Wealth manager St James’s Place has seen 1,000 team members achieve Chartered Financial Planner status.

Molly O’Donnell, aged 26, is the latest to achieve a CII Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning.

A former law graduate, she joined SJP via its Academy. After graduating in 2018 she joined Fortress Wealth Partnership in London as an adviser.

She said: “It has been an incredible journey coming through the SJP Academy, becoming a qualified planner, and now becoming Chartered. For me, this is a significant milestone in my career. For my clients, it means I’m able to provide the highest standards in financial advice, which feels especially pertinent now more than ever.”

Alexander Reut-Hobbs also gained Chartered status, having passed the CII Inclusive Financial Planning qualification, to become the 1,001^st at SJP to reach the milestone.

SJP said it encourages all its advisers to achieve Chartered status as it demonstrates a commitment to professional development and high standards of excellence in qualifications, ethics and business practices.

Eddie Grant, director responsible for professional development at SJP, said: “Reaching 1,000 qualified Chartered advisers is an exciting milestone and signals a phenomenal contribution to the profession. We’re committed to the ongoing development of all our Partnership - not only is gaining Chartered status a great achievement for them, but by doing so, they are helping to improve the quality of advice and client outcomes in the UK.”

SJP’s Academy underwent a review in 2020 and paused its intake of new trainees.

In June the wealth management firm appointed former transition head Andy Payne as the new head of its academy to implement a "new and improved academy throughout 2021".

SJP recently introduced virtual reality (VR) technology for training its financial advisers and Academy trainees. 

SJP said the use of VR has reduced the need to solely use classroom learning, making Financial Planning training more accessible. It has allowed the SJP Academy to double its intake this year to 400 delegates across 22 locations.

Last year the St James's Place Academy also stepped up its support for ex-military personnel looking for a new career.

In November 2020 the wealth manager launched a new ‘Military Network’ to support current and ex-Armed Forces personnel, and their families, move into a career in financial services including as Financial Planners and support staff.

SJP said the move will mean those who are leaving, or have left the military, and their families can ‘transition’ into a career in financial services.

SJP signed up for the Armed Forces Covenant in October 2020 to support armed forces personnel and ensure they are not disadvantaged in society.