Killik & Co wealth management review: what are the pros and cons?
Considering Killik & Co as your wealth manager? Our in-depth review examines its pros and cons, fees, services, pension options, and security features.
Choosing a wealth manager is a big decision, particularly if you're moving a sizeable pension or investment portfolio into someone else's care.
This review looks at Killik & Co's history, services, fees, and technology, so you can weigh up whether it's a good fit for your circumstances.
Killik & Co is an independently owned wealth management partnership founded in 1989.
Killik & Co provides investment management, wealth planning, stockbroking, and tax and trustee services to individuals and families.
Killik & Co charges a percentage-based annual fee on managed and advised services, which includes VAT.
Killik & Co offers Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and Junior SIPPs, alongside pension planning and retirement drawdown advice.
Killik & Co has picked up industry recognition for its customer service, including a stockbroking customer service of the year award.
Killik and Co: who are they?
Killik & Co is an independently owned wealth management partnership founded in January 1989 by Paul Killik and Matthew Orr, who opened the firm's first branch in a former chemist's shop in Chelsea.
The firm has since grown into one of a small number of remaining independently owned wealth managers in the UK, headquartered on Grosvenor Street in Mayfair, with branches including Chiswick, Esher, Hampstead, Ipswich, and Northcote Road.
Killik & Co now manages more than £9 billion of client assets across over 27,000 clients, with a team of over 350 people.
Paul Killik stepped back from his role as senior executive officer in 2024 after 35 years running the firm, staying on as chairman, with Clem MacTaggart and Sarah Threadgould appointed as managing partners.
The firm is a certified B Corp, meaning it has met independently verified standards on governance, workers, and community impact.
Killik & Co's independence is central to how it presents itself: as an LLP rather than a business owned by a bank or private equity firm, it argues this frees it from the demands of external shareholders.
Whether that translates into better outcomes for you as a client is something to weigh against the fees and service levels covered below.
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Founded
1989
Assets under management (AUM)
£9 billion+
Fees
Annual charges of between 0.75% and 1.6% depending on service type
What does Killik and Co do?
Killik & Co provides investment management, wealth planning, stockbroking, and tax and trustee services to individuals and families.
Its core offer combines two specialisms: Investment Managers, who build and run portfolios of shares, funds, and other assets, and Wealth Planners, who help structure your broader finances tax-efficiently, including pensions, inheritance planning, and cash flow.
Clients can choose a fully managed service, where Killik & Co makes day-to-day investment decisions on their behalf, or an advised service, where they retain control of individual decisions but draw on the firm's research and advice.
There's also a lower-cost, app-based managed service called Silo for smaller portfolios and newer investors. Alongside investing, Killik & Co offers ISAs, SIPPs, will writing, lasting power of attorney preparation, executor services, and trust administration.
What are the pros and cons of Killik and Co
Killik & Co has several advantages but also some drawbacks to consider.
Here’s a quick look:
Pros of Killik & Co:
Independently owned, with no parent bank or private equity owner to answer to
A long track record, having operated continuously since 1989
Combines investment management and wealth planning under one roof, rather than outsourcing one or the other
Offers services across a range of portfolio sizes, from the app-based Silo service to bespoke managed portfolios
Physical branches for clients who want face-to-face meetings, alongside digital access via myKillik
Strong industry recognition, including multiple Investors Chronicle and Financial Times wealth manager awards
Cons of Killik & Co:
Percentage-based fees on managed and advised services can be higher than some direct-to-consumer investment platforms, particularly on smaller portfolios
Minimum portfolio sizes for its adviser-led managed services (typically £100,000 or more) put some services out of reach for smaller investors
Some customer reviews point to slow response times and communication issues, particularly around tax and trustee services
Additional charges, such as stamp duty, FX charges, and fund costs, sit on top of the headline service fee
Not an independent financial adviser (IFA), so it can only recommend its own in-house products and services
What services do Killik and Co offer?
Killik & Co's services span investment management, wealth planning, and specialist tax and trustee support.
Here's what's on offer:
Killik managed: A fully integrated service combining a dedicated Investment Manager and Wealth Planner.
Managed investment service: A discretionary, adviser-led portfolio managed by a dedicated Investment Manager.
Silo: A digital-led managed investment service delivered through the Killik app, for smaller and newer investors.
Advised investment service: Portfolio advice while you retain control of final decisions
Stockbroking service: Execution-only and advisory share dealing.
Wealth planning service: Cash flow modelling, tax structuring, retirement planning, and legacy planning.
Savings, pensions & tax wrappers: Stocks & Shares ISAs, Lifetime ISAs, Junior ISAs, SIPPs, and Junior SIPPs.
Tax and trustee services: Will writing, lasting power of attorney preparation, executor services, personal taxation, and trust administration.
Family office: Bespoke support for more complex, higher-value family wealth.
Currency service: Foreign exchange for clients with international dealings.
Charity investing service: Investment management for charitable funds.
What fees does Killik and Co charge?
Killik & Co charges a percentage-based annual fee on managed and advised services, which includes VAT.
Some additional charges, such as stamp duty and fund costs, sit outside this headline fee.
The table below sets out the annual service charges for its three main managed services.
| Service | Assets up to £1m (annual) | Next £1m (annual) | Typical minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killik Managed (investment + wealth planning) | 1.6% | 1.4% | £250,000+ |
| Managed Investment Service | 1.35% | 1.2% | £100,000+ |
| Silo (app-based managed investing) | 0.75% | 0.75% | No minimum, up to £100,000 |
On top of the headline service fee, clients may also pay:
A 0.35% charge on foreign exchange transactions
0.5% UK stamp duty on applicable UK share purchases
A £1.50 PTM Levy on UK equity trades over £10,000
Underlying fund charges (ongoing charges figure), which vary by fund and are typically estimated at around 0.15% to 0.25% for fund-based portfolios
A 0.5% charge for wealth planning advice on assets held outside Killik & Co
For its Tax and Trustee Services, charges are set separately: will writing starts at £350 for a single will, lasting power of attorney preparation ranges from £350 to £950 depending on how many categories and clients are involved, and personal taxation fees start from £300 plus VAT.
Executor services are charged at 0.75% plus VAT on the value of a property and 1.5% plus VAT on the remainder of an estate.
As an illustration, Killik & Co's own rate card shows a £250,000 Killik Managed portfolio incurring total annual charges of around 1.88%, once fund costs, stamp duty, and other charges are included, while a £50,000 Silo portfolio comes out at around 0.95%.
Your Adviser will provide a personalised cost estimate based on your own circumstances before you commit.
Killik and Co pension review: is it right for your retirement savings?
Killik & Co offers Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and Junior SIPPs, alongside pension planning and retirement drawdown advice through its Wealth Planning Service.
Key strengths of a Killik & Co pension
A SIPP lets you choose from a wide range of investments, rather than being limited to a small fund range
Pension planning advice covers consolidation of old workplace pensions, contribution strategy, and drawdown options
Killik & Co has been recognised as "best full SIPP provider" at industry awards in recent years
Wealth Planners can review your pension alongside other assets, rather than in isolation
Support with more complex retirement decisions, such as UFPLS (uncrystallised funds pension lump sums) versus drawdown versus annuity purchase
Potential drawbacks of a Killik & Co pension
SIPP and wealth planning fees apply on top of your existing investment charges, which can add up for larger pension pots
Pension advice generally requires an adviser-led relationship, so it may not suit those who simply want a low-cost, self-managed pension platform
Killik & Co pension verdict
A Killik & Co SIPP could suit someone who wants ongoing, adviser-led pension planning alongside their wider investments, particularly around retirement age when decisions about drawdown, tax-free cash, and consolidating old pensions become more pressing.
It's less suited to those who want the lowest possible ongoing charges or prefer to manage their own pension without advice.
As pension rules and tax treatment can be complex and are subject to change, it's worth getting a personalised illustration of costs and speaking to a regulated financial adviser before transferring an existing pension.
What technology does Killik and Co use?
Killik & Co provides clients with digital access to their accounts through its myKillik platform, available via web browser and a dedicated app. Here's what it offers:
24/7 access to investment accounts, statements, contract notes, and tax vouchers
The Silo app, offering a simplified, app-led route into a managed portfolio of global funds
Passwordless sign-in, using a client code and one-time passcodes instead of a traditional password
Two-factor authentication (2FA) on the mobile app, combining passwordless login with a PIN or biometric check
A privacy PIN lock for the web portal, so users can quickly re-enter their account after stepping away
Weekly client emails and access to in-house investment research and market commentary
Killik and Co security: is it secure?
Killik & Co doesn't hold client money and assets itself. Instead, it uses a third-party custodian, Platform Securities LLP, which is owned by FIS, a large global financial technology provider.
Here's how it protects client data and assets:
Client money and assets are held by Platform Securities LLP, separately from Killik & Co's own business
Platform Securities is audited annually for financial strength and for compliance with client money and asset rules
Killik & Co is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and reports its capital position quarterly
The firm commissions independent penetration tests on its technology and communications, including the myKillik portal and app
Killik & Co is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which protects eligible investment claims up to £85,000 per person, per firm, should the firm fail
As with any wealth manager, FSCS protection covers firm failure or bad advice, not the ups and downs of investment performance, so your capital remains at risk from market movements regardless of how secure the underlying custody arrangements are.
Does Killik and Co have good customer service?
Killik & Co has picked up industry recognition for its customer service, including a Stockbroking Customer Service of the Year award from Investors Chronicle and the Financial Times, and client testimonials on its own site describe advisers as approachable and good at explaining complex decisions in plain terms.
The branch network also means clients who prefer face-to-face meetings have that option, which isn't always the case with digital-only wealth managers.
That said, independent reviews are mixed. Some clients report positive, long-standing relationships with named advisers, while others, particularly in relation to the firm's Tax and Trustee Services, have raised concerns about slow communication and delays during more complex processes, such as probate and estate administration.
As with most wealth managers, the quality of service you experience is likely to depend heavily on your individual adviser and the complexity of what you need help with, so it's worth asking about response times and escalation processes before signing up.
Final verdict: is Killik and Co right for you?
Killik & Co suits people who want a personal, adviser-led relationship covering both investment management and wider financial planning, and who are comfortable paying a percentage-based fee for that level of service.
Its independent ownership, long history, and combination of investing and planning expertise are genuine points of difference from bank-owned wealth managers and low-cost investment platforms.
It's less likely to suit those who want the lowest possible charges, prefer a fully self-directed, execution-only approach, or have a smaller portfolio that doesn't meet the minimums for its adviser-led services (though Silo offers a lower-cost alternative here).
Before committing, get a personalised cost illustration, compare it against other wealth managers, and check that the service level matches what you're looking for.
Get expert financial advice
Killik & Co is a long-established, independently owned wealth manager offering investment management, wealth planning, and pensions advice through both a branch network and a digital platform, myKillik.
Its combined approach to investing and planning, along with its independence, are among its main draws, though its percentage-based fees and portfolio minimums won't suit everyone, and customer service experiences appear to vary.
Wealth management and pension decisions can have a lasting impact on your retirement and your family's finances, so whichever provider you're considering, it's worth speaking to a regulated financial adviser who can assess your full circumstances before you commit.
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