Oliver Batt - Financial Planner

Despite the economic and market challenges of the last few years, research conducted by Opinium on behalf of St. James's Place shows: 85% of people who take ongoing advice are on track or even ahead of their savings and investment goals.

Advice can help people plan, adapt, and stay focused, even when times are uncertain.

Symes Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).



SJP Approved 19/09/2025

Spending Review – are wealth taxes on the horizon?

Labour’s first Spending Review in 18 years was long awaited but had few surprises. But more relevant for many is what this review is likely to mean for the Autumn Budget.

Spending Review – Are wealth taxes on the horizon? Major pledges included £113 billion in capital funding for infrastructure projects. Defence and health saw healthy boosts to their budgets. Overall, the government has committed to £300 billion in future spending. But could the cost of meeting those pledges have ongoing implications for wealth tax...

🚨 If you employ people—this is 25 minutes very well spent.

Just listened to a brilliant podcast featuring Andy Hover, diving into what’s being called “the biggest upgrade of workers’ rights in a generation.”

In this episode, Andy unpacks key elements of the upcoming Employment Rights Bill, including:
✅ Day 1 employment rights
✅ Changes to zero-hour contracts
✅ Updates to statutory sick pay
✅ Extended time limits for employment tribunals

Whether you're in HR, a founder, or a manager, these changes could impact how you hire, manage, and support your teams.

🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4CvqQGLNbPjQJ30QFJ7T3F?si=8e_8mqZnT1u8gpsGwscpCg

HR Hot Topics with Andy Hover The Burnout Buffer Zone · Episode

Last Friday, I received a Best Student of the year 2024 award at the Bournemouth Insurance Institute Annual Awards Dinner 2025 for obtaining Fellowship.

It was a great evening put on by the IIB and lots of money raised for the charity Amelia's Rainbow 🌈

Mum joined me for the evening while Alex was at home with baby Grace.

Lots of hard work has gone into my work over the past 5 years so it was great to receive recognition from the industry unexpectedly (and a night off from changing nappies).

Myth-busting financial advice

“Financial planning just means investing”

FACT. Knowing where, or how much, you want to invest, or how much risk you’re willing to take, is very much part of financial planning.

But it’s only part of the plan, not the whole plan. Financial advice is about your financial wellbeing – a plan for life. That includes balancing the family budget, having cash to cover an emergency, finding a mortgage, protecting your business, or managing your debt.

A lot more than investing.

Myth-busting financial advice

“I don’t need to have a plan until something happens”

FACT. If your financial circumstances suddenly change – whether you lose your job or win the lottery – it’s vital to get some proper financial advice on your next steps.

But planning ahead on how you’ll cover or capitalise on those unexpected events is even better. A good financial plan isn’t simply about stocks and shares. It could include plans to fund later-life care, put cash by for unexpected emergencies, or taking out health insurance. And proper, long-term advice supports you in the good times, and the more challenging times

Taking care of loved ones: expensive mistakes to avoid when gifting to friends and family

• High-earning sportspeople may make supporting friends and family a financial priority. But there are many things to consider when gifting wealth, so it’s important to take advice.

• It can be easy for sportspeople to overcommit during their earning years – but careers in professional sport are short. A financial adviser can help with cash-flow forecasting, to work out how much you can afford to gift now.

• Gifting wealth has various tax implications. Working with an expert adviser can ensure you’re passing on money in a tax-efficient manner and making the most of any available allowances.

Professional sportspeople have a tiny window of earning opportunities compared to others. While it may be tempting to splash the cash and treat family and friends, this can cause financial problems after your boots, running spikes or cricket gloves have been packed away for the final time.

There are countless sports stars who have been financially ruined despite earning an incredible amount of money during their competitive career.

Here are the five mistakes elite sports stars make when gifting wealth...

Taking care of loved ones: expensive mistakes to avoid when gifting to friends and family Professional sportspeople have a tiny window of earning opportunities compared to others. While it may be tempting to splash the cash and treat family and friends, this can cause financial problems after your boots, running spikes or cricket gloves have been packed away for the final time.

Myth-busting financial advice

“Financial advice is only for wealthy people”

FACT. Many people imagine that you need a six figure sum to start investing. In fact, just investing smaller amounts regularly means you take advantage of times when market prices are low, so your money buys more shares, as well as when prices are high.

But financial advice and planning is about a lot more than investing.

Financial advisers today advise on managing wealth but also on balancing budgets and managing debt, finding the right mortgage and leaving an inheritance. Things that affect most of us, not just the wealthy. The goal of financial advice is to help you and your family achieve, and maintain, financial wellbeing.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Planning your retirement is the single biggest reason for seeking advice.

• Retirement planning is the nation’s single biggest reason for seeking financial advice.
• One in three over-44s will actively seek advice on planning retirement in the next six months.
• Retirement planning often comes too late, with only one in 10 (12%) Gen Zs and one in five (18%) Millennials making it their priority.
• SJP analysis finds that just a five-year delay in starting a pension could result in £67,000 less for your retirement*.
• Financial advice can be transformational in achieving a comfortable, stress-free retirement.

One in three (30%) of over 44s will seek advice on retirement planning in the next six months, according to Chapter Five of SJP’s Real Life Advice Report: Advice Priorities,1 placing it above general investment and savings advice (17%) and budgeting (15%). But for Millennials and Gen Zs, it’s a much lower priority. The Report, which surveyed just under12,000 UK adults, also reveals that many of us aren’t prioritising planning our retirements until we’re 55.

Against a changing retirement landscape, the chapter underlines the importance of starting your retirement planning as early as possible.

*Calculations assume an average annual investment growth before charges of 4.60% each year and investment charges of 1.96% each year. Contributions are invested on the same day each year in a pension and are shown before charges are taken into account. These figures are examples only and they are not guaranteed - they are not minimum and maximum amounts. What you get back depends on how your investment grows and the tax treatment of the investment. You could get back more or less than this.

Planning your retirement is the single biggest reason for seeking advice One in three (30%) of over 44s will seek advice on retirement planning in the next six months, according to Chapter Five of SJP’s Real Life Advice Report: Advice Priorities,1 placing it above general investment and savings advice (17%) and budgeting (15%). But for Millennials and Gen Zs, it’s a ...

Myth-busting financial advice

“I can do my own financial planning”

FACT. Financial planning isn’t the same as budgeting. Many people are good at managing their personal or family budgets, but long-term financial planning requires an additional level of professional expertise and knowledge. Tax regulations for example can change regularly. And it’s easy to miss opportunities or accidentally find you’ve made a costly mistake if you’re not managing money full time.

Expert financial advice over the long-term allows you to prepare well in advance for major life stages such as retirement, or even funding social care. Advisers help you navigate complex decisions or challenging times, bringing greater confidence and peace of mind throughout your life.