A new UK financial planning business, called HFM Columbus Group, has been formed from the union of two UK-based independent financial advisors. HFM Columbus has been created from a joint venture between Hoyland Financial Management, a firm based in Weybridge, Surrey, and Columbus Financial Advisers, of Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Both of these existing businesses will continue, meanwhile, to operate under their own name. The new brand, aimed at the high net worth end of the market, will, from 1 May, offer services ranging from mortgages and investments to employee benefits, retirement and tax planning, the firms said in a statement. The deal comes at a time when financial companies such as Syndicate Asset Management in the UK have been acquiring financial advisory businesses to exploit expected rising demand for financial planning advice from wealthy clients.