When the downfall of star stock-picker Neil Woodford trapped the savings of hundreds of thousands of investors, it sent shockwaves through the City. Private investors were suddenly told they would be unable to withdraw their money until Woodford's funds were unfrozen. Yet at FTSE 100 financial advice giant St James's Place, chief executive Andy Croft was not panicking. Strategy: Andy Croft set up an academy to train financial advisers Yes, many of his 800,000 clients had been invested in funds run by Woodford. And yes, some had seen their savings take a hit as Woodford's performance slumped. But Croft, 56, could afford to stay calm thanks to the peculiar way that St James's Place invests its clients' cash.