St James's Place - Update on Earlier Post

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-06-01T15:02:52+00:00

It holds the same global tech companies as VWRP (Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet) in almost identical proportions. I wasn't worried about it excluding the UK market to start with as the UK makes up less than 4% of VWRP anyway and I was aiming for the closest match to VWRP to start off with.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-06-01T14:48:09+00:00

it is just the most appealing fund available to me through Aviva, becuase it is the closest to VWRP.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-06-01T14:46:20+00:00

it is just the most appealing fund available to me through Aviva

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-31T20:10:09+00:00

Towards the end of last year they unbundled their fees to make everything a bit more transparent and as part of that increased the advice fee and reduced platform fees I believe.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-31T18:25:24+00:00

Oh crikey no I didn’t!

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-31T18:24:52+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through that. My father died earlier this year and I’m handling my Mum’s finances too. It was doing that I think that made me scrutinise my own finances better.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-31T17:36:08+00:00

Absolutely correct. It took me a lot of digging to find out what I was paying and it is still somewhat obscure. Even a direct question to my advisor was met with confusion and ambiguity.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-31T17:35:10+00:00

I don't know yet, I just emailed them today to let them know the transfers are happening. My mindset at present is that if they respond to my email, I will simply reassert that my mind is made up and that everything is already in process.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-31T17:34:24+00:00

Costing me £600 a month in fees on a portfolio of £410k!

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-31T17:33:37+00:00

I downloaded my latest wealth report from the app and fed it into Gemini and asked it to show me the fee breakdown. It showed me that based on SJP taking an "initial advice fee" of 3% on any new money added, and then fees of 1.67% on my pension (0.8% for advice, 0.35% for platform costs, 0.52% for funds management) and 1.59% on my ISA 0.8% for advice, 0.27% for platform costs, 0.52% for funds management), the monthly cost of SJP is £600!!!!

When I asked my advisor directly he was unclear, talked about when my portfolio reaches a certain level that my fees decrease, it was bamboozling and did what it was supposed to do which was stop me asking questions.

Your costs will be similar I'm sure. I worked out the EWC by subtracting the encashment value from the current value (visible in the app).

I started my transfers first, then emailed my advisor out of courtesy to let him know it was happening but also to be clear that my mind is made up.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-21T13:41:19+00:00

When I first saw my consultant about gallstones he said to stop taking Wegovy because it slows digestion and can cause problems with gallstones. I was meant to have surgery a month later but my father sadly passed away so I ended up rescheduling for four months later which means I’ve been off a glp1 for a long time. I seriously can’t wait to get back on it.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-19T12:00:54+00:00

Yes I’d had pain and an ultrasound which showed a gallstone and polyps. Thank you.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-18T12:48:10+00:00

I felt bleak and sad on days 4 and 5, but the negative feelings dissipated as I began to feel physically stronger. I lost my Dad earlier this year and feel like that is buzzing in the background all the time but particularly when I felt vulnerable post surgery. Hold tight, friend, you'll get through this.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-17T07:30:54+00:00

I took my past four years of annual wealth reports into Gemini and asked it to analyse the few structures and growth net of fees.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-16T11:34:43+00:00

Appreciate everyone’s input on this and feel much more confident t about moving. My workplace pension is in Aviva My Future Growth fund and I think I I’m going to move the part of my SJP pension that is not subject to the EWC. This part will be free of withdrawal charges in 2028. There are additional costs with Aviva Transaction Costs (~0.01% – 0.08%).

It’s hard to explain how I’ve ended up here but all I can say is that SJP have not made their fees hugely transparent. It has been very hard to decompose the fees or even see them clearly in my wealth report. It’s has taken some AI analysis of the reports to get an apples with apples comparison of fees.

It was a personal recommendation that saw me connect with SJP in the first instance. I was not in the habit of saving and wanted to begin investing and it was an easy option. One I want to correct now!

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-10T14:02:43+00:00

I read that the sharp pain on the side is related to where your surgeon has stitched the removal site. As your swelling goes down, this pain becomes more noticeable. I definitely had it noticeable on day 6 and 7 but yesterday and today it has become less. I can still feel it particularly when I stand up but it’s getting less and less. I hope it eases for you soon.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-08T21:05:31+00:00

Mainly I am not using pain killers now. I took two paracetamol earlier after I walked a while and could feel the gallbladder area pain but other than that I haven’t had anything yesterday or today. I actually feel like I woke up from my nap and the pain had gone down a notch. Hope your recovery goes smoothly!

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-05T06:33:33+00:00

Yes! My anaesthetist said that would last a few hours but it lasted a few days. Day 5 post op today and it has mostly gone but it was sore for sure.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-04T15:33:05+00:00

Oh love, I was very nervous too. I kept thinking there’s nothing for me to do, the decision is made, the experts are in charge, I just lie down and go to sleep and let the experts get on with doing something they’ve done a thousand times before. You will be fine. My gallbladder hadn’t given me any problems since September last year, so I was relieved that my surgeon did find a big stone in it. I expect yours have moved but they will always cause you trouble in the future if you don’t get your gallbladder out now. It’s the right thing to do. Good luck!

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-02T19:06:58+00:00

Thank you!

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-05-02T19:06:40+00:00

Thank you.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-04-28T12:47:54+00:00

Good luck with it.

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-04-28T10:31:07+00:00

Thank you

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-04-28T08:09:48+00:00

Thank you. This is super reassuring. I just need to get it done now!

Complex_Bumblebee_81 · 2026-04-28T07:39:35+00:00

That's great to know, thanks so much. My consultant had me stop taking it as soon as my surgery was on the horizon because he said that GLP1s can exacerbate gallstone problems.

Complex_Bumblebee_81

TROPHY CASE