Consolidator Absolute Financial Group has acquired three Financial Planning firms, adding £255m in assets under advice.
Padstone Financial Management, based in Hereford, Campton Financial Services in Surrey, and Norwich-based Iceni Financial Advisers have joined Absolute along with existing offices and colleagues.
The trio of acquisitions takes Absolute’s total assets under advice to £1.55bn.
Padstone Financial Management was founded by Mark Young in 2001 and specialises in retirement planning, investments and inheritance tax planning. The firm previously traded under the name Life Protection Direct between 2008 and 2014. It has had a restriction placed on the firm since 2016 prohibiting it from carrying out consumer buy-to-let mortgage business.
Campton Financial Services was founded in 1978 as an insurance broker by Derek Pattison, originally based in London before moving to Surrey in 1995. It has been authorised as a Financial Planning firm since 2021.
Drayton-headquartered Iceni Financial Advisers was founded by managing director Joe Dunn in 2013. The team advise on pensions, investments, mortgages, insurance, personal taxation, Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney, together with loans for businesses.
David Carter, CEO of Absolute Financial Group, said: “Welcoming Padstone Financial Management, Campton Financial Services, and Iceni Financial Advisers into Absolute marks another milestone as we continue to build a leading independent financial planning business. Each of these firms brings exceptional people, strong client relationships, and a commitment to high‑quality advice that aligns perfectly with our values and culture.”
He added that Absolute has a strong pipeline of IFA firms that it expects to acquired over the next few weeks.
Absolute launched with the acquisition of £1.1bn AUA firm Absolute Financial Management, based in the South East, in August.
Absolute is led by chief executive David Carter, formerly CEO of CMS Wealth. Its non-executive chairman is Paul Hogarth, founder of Tatton Asset Management and Perspective Financial Group.
The firm said it plans to unite advisory businesses within a unified structure, promoting adviser support and holistic Financial Planning.
It said Absolute Financial Management will serve as the central hub for subsequent acquisitions under a single national brand.