London-based Close Asset Management, part of the Close Brothers group, is continuing to strengthen its links with the UK independent financial advisor sector and has signed a strategic partnership with Paradigm Partners, a UK business consultancy firm for IFAs.

As part of the deal Close will supply Paradigm firms with an ongoing educational service and access to a range of investment products such as IHT planning, investments, international pensions and QROPS.

”Signing our first strategic partnership deal is a pivotal development for our business growth plans… We look forward to building strong relationships with Paradigm and the firms it supports and anticipate further connections of this kind in the future, signalling our commitment to the UK IFA market,” said Robert Imbert, director of intermediary sales.

Close recently acquired the client book of a retiring regional IFA in a deal which could garner the firm up to £50 million in assets, and the firm is in continuing talks with a number of possible acquisition targets, Stuart Dyer, head of intermediary acquisitions at Close AM, said in an interview with WealthBriefing earlier this month.