Manchester-based Pareto Financial Planning has recruited three new staff, including a Chartered Financial Planner as well as an employee benefits consultant.

The three additions bring the Financial Planning firm’s staff numbers to around 75.

The three finance professionals are Chartered Financial Planner Sarah Mullarkey, financial adviser Mark Singh and employee benefits consultant Holly Potts.

Sarah Mullarkey has joined from Macclesfield’s JPB Financial Planning where she started as a paraplanner in 2020, becoming a Chartered Financial Planner in March 2023.

She joined the financial services industry in 2016 and has steadily progressed from her beginning as an assistant paraplanner.

She has a passion for cashflow planning. Ms Mullarkey said: “Cashflow planning gives clients the confidence to help them live the life they want.”

Mark Singh’s route into Financial Planning was completely different. He began his career at Salford City Council in 2016 working with vulnerable young people as a sports coach and mentor in secure units across the UK.

He moved into property investment in 2021 and eventually joined the M&G Wealth Academy. In May 2023, he launched his own Financial Planning firm and has joined Pareto to be part of a larger, collaborative team.

Mr Singh said: “My proudest achievement is simply having the courage to keep moving forward, even when it’s uncomfortable. Studying for my diploma while raising a young family and working full-time taught me the value of sacrifice.”

Holly Potts has more than 20 years’ experience in the employee benefits sector, having worked up from group risk administrator at Willis to director of client services at Alexander Beard International Benefits. She specialises in group risk, corporate healthcare, and designing cost-effective benefit strategies that genuinely support employees.

Paul Stones, managing director at Pareto Financial Planning, said: “Our people remain at the heart of everything we do.”

Pareto Financial Planning was founded in 2008 and now manages more than £1bn of assets.

It saw a 30% increase in new business for the year ending 31 March.