The Raymond James model continues to attract senior wealth managers wanting to strike out on their own but with network support.

US advisory franchise Raymond James is opening a new independent branch in Wanstead, East London. The branch will be led by principal Simon Howland and is among a raft of new openings by Raymond James across the UK this year. In early December, the group opened a branch in London’s Ropemaker Place led by Simon Monk, who made the leap from Brown Shipley. The network opened a new branch in Manchester’s Spinningfields financial hub in November, also established by ex-Brown Shipley managers.

Howland (pictured) is striking out in the wealthy enclave of Wanstead, which attracts a young set of East London entrepreneurs. Before this venture, he spent more than a decade at Killik & Co, where he was most recently an associate investment director and member of its investment strategy board.

“It’s been my aim to establish and run my own business for as long as I can remember, so launching this new enterprise with the support of Raymond James is an exciting milestone for me,” Howland said.

The Raymond James advisory network provides plug-and-play franchise models for UK wealth advisories, either supporting them to establish their own boutique practice or giving FCA-authorised firms access to its investment platform.

Howland said his support and services are “more akin to a micro family office" affecting the whole family.