 and felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of options? Do you know what they offer and whether they align with your financial goals?

Choosing a wealth manager best suited to your needs is just as crucial as financial planning itself. Each firm has its own unique approach, philosophy, and expertise, tailored to different client needs. At Compare Wealth Managers, we recognise the vital role a skilled financial planner can play in securing your future. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our top UK wealth management firms, highlighting their key strengths and what sets them apart. Discover which one aligns bestwithyourfinancialaspirations.

A good wealth manager combines technical expertise with the ability to deliver client-focused advice. They must understand 

, and portfolio construction, and then integrate these elements into a coherent strategy tailored to each client’s circumstances 

What is a Private Wealth Manager?

Equally important are communication and trust. The best wealth managers listen carefully to their clients, explain complex ideas in straightforward language, and build long-term relationships that extend across generations. This ability to foster confidence and clarity helps clients remain committed to their strategies through different market cycles 

How to choose a wealth manager

Transparency and accountability are also critical. A good wealth manager is clear about fees, explains how investment decisions are made, and ensures that all actions align with the client’s stated goals and 

 tolerance. Strong governance and ethical standards underpin this approach, giving clients the confidence that their interests always come first 

Dear CEO letter: FCA expectations of wealth management and stockbroking firms.

Finally, leading wealth managers offer a clear value proposition. They provide services that are designed for the specific needs of their target clients, whether that is high-net-worth families, 

, or institutional investors. This specialisation allows them to deliver bespoke planning, tailored portfolios, and innovative solutions such as sustainable investing or access to private markets 

Five Keys to Consistent Success in Wealth Management

For investors with £500,000 to £25 million in investable assets, wealth management rankings provide a valuable benchmark. They allow you to compare firms not only on assets under management (AUM) and scale, but also on reputation, service quality, and investment approach. Rankings highlight which firms are best equipped to manage complex portfolios, which specialise in bespoke advice, and how each positions itself within the competitive UK market. As the 

 notes, wealth managers increasingly compete on scale, reputation and client differentiation, underscoring why rankings offer meaningful context to investors 

Wall Street is racing to manage your wealth. That is a good thing.

How to Use Wealth Management Rankings Effectively

Wealth management rankings should be used as a guide to narrow the field, not as a definitive verdict. They provide an objective way to compare firms on scale, reputation, and service quality, helping investors identify which are best suited to complex portfolios or bespoke advice. The key is to align these insights with your personal goals, ensuring that the firms you consider reflect your risk appetite, investment horizon, and long-term priorities.

If you need support finding the right wealth manager, Compare Wealth Managers offers a free service to help you find a wealth advisor/manager suited to your needs. Simply click the orange "

" button to get started and check out our 5* reviews from Trustpilot.

 – Firms such as James Hambro & Partners, Saltus, and Evelyn Partners feature among the best wealth managers UK, recognised for strong client service and consistent portfolio results.

 – The leading wealth management firms collectively oversee significant AUM, demonstrating financial strength, resilience, and the scale to support high-net-worth clients.

 – Top firms provide bespoke strategies across investment management, tax planning, and estate structuring to help clients protect and grow wealth across generations.

 – Many of the best wealth managers combine international investment expertise with local insight, offering diversified opportunities across markets.

 – Established names in the rankings are known for long-standing reputations, governance standards, and multi-generational relationships with clients.

 – The top wealth management firms in London and across the UK integrate ESG, alternatives, and diversified portfolios to deliver sustainable long-term growth.

This article ranks the top ten wealth management firms in the UK in 2025, highlighting their scale, client service, and long-term expertise.

The ranking compares firms across assets under management, minimum investment requirements, and bespoke services, offering investors insight into the diversity and strengths of the UK wealth management industry.
Compare Wealth Managers

It reflects strategies focused on integrated financial planning, personalised investment advice, and the ability to balance global capabilities with local market knowledge.
Compare Wealth Managers

The article is not about finding a single “best” firm, but about providing context on how leading wealth managers operate — a useful benchmark when selecting the right partner for your wealth.

Top Ten Wealth Management Firms in the UK

 has long sat at the heart of succession planning for farming families. For decades, it allowed agricultural land, buildings and associated assets to pass between generations with little or no 

, helping farms remain intact rather than being broken up to meet tax liabilities 

. As a result, many families came to see APR as a permanent fixture of the landscape, something that worked quietly in the background and rarely needed revisiting.

Agricultural Relief for Inheritance Tax

That sense of certainty has now shifted. While recent lobbying has softened the government’s original proposals, APR can no longer be treated as a passive or automatic protection. Instead, it requires a more deliberate understanding of asset values, ownership structures and long-term planning. The relief still exists and remains valuable, but families are being asked to engage with it in a way they have not needed to for decades.

To explore what these changes mean in practice, we spoke with 

, whose work focuses on complex rural estates and long-term intergenerational planning.

What APR Covers and What It No Longer Quietly Ignores

APR is often spoken about as a single, standalone relief, but in reality it operates alongside 

, and the distinction between the two is increasingly important. Together, they form the backbone of inheritance planning for most farming businesses 

IHT Business and Agricultural property reliefs are changing

“As you’d expect, APR covers agricultural land and farm buildings,” Tom explains. “But in a farming context, we can also bring in business property relief, which can apply to machinery, livestock and certain diversification activities like farm shops or holiday lets.”

It is this combined framework that determines how much of a farm’s overall value can pass between generations without triggering inheritance tax. Under the revised proposals, which are due to take effect from April 2026, the government will introduce a cap on the total value of qualifying assets that can pass free of inheritance tax. Following recent amendments, that cap now stands at £2.5 million per individual, and importantly, it can be transferred between spouses.

“In practical terms,” Tom says, “for a typical family farm, assets up to around £5 million could pass free of inheritance tax. Anything above that level is taxed at an effective rate of 20%, rather than the usual 40%.”

The Thresholds Have Moved, But the Pressure Hasn’t Disappeared

At first glance, the revised thresholds appear generous, and in many cases they will protect smaller farms from any immediate 

 exposure. However, Tom is clear that this does not remove the challenge for a significant number of working agricultural businesses.

“Agricultural businesses are often very asset-rich but quite cash-poor,” he explains 

. “So even a reduced inheritance tax bill can feel very significant if it hasn’t been planned for.”

Valuation of Agricultural and Business Property

A farming estate valued at £7 million, for example, could now face an inheritance tax bill of around £400,000. While current rules allow that bill to be paid over ten years, interest-free, the ongoing burden should not be underestimated.

“That still means finding around £40,000 a year from a business where cash flow is often tight,” Tom notes. “For a lot of families, that would come as a real shock.”

What makes this particularly difficult is that many farming families have never had to think in these terms before. Assets have passed from one generation to the next without anyone needing to ask uncomfortable questions about value, 

A Farm Is a Business That Can’t Be Broken Up

Succession planning for farms brings challenges that are rarely present in other estates. A farm is not simply a collection of valuable assets; it is a single, interdependent business. Land, buildings, machinery, agreements and people all rely on each other to function effectively 

Total income from farming in the UK in 2024

“These are treasured assets that realistically need to be kept together,” Tom explains. “You can’t carve up a farm and expect it to continue operating in the same way.”

Unlike residential property or financial 

, fragmenting ownership or forcing sales to meet tax liabilities can undermine the commercial viability of the entire enterprise. This makes forward planning not just sensible, but essential.

Before You Plan for Tax, You Have to Understand Ownership

When asked where families should begin, Tom is unequivocal that the starting point is not tax mitigation strategies, but understanding ownership in detail.

“The most useful place to start is getting a really firm grip on who owns what,” he says. “It sounds simple, but over time and over generations, it often becomes very complicated.”

Land and assets may be spread across individuals, farming partnerships, companies or 

, with some family members actively involved in running the business and others entirely removed from day-to-day operations.

“Without that clarity,” Tom explains, “you don’t really know the size of each person’s estate, who might ultimately face a tax bill, or even who would be expected to pay it.”

The Conversations That Decide More Than the Numbers

While technical planning tools are available, Tom believes the greatest 

 lies not in the rules themselves, but in how families respond to them.

“The biggest danger at the moment is thinking this is all going to go away,” he says. “There’s been a lot of lobbying and the outcome is better than it was, but the government does seem determined to implement these changes.” 

Successfully handing the reins to the next generation

Just as important are the human conversations that many families delay because they are uncomfortable or emotionally charged. Decisions about involvement, responsibility and future control often prove harder than addressing the financial implications.

“These conversations go well beyond financial planning,” Tom explains. “They’re about family dynamics, responsibility and long-term stewardship.”

The Window for Action Is Narrower Than Many Realise

Despite the challenges, Tom is clear that families are not without options. Gifting, trusts and life insurance can all play a role in managing inheritance tax exposure, provided they are used thoughtfully and in the right order.

However, many of these strategies depend on time. You must survive 7 years following a gift of over £3,000 for it to be completely free from inheritance tax, and delayed action can sharply limit what is achievable.

“Hearing about this late, and with implementation happening relatively quickly, does still present challenges,” Tom acknowledges. “Which is why starting sooner rather than later is so important.”

APR Still Protects Farms: Just Not by Default

The revised APR regime is unquestionably less punitive than originally proposed, and many smaller farms are likely to remain unaffected. The relief still plays a vital role in protecting working agricultural businesses and supporting long-term stewardship.

What has changed is the need for engagement.

Families can no longer assume APR will simply take care of itself. Understanding ownership, questioning assumptions that may have gone unchallenged for decades, and starting clear, honest conversations are now essential steps in ensuring farms remain viable for the next generation, not just from a tax perspective, but as functioning businesses with a future.

 — While recent changes mean up to £2.5 million per individual (or £5 million per couple) of qualifying agricultural and business assets can still pass free of inheritance tax, relief above this level is now capped, creating a potential 20% tax charge on excess value.

 — Understanding exactly who owns each asset, and how those assets are structured across individuals, partnerships, companies or trusts, is the starting point for any effective APR strategy.

Succession planning must protect the working farm

 — Farms are integrated businesses, not collections of standalone assets. Poorly coordinated planning or unanticipated tax liabilities can disrupt commercial continuity and undermine long-term viability.

Existing wills and trusts may no longer be fit for purpose

 — Many documents were drafted under the assumption of full APR. Reviewing and updating them is essential to ensure estates are structured efficiently under the new rules.

Early, specialist advice reduces costly mistakes

 — With limited liquidity, tighter timeframes and greater complexity, expert guidance helps families manage inheritance tax exposure while safeguarding the farm’s multi-generational future.

Agricultural Property Relief: What Changing Rules Mean for Farming Families

Tax and inheritance planning involves arranging your finances in ways that help to reduce or eliminate the amount of 

, which your family will be required to pay on the value of your estate when you die 

How Inheritance Tax works: thresholds, rules and allowances

Tax planning can ensure you are making the most of existing tax allowances, and it can structure your finances in ways that make your income and 

. For example, a wealth manager or financial adviser specialising in tax planning could:

Estate planning in 2025

Make sure you are maximising the return on your investments by making use of your annual 

Recommend you invest in tax-efficient investment vehicles, such as 

 Trusts, the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, which offer significant tax relief on the amount you invest.

 contributions, thereby passing on pension funds tax-free to your spouse and family without breaching any allowance limits.

If you’re approaching retirement, they can structure your investments and pension to reduce the amount of tax you pay on your annual retirement income.

Inheritance tax often catches families unawares and leaves them facing an unexpected tax bill from 

. If you’re planning to leave behind an inheritance for your loved ones, a 

can help you to consider a number of inheritance planning options that will allow you to reduce the amount of inheritance tax your family is likely to pay.

How to gift your way to a lower inheritance tax bill

For example, inheritance tax planning can help you to:

Make full use of current inheritance tax allowances, such as the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band.

Recommend gifting strategies that reduce the value of your taxable estate, without falling foul of HMRC rules.

Make arrangements to place some of your assets into trust, so they can be left to children, grandchildren or anyone else you choose, without forming part of your taxable estate.

Take out a life insurance policy that could cover any inheritance tax bill.

How do you pay for Tax and Inheritance Planning?

Most wealth managers will be happy to have an initial meeting with you free of charge. During that meeting, they’ll explain any future payments you’ll be expected to make. You can expect to pay an ongoing management fee for the services you receive from your wealth manager, and you may need to pay for any specific services, such as setting up a trust 

Ongoing financial advice services

People feel most uncomfortable talking about two things: money and death. So, it’s not unusual if you go into the meeting feeling a little apprehensive. Don’t worry though, the wealth manager you meet with will be an expert in this area and will be able to put you at ease. The wealth managers we work with have been carefully chosen based on their ability to offer sensitive but straightforward advice. You should leave the meeting feeling that you’ve taken a big step towards putting your affairs in order.

It’s important to understand that tax planning and tax efficiency is not the same as tax avoidance. You are perfectly entitled to use tax planning strategies that legally reduce the amount of tax you (or your family) are required to pay. Tax avoidance involves bending the rules by making transactions that serve no purpose aside from avoiding tax. None of the wealth managers we put you in touch with will ever recommend a service or product purely for the means of tax avoidance 

Reforming rates: Capital Gains Tax and Carried Interest

Tax and inheritance planning are two areas where it really does not pay to ‘do-it-yourself’. Tax rules can change frequently, and it’s easy to forget to keep estate planning up-to-date. Working with a professional who knows tax legislation inside out can be a real advantage when it comes to reducing the amount of tax you need to pay. Working with a professional who knows tax legislation inside out can be a real advantage. They’ll often reduce the amount of tax you need to pay and ensure your tax planning strategy is kept up-to-date.

 – Strategic use of reliefs, allowances, and tax structures helps maximise what passes to future generations.

 – Lifetime gifts, used alongside the seven-year rule and exemptions, can significantly cut IHT liability.

 – Trusts and other legal structures give control over how wealth is distributed while safeguarding assets from tax and disputes.

 – Coordinating inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning prevents erosion of wealth during transfers.

 – Written agreements and records ensure HMRC compliance and reduce the risk of family conflicts.

 – Early engagement with wealth managers and tax specialists creates more options for estate planning and wealth protection.

Tax and Inheritance Planning

Client services director at Compare Wealth Managers.

Paul Dredge

Bio

Articles from author

Top Ten Wealth Management Firms in the UK

Agricultural Property Relief: What Changing Rules Mean for Farming Families

Tax and Inheritance Planning

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Financial well-being

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Paul Dredge

Bio

Articles from author

Top Ten Wealth Management Firms in the UK

Agricultural Property Relief: What Changing Rules Mean for Farming Families

Tax and Inheritance Planning

Start your journey to your Financial well-being

FIND OUT MORE

LEGAL

CONTACT US

Start your journey to your
Financial well-being