Brewin Dolphin, the UK-listed wealth management and investment house, has confirmed the launch of a new financial planning research service focused on tax wrappers.

In conjunction with this, Brewin has merged its open-ended and closed-end research teams in a move designed to bring greater efficiencies and consistency to the firm's investment decisions.

The dedicated financial planning research unit, which covers self-invested personal pensions, offshore bonds and stakeholder pensions, is currently headed by Matthew Butcher. He is helped in this role by divisional director James Brooks and analyst John Sheehan. 

Butcher believes is it important that both teams work together given that a growing number of clients are opting for an integrated financial planning and investment management service. He also expects that Brewin will expand its open-ended buy list, contrary to “many rivals” which have reduced theirs.

At the end of January, Brewin reported that its total income in the three months to 30 January rose 13.7 per cent to £67.8 million ($102.5 million) from a year before.