One in four financial advisers at wealth manager St James’s Place (SJP) has achieved Chartered status.

This compares with just 5% of the firm’s advisers in 2013.

SJP has been encouraging its advisers to achieve Chartered status in recent years as the wealth manager believes it demonstrates commitment to professional development and high standards of excellence in qualifications, ethics and business practices.

The wealth manager said it plans to maintain a level of at least 25% Chartered status among its advisers.

The Chartered titles held by SJP advisers include Chartered Financial Planner, Chartered Wealth Manager, Chartered Associate and Chartered Financial Analyst.

Danielle Lecomber, adviser at SJP partner firm Hall & Costello Wealth Management, who started her career as a trainee Paraplanner with SJP in 2013, said: “Any title conveying a sense of high achievement should be challenging to obtain.

"Becoming a Chartered Financial Planner is no exception. By choosing to be Chartered, I have made a commitment to the industry; I believe this reassures clients with my longevity and long-term commitment to them as their personal Financial Planner.

“Chartered status is helping to elevate holders to the same public standing enjoyed by other Chartered professions. It further reinforces clients' belief and conviction in my professionalism and ethical credibility, something which the industry as a whole will benefit from as more individuals achieve Chartered.

"I am particularly passionate about educating women and younger generations about financial independence, helping to enhance both their financial wellbeing and those around them, whether that be staff, colleagues, family or friends. Reaching such a high level of technical competence means my clients benefit and can be assured they are at the heart of everything I do.”

In a drive to push more of its advisers to develop their skills further, SJP and the University of Gloucestershire launched a specialist MBA in Financial Planning in May. 

The MBA is aimed at Financial Planners who have achieved Chartered status and wish to develop their skills further. It focuses on goals-based planning.

The SJP partnership includes over 4,500 financial advisers across the UK. The wealth manager has over £142bn of funds under advice.