Over 50% of New UK Financial Advisers Came Through This ONE Academy!

Learn more about the St. James's Place Academy When a financial adviser retires, their clients do not retire with them. Somebody has to be ready to pick up those relationships, and the profession is not currently producing enough people to do it. Sam Oakes welcomes back Gee Foottit, who leads the St James’s Place Academy, the longest running adviser training programme in the profession, to talk through what has changed for 2026. Almost 50% of financial advisers in the UK are over 50, and fewer than 30% are under 40. The Academy was built as a succession plan, and it has ended up shaping the whole market. Of everyone appointed as a new financial adviser last year, over half came through this one programme. Gee and Sam Oakes walk the route in order: the six CII exams, the three terms, the selection process, and the two ways out of the Academy into either your own practice or an existing one. The Academy makes over 500 changes to the programme in an average year. Term two has already been cut from three months to nine weeks on the back of delegate feedback, so new advisers reach clients sooner and take a shallower dip in earnings on the way. Essential listening for anybody weighing up a move into financial advice, and for practice owners thinking about succession and recruitment.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Why over half of last year’s new advisers came out of a single academy The real answer on financial support during training, including the £2,000 a month figure How a first time pass rate of around 90% is achieved in a profession averaging 55% to 60% The contract question new advisers forget to ask What is new for 2026: a dedicated business owners programme and five areas of coaching Why capital value changes the maths on taking a pay cut to retrain The Outgrow Your Career campaign, and the 18% problem behind it Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered. ✅ Trusted by top UK firms 👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning.  Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Reach out to [email protected] Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.