Benchmark supports financial planning businesses across the cycle of these businesses' lives.

Benchmark Capital, a financial planning business and part of UK-listed Schroders, has agreed to buy regional UK firm Robertson Baxter.

Robertson Baxter is a directly authorised firm of four advisors with £200 million ($249 million) of client assets, based near Huddersfield in Yorskhire.

Benchmark said it has supported Robertson Baxter with platform and investment solutions for several years. This extended relationship will deepen the practice management and compliance support and bolster further growth.

"The acquisition of Robertson Baxter represents a continuation of our strategy to support financial planning businesses at every stage of their journey from starting up, running efficiently, growing successfully and succession planning for business owners,” Ed Dymott (main picture), CEO, Benchmark, said. “Over the past 17 years Greg Robertson and Stephen Baxter have built a successful practice and Benchmark has supported their growth by providing technology, platform and investment solutions.” 

Dymott said that over the next two years, Robertson Baxter will integrate fully into Benchmark, moving under Benchmark’s regulatory authorisation. 

The difficulties advisors face in handling regulations is a major concern, Dymott, whom this publication interviewed here, said. “Our Schroders UK Financial Adviser Survey shows that regulation continues to be a primary concern with the number of advisors ranking it [as] their number one concern rising from 49 per cent in 2023 to 57 per cent in 2024. With close to 200 firms already in our networks, we expect to see this shift continue.”

Greg Robertson is CEO of Robertson Baxter.

Benchmark, which has £20 billion of assets on its proprietary platform and £6 billion in model portfolio solutions on behalf of more than 1,000 financial advisors (as at 30 June 2024), employs more than 550 staff.