Stellar Asset Management

What Stellar Asset Management does

Stellar Asset Management Limited is a UK-regulated investment manager specialising in inheritance tax (IHT) planning and Business Relief (BR)-qualifying investments for high-net-worth individuals and their financial advisers. Founded in the mid-1990s and operating from offices in Liverpool (head office) and London, the firm runs three core product lines: the Stellar ITS (asset-backed investments across commercial property, leisure/hospitality, forestry, and residential development), the AiM IHT Service (discretionary portfolios of Alternative Investment Market stocks that qualify for BR), and Family Trading Companies (individualised holding structures for beneficiary-level estate planning). The firm holds c.£100m AUM on its AIM IHT strategy out of an estimated £6bn UK AIM IHT market, deliberately positioning in sub-£250m market-cap names where larger peers cannot execute effectively, and has publicly pledged to cap strategy AUM to preserve nimbleness.

The company's technology stack centres on regulated client and adviser portals (Adviser Hub, Client Hub, and AiM Hub) for portfolio monitoring and reporting, with distribution executed through a sales-led adviser channel and three UK investment platforms (M&G Wealth, Aberdeen Wrap, Transact). Revenue is generated via subscription-style recurring management fees on AIM IHT and asset-backed AUM, supplemented by disclosed 0.25% dealing fees for portfolio rebalancing; pricing is quote-based and not publicly listed. Stellar Asset Management is FCA-authorised, Consumer Duty-aligned, a UN PRI signatory (since 2021), and a UKSIF and Consumer Duty Alliance member, positioning compliance and ESG credentials as core elements of its adviser value proposition.

The business is privately held (no parent company, no external institutional investors disclosed) and led by CEO and Chief Investment Officer Jonathan Gain, with a small senior team including a Chair (Craig Reader, also Consumer Duty Champion), Finance Director (Claire Taylor), Investment Director / Head of AIM (Stephen English), and Fund Operations Manager (Glen Halley). Recent strategic activity has combined offensive moves (Newark Golf Club acquisition, Hoddesdon commercial development completion, Murrayshall £30m pod-cabin masterplan) with defensive capital recycling (exits from solar, wind, and Holiday Inn Express Folkestone), indicating an active asset rotation programme within the Stellar ITS rather than aggressive top-line scaling.

Name

Stellar Asset Management

Legal name

Stellar Asset Management Limited

Website

https://stellar-am.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stellar Asset Management is a UK FCA-regulated investment manager specialising in inheritance tax planning and Business Relief-qualifying investments (AIM portfolios and asset-backed strategies) for high-net-worth individuals and financial advisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Estate & Legacy Planning Advisory (FSAEAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advisory Portfolio Management (Non-Discretionary) (FSAAABAD), Estate Planning & Trust Structuring Advisory (FSAEAKAC)

Keywords

• Inheritance tax planning
• Estate planning services
• Business relief investments
• AIM investment management
• Wealth transfer solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Management Services: Stellar Asset Management generates revenue through investment management services focused on Business Relief and IHT mitigation. The company charges management fees and dealing fees for administering client investments across AIM portfolios and asset-backed strategies.
2. AIM IHT Service: Investment management service for Alternative Investment Market stocks that qualify for Business Relief, providing IHT mitigation for investors with a 0.25% dealing fee structure mentioned.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stellar Asset Management is a UK-based investment management firm specialising in inheritance tax (IHT) and estate planning through Business Relief-qualified investments. The firm offers three core solutions — the Stellar ITS (asset-backed investments), Family Trading Companies, and the AiM IHT Service (Alternative Investment Market portfolios) — designed to help high-net-worth clients and their advisers mitigate IHT liability after a two-year qualifying period.

Product overview

Stellar Asset Management is an inheritance tax and estate planning specialist offering a unified suite of Business Relief-qualified investment services. The core offering comprises The Stellar ITS (asset-backed investments), Family Trading Companies (for individualized family wealth transfer), and the AiM IHT Service (AIM-listed investments). These products are accessible through multiple platforms including the company's own Adviser Hub and Client Hub, as well as third-party platforms (M&G Wealth, Aberdeen Wrap, Transact). The company manages a diversified portfolio of asset-backed investments including commercial property developments, golf and leisure assets, residential development projects, and forestry, all designed to provide IHT relief, potential investment returns, and intergenerational wealth transfer solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stellar ITS: The Stellar Inheritance Tax Service - an asset-backed investment service providing IHT relief through qualifying assets.
• AiM IHT Service
• Family Trading Companies
• Stellar Hub

Products and services

• The Stellar ITS (Inheritance Tax Service) A Business Relief-qualified investment service that invests in asset-backed assets including commercial property, hotels, and other qualifying investments, allowing investors to retain ownership and control of capital during their lifetime while potentially passing it to beneficiaries free from inheritance tax after two years.
• Family Trading Companies A structured investment solution where each beneficiary becomes the sole shareholder in a company set up to meet their particular objectives and investment preferences. By investing in assets qualifying for Business Relief, family capital can potentially be IHT-free in two years.
• AiM IHT Service An Alternative Investment Market (AIM) based inheritance tax service investing in AIM-listed companies qualifying for Business Relief. Offers diversification across the full AIM market cap spectrum with a sweet spot in companies £250m and below, providing potential investment returns and IHT benefits.
• AiM Platform Services The AIM IHT Service made available through third-party platforms including M&G Wealth, Aberdeen Wrap, and Transact, providing advisers with investment flexibility and choice for client portfolios.

Quantifiable outcome

• Significant outperformance vs larger AIM IHT providers from Jan 2022 to Jun 2025, with investors needing only 8.7% growth vs 69.5% for largest provider to return to original investment

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Consumer Duty AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Independent, non-profit community interest company that assists the retail finance sector in implementing FCA's Consumer Duty. Stellar joined as affiliate member in November 2023.
• UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Stellar signed up to UN PRI in 2021, committing to incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis, decision-making, policies and practices as asset owners.
• M&G WealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorM&G Wealth (formerly Ascentric) provides platform access for Stellar's AiM Inheritance Tax Service, offering advisers a client-centric approach to holistic financial planning.
• Aberdeen WrapcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvisers can access Stellar's AiM IHT Service on the Aberdeen Wrap platform, which delivers tools and support to manage and review client investments.
• Transact PlatformcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe award-winning Transact platform makes Stellar's AiM IHT Service accessible to advisers who receive expert support and smart technology for managing client portfolios.
• Tavis House PropertiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLongstanding property development partner that identified the Hoddesdon off-market opportunity and collaborates with Stellar on commercial property development projects including industrial units and business centres.
• Ben BlackburncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer professional golfer and leading coach with strong golf club management and development expertise. Manages Stellar's golf portfolio including Murrayshall, Bramshaw Golf Club, Paultons Golf Centre, and Newark Golf Club acquisitions.
• WaystonesupportingTechnology or IntegrationThird-party compliance monitoring service that undertakes quarterly reporting including pre- and post-compliance reviews, with detailed reports submitted to the CEO.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Investec Wealth & Investment UK: UK private wealth manager providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and estate planning services to HNW individuals through advisers and directly. Comparable target market with broader capabilities.
• Evelyn Partners (formerly Smith & Williamson / Tilney): Large UK wealth manager and professional services firm with significant IHT/estate planning capabilities, AIM portfolio offerings, and adviser relationships. Comparable end-client profile with much broader service portfolio.
• Brooks Macdonald: UK wealth manager offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and IHT/estate planning services via advisers. Broader portfolio offering but overlapping in the HNW estate-planning segment.
• Sanlam Wealth UK: UK wealth manager offering discretionary investment management, IHT planning services, and adviser platform solutions. Overlapping in IHT/estate planning with a broader product set.
• Quilter Investors: UK wealth manager with discretionary fund solutions including IHT planning strategies, distributed via advisers and platforms. Comparable HNW and adviser-channel focus with broader multi-asset product range.

Direct peers

• Velocity Fund Management: UK boutique asset manager specialising in Inheritance Tax portfolios (AIM BR and BR-qualifying unlisted assets) distributed via financial advisers. Closely comparable specialist positioning and target market to Stellar.
• Octopus Investments: One of the largest UK providers of AIM IHT portfolios and BR-qualifying investments, with significantly greater AUM scale. Most direct competitor to Stellar's AiM IHT Service, targeting the same adviser-led HNW distribution channel.
• Premier Miton (formerly Miton Group): UK asset manager with a well-known AIM IHT portfolio service (Miton UK MicroCap Trust and related strategies). Direct competitor in AIM small-cap investing for IHT relief, serving advisers and HNW clients.
• Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management (formerly Hargreave Hale): UK wealth manager with strong heritage in AIM investing and AIM IHT portfolios. Comparable adviser-led model and focus on small/mid-cap UK equities for HNW clients seeking IHT solutions.
• Time Financial (Time IHT Portfolio): UK specialist in IHT planning portfolios, including AIM-based Business Relief services for advisers and HNW clients. Direct competitor in the BR/IHT segment with comparable adviser-led distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stellar-asset-management-limited
• Xx.com/StellarAM_

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stellar Asset Management