| Name | Logo | Minimum | Initial Fees | Ongoing Fees | Customer Reviews | CTA | Tag | Feature | Expand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum £250,000 | Initial Fees 1%-2% | Ongoing Fees 0.6%-1.5% | Customer Reviews 5.0★★★★★★★★★★(Based on 500 reviews) | Featured Financial Planner | Features:
| Saltus Expert ratingOur expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.
Pros
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Our verdictSaltus won "Best Wealth Manager" in the 2026 and 2025 Good Money Guide Awards for it's tailored financial planning and investment services. Saltus stands out in the UK wealth management industry by blending personalised financial planning with a sophisticated investment approach more often found in institutional circles. Founded in 2004, the firm manages over £10 billion in assets and holds Chartered status for its financial planning division, reflecting high standards in advice. SummarySaltus takes a highly personalised route from the outset, matching clients with advisers who align with their goals and communication preferences. Their planning process includes robust cashflow modelling and tax optimisation, resulting in comprehensive strategies that span life planning and investment management. Their investment performance, as independently benchmarked by the ARC Private Client Indices (ARC PCI), is particularly impressive. Saltus has outperformed peers over 3, 5, and 10-year periods across cautious, balanced, growth, and equity risk categories — all while generally taking less risk. For instance, their core Growth strategy delivered an annualised 7.2% return over five years to the end of 2025, compared to 4.6% for the ARC benchmark. Fees are competitive and decline as portfolios grow, with no exit charges and transparent upfront costs, especially for larger portfolios. The ongoing cost for a £1.5m client portfolio in their core investment strategies is around 1.45% (including financial planning), and investment-only clients benefit from reduced charges. Client satisfaction is high, reflected in a 2025 Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 67 (well above the financial services average) and a 97% client retention rate. For context, Apple’s 2025 NPS score was 61 and Amazon’s 47. Bain & Co suggest that a score of 70 or more places a company in the ‘world-class’ category. A good choice for high-net-worth individuals seeking top-tier financial planning and strong, risk-adjusted investment performance. |
Financial Planning Services
Find out more about specific types of financial planning and compare the best financial planners for your individual needs.
Best Wealth Managers (UK) Compared & Reviewed
Wealth managers can help manage your investment portfolio to boost returns. Plus they can unlock tax efficiencies. All this can increase your net worth. ❓Good Money Guide Shortlisted Top Rated Wealth Managers Based On: Over 40,000 votes and reviews in the annual Good Money Guide awards Our team’s experiences evaluating
Best Online Will Writing Services in the UK
Writing a will online ensures your money, property and possessions are passed on according to your wishes after you die. In this financial planning guide, we compare some of the UK’s leading online will-writing services, including their costs, features and support, and explain the different ways you can create a
Business Protection & Financial Planning
Business protection is about making sure a company can continue operating if something unexpected happens to an owner, shareholder, director or other key person. For business owners, personal wealth and business wealth are often closely connected. A significant proportion of your net worth may be tied up in your company,
Cash Flow Modelling Services
Cash flow modelling is a financial planning tool that helps you understand what your finances could look like in the future. Rather than simply looking at how much money you have today, cash flow modelling considers your income, spending, pensions, investments, property, debts and future financial goals. These are projected
Tax Planning & Tax-Efficient Investing
Tax planning is about organising your finances so you make appropriate use of the allowances, reliefs and tax-efficient investments available to you. It is not simply about reducing the amount of tax you pay today. Good tax planning considers your investments, pensions, savings and future income together, helping you build
Financial Planning for Life-Changing Events
Major life events can have a significant impact on your finances. Getting married, having children, receiving an inheritance, selling a business, getting divorced or losing a partner can all change your financial position and the decisions you need to make. Financial planning around these events can help you understand what
Financial Protection & Life Insurance
Financial protection is an important part of financial planning because it considers what would happen to you and your family if something went wrong. Building investments, pensions and savings can help you achieve your long-term financial goals, but your financial plan could be disrupted if you became seriously ill, were
Inheritance Tax & Estate Planning
Inheritance tax and estate planning is about deciding how your wealth should be passed on while making sure you retain enough money to support yourself throughout your lifetime. A good estate plan can bring together your property, investments, pensions, savings and other assets and consider how they could eventually be
International Financial Planning Services
International financial planning can become important when you live, work, invest or own assets in more than one country. Different tax systems, pension rules and inheritance laws can make managing your finances considerably more complicated than if all your assets and income were based in the UK. International financial planning
Financial Planning When Investing for Children
Financial planning for children can help you build a pot of money to give them a financial head start, whether that’s paying university fees, providing a house deposit, funding a wedding or simply building long-term wealth. The earlier you start, the longer your money has to potentially grow. However, choosing
Financial Planning for Pensions and Retirement
Financial planning for retirement is about working out how much money you will need, where that money will come from and how to turn your pensions and other assets into a sustainable income once you stop working. It is important to distinguish between pension planning and retirement planning. A pension
What Exactly Does a Financial Planner Do?
A financial planner helps you make sense of your entire financial picture and turn it into a structured plan. Rather than focusing on a single product, they look at how your income, savings, investments, pensions, property and protection fit together over the short, medium and long term. The aim is to help you achieve specific life goals, such as retiring comfortably, buying a home, funding children’s education or passing on wealth efficiently.
In practice, a financial planner will assess your current position, discuss your objectives and create a long term financial plan. This often includes cashflow modelling to show how your money may grow over time, recommendations on how much to save or invest, guidance on pensions and tax allowances, and advice on managing financial risks such as illness or loss of income. Many financial planners work with clients on an ongoing basis, reviewing and adjusting plans as circumstances change.
What Is the Difference Between a Financial Advisor, Wealth Manager and a Financial Planner?
The terms financial advisor, wealth manager and financial planner are often used interchangeably, but they describe slightly different approaches.
A financial advisor is the broadest term. In the UK, a financial advisor is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and can give advice on investments, pensions, ISAs, insurance and other financial products. Some advisors focus on specific areas, while others provide holistic advice.
A financial planner is usually a type of financial advisor who specialises in long term planning rather than individual transactions. Their focus is on goals, cashflow, retirement planning and making sure different parts of your finances work together. Financial planning tends to be more relationship driven and ongoing.
A wealth manager typically works with higher net worth clients. Alongside financial planning, they often provide discretionary investment management, estate planning and more bespoke services. Wealth management is usually aimed at people with larger portfolios and more complex financial needs.
How Much Money Do You Need to Work With a Financial Planner?
There is no legal minimum amount of money required to work with a financial planner, but practical minimums often apply. Many independent financial planners will work with clients at different stages of life, including those building wealth rather than already having it. Financial planning can be particularly valuable if you are making major decisions such as retirement planning, receiving an inheritance or selling a business.
Wealth management firms often set higher minimums, commonly starting at around £250,000 of investable assets, although this varies by firm. These thresholds exist because more complex planning and portfolio management becomes cost effective at higher asset levels.
What Is the Best Financial Planning Firm?
There is no single best financial planning firm for everyone, as the right choice depends on your goals, assets and the level of service you want. However, some firms stand out for their reputation, service quality and client satisfaction. Saltus is a notable example. Saltus was voted Best Wealth Manager in the 2025 Good Money Guide Awards and also offers comprehensive financial planning as part of its service. The firm combines long term financial planning with investment management, tax planning and retirement advice, making it suitable for clients who want a joined up approach rather than isolated recommendations.
Award recognition, transparency on fees, clear communication and strong regulatory credentials are all important factors when deciding which financial planning firm is right for you.
How Much Does Financial Planning Cost in the UK?
The cost of financial planning in the UK varies depending on the complexity of your finances and the level of service provided. Some firms charge a fixed fee for an initial financial plan, which can range from around £1,000 to £3,000 or more. This usually covers analysis, cashflow modelling and written recommendations.
Ongoing financial planning and advice is often charged as a percentage of assets under advice, typically between 0.5 percent and 1 percent per year, although flat fee arrangements are becoming more common. Wealth management services may have additional investment management costs on top.
A good financial planner should clearly explain their fees upfront and show how their advice adds value, both financially and in terms of peace of mind.