Serving our UK Armed Forces

We are proud to work with long-term clients who are currently serving, or who have previously served, across all branches of the UK Armed Forces, including the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Life in the military is built on routine and discipline, qualities that also underpin successful financial planning. Developing consistent habits and a structured approach can be a powerful advantage when it comes to building a secure financial future.

“From investing to build a deposit, through to securing a mortgage and getting the keys, Stonehouse guided me all the way. Thank you!”

AP, Petty Officer, Royal Navy

Deployed Abroad. Supported at Home

If you are heading overseas on deployment, it’s easy for some of your life admin to get missed, especially when it comes to setting up long-term financial plans.

We work with our military clients to put plans in place so tax-efficient ISAs, savings towards a deposit, investments and cover continue whilst they are away. We make sure their earnings are put to work so they can focus on their service away from home.

Lisa Leggatt, one of Stonehouse’s support specialists explains: “We can make sure a soldier’s future stays on track with all the paperwork in place before they leave, and I won’t need anything from them while they are away. We can also help put lasting Power of Attorneys in place with loved ones, so if there was anything we needed, we can always reach out to a relative. Knowing life at home is ticking along nicely means so much more when you are in the forces. It’s a tough lifestyle for the person and their family, but this gives families so much peace of mind.”

The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

Please note that advice given in relation to a Power of Attorney will involve the referral to a service that is separate and distinct to those offered by St. James's Place.

Understanding Your Military Pension: Where Do You Start?

The Armed Forces Pension Scheme works differently from most workplace pensions. It is a defined benefit scheme, based on someone’s service, rank and earnings, not on stock market performance. In return, it provides a guaranteed income in retirement, which increases each year in line with inflation, helping maintain its value over time.

Service men and women do not pay into it in the same way as many civilian pensions, as contributions are effectively covered as part of their service.

That level of security is valuable, but it can also be unclear. Access depends on your scheme and length of service, and if you leave early, there may be a gap before benefits are paid.

We have many years of experience helping clients understand exactly what their pension means in practice. How much it could provide in retirement, and what steps they can take to supplement it.

What’s your next move?

Buying a home rarely follows a neat plan when you are in the forces. Postings, deployments and changing circumstances mean your property plans need to move with you.

For many, getting on the ladder is about creating stability for family, even when life itself is less predictable. The Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme can support that step, offering interest-free loans of up to 50% of salary, capped at £25,000, towards a deposit¹. Working with lenders who understand military income and allowances can also make a real difference to how smoothly a purchase goes.

That is where the right advice can help. For some, it is about building a deposit in a structured way. For others, it is securing the right mortgage. Often, it is taking a holistic view to make the most of the opportunities service life provides.

Frequent moves once you are a homeowner mean many service personnel also find themselves becoming accidental landlords, renting out a property sooner than expected. Handled well, this can support mortgage payments, build equity and provide a useful asset for life after service.

From Forces to Civilian Life: What Comes Next Financially

Each year, around 15,000 people leave the UK Armed Forces and transition into civilian life². Many do so well before age 55³, meaning pensions are often years away, while income, housing and longer-term plans all need to be reconsidered at the same time.

Planning ahead can make a significant difference. Sitting down with one of our team well before the end of your service can help bring structure to your finances, giving you clarity and confidence as you make the move into civilian life and start shaping what comes next.

¹Forces Help to Buy: help to get on the property ladder - Gov UK - January 2026

²UK Ministry of Defence – UK Ministry of Defence, Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics - October 2025 (Typically shows annual outflow figures in the region of 14,000–16,000)

³UK Ministry of Defence – Armed Forces Pension Scheme Annual Report and Accounts 2024–2025 - 17 December 2025