The latest mergers, acquisitions and other corporate actions in the wealth management sector.

NFP, Simon Shirley Advisors
NFP, the Europe-based property and casualty broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager and retirement advisor, has bought financial advisory firm, Simon Shirley Advisors, an Irish business.

The financial terms of the transaction, which closed on 1 May 2022, were not disclosed. As of 31 December 2021, SSA’s funds under advice amounted to over €180 million ($192.2 million).

The SSA team will join NFP, including its chief executive and founder, Simon Shirley, who will take the lead role in building NFP’s wealth management business in Ireland. 

“As the Irish economy continues to flourish, we see the employee benefits and wealth management sectors providing a large growth opportunity,” Matt Pawley, managing director, UK and Ireland, for NFP, said.  

In the short term, Simon Shirley Advisors will continue to operate under its existing name and there will be no immediate change for customers. In time, the business will be integrated under the NFP brand. 

This is NFP’s fourth acquisition in the Irish market during the past two years, having previously acquired HMP Insurance and Pensions Advisors, Aiken Insurance Limited and more recently, ReSure Corporate Brokers. 

NFP has previously said it wants to build its Irish presence through organic growth and acquisitions.

Benchmark Capital, Waterhouse Financial Planning
UK-based Benchmark Capital, the financial planning solutions firm that is part of Schroders, has completed its purchase of Northern Ireland-based Waterhouse Financial Planning.

The acquisition gives West Sussex-based Benchmark a foothold in Northern Ireland, adding more than £120 million to the existing £2.1 billion of client assets in Benchmark’s national advice business. It also increases Benchmark’s total number of financial advisors to 64 across seven offices in the UK. 

Waterhouse ‘s main office is in Derry, where all its staff are based. Thomas Leonard, Waterhouse’s managing director, will focus on developing the business across the region, with Sinead Meena, Chartered Financial Planner, leading the financial planning practice.

The acquisition follows the recent appointments of Ian McMillan and Stephen Robarts, who join Benchmark as acquisitions director, and head of acquisition finance respectively, to support its strong acquisition pipeline.