some misconceptions.

1. Why are we waiting until 2025 to implement the changes?

There is a substantial programme of system and process change required to implement the changes we have announced, and these will take time to safely complete.

2. Are clients who are already invested with SJP and within their Early Withdrawal Charge period harmed by this implementation period?

Our testing shows that the Early Withdrawal Charge (EWC) delivers strong client value and is also well understood by our clients. We remain of this view, however we also recognise that consumers value comparability and therefore we are making the changes announced.

3. Do these changes only apply to new clients?

All new and existing clients will benefit from lower ongoing charges at the time of implementation.

With consumer expectations and the regulatory landscape continuing to change, we believe that an easily comparable structure will be valuable for consumers in the future.

This means we will be removing the EWC for new investments from 2025 to enable us to separate the components of our charges, which will help to make our charging structure simple and more comparable with others in the marketplace. Clients with existing bond and pension investments that are still within the six-year gestation period will transition to the new charging structure for those investments once the EWC period has ended, but any new money invested by those clients will be invested in line with the new structure as soon as the changes are implemented.

4. Why do we not switch clients / assets invested within the EWC structure straight into the new charging structure when it becomes available in 2025?

Investments currently within the applicable six-year EWC period benefit from the existing ongoing product charge being waived. It would not be in the interests of clients to transition their investment to the new charging structure, where an ongoing product fee would then apply.

About the author

Claire Blackwell is the Chief Client and Reputation Officer for St. James’s Place. In this role Claire is responsible for ensuring that St. James’s Place fully understands the evolving needs of clients, and that the SJP Partners are best placed to serve their clients through strong engagement and data. She is responsible for both the corporate brand proposition and all marketing services provided to the St. James’s Place Partnership, which is a community of over 4,500 advisers. Claire chairs the St. James’s Place Proposition Executive Committee which has oversight for all products and services made available to St. James’s Place clients. She recently chaired the Executive Steering programme for ensuring that SJP is able to meet the requirements of Consumer Duty.