The UK IFA market saw a surge in M&A activity in April, according to a report from investment and advisory firm Heligan Group.

It said the deals illustrated the increasing variety in deal structuring, with the UK IFA M&A market remaining on course for a high volume in 2025.

Heligan said firms responded to demographic pressures during the month, to regulatory demands, and to the imperative for operational efficiency with “an impressive volume and diversity of deals.”

Completed transactions in April, included Söderberg & Partners' partial equity stake in Active Financial Planners and Corbel Partners’ succession-focused buyouts.

Perspective Financial Group also reinforced its position as one of the UK’s leading IFA consolidators, completing a further nine acquisitions in the year to date.

Heligan said the completed transactions reflect a market maturing beyond simple AUM-driven deals, favouring firms that offer scalability, strong compliance credentials, and strategic regional access.

The deals also highlighted the resilience of mid-market acquirers, many of which are deploying sophisticated acquisition strategies, with minority stakes, network consolidations, and regional bolt-ons all becoming part of the consolidator’s toolkit.

Greg Easter, partner at Heligan Group, said: “As anticipated, private equity-backed platforms remain dominant players, underpinning the most aggressive expansion efforts. These firms are continuing to compete fiercely for high-quality targets.”

He said April reaffirmed a geographic trend that was developing over the last year, particularly the concentration of activity in the north east, London, and the south. “These areas continue to attract buyer interest due to client demographics, adviser density, and the commercial viability of hybrid service models.”

Mr Easter said Perspective continued to stand out from the crowd, reinforcing its position as one of the UK’s leading IFA consolidators. “The group's continued pace of acquisitions highlights broader structural trends in the UK IFA market, particularly the increasing regulatory burden on smaller firms and the growing attractiveness of exit options that provide succession planning and back-office relief.”

He said despite the volume of activity, acquirers are showing greater selectivity in pricing and post-deal integration planning. “Deal multiples remain elevated, but the narrative is shifting toward long-term value creation. The focus is on fit, efficiency, and the ability to support regulatory and technological change across growing networks.”

Looking ahead, Mr Easter said the UK IFA sector's performance in April suggests that 2025 is likely to remain a high-volume year but with a shift toward strategic, synergistic acquisitions as opposed to opportunistic roll-ups. “For sellers, this means demonstrating not just profitability, but alignment with acquirer platforms’ infrastructure, culture, and long-term goals.”