Saltus Group has acquired Higgins Fairbairn Advisory LLP (HFA), an Independent Chartered Financial Planner based in London.
HFA was carefully chosen due to its well established and respected London presence which will enhance Saltus’ offering in the capital. The acquisition also supports Saltus’ longer-term strategy to acquire established owner-managed firms that share its client-centric, goal-based financial planning approach.
The deal is the third acquisition in less than a year for Saltus – in September 2021 the firm acquired Fish Financial and in March 2022 it acquired NSL Wealth.
The HFA deal will bring staff numbers at Saltus to over 120, and assets under management to £2.3bn.
HFA was spun out from accountancy practice Higgins Fairbairn & Co, with Gianpaolo Mantini leading the advisory business. The LLP was incorporated in 2009 and first authorised in 2010.
The acquisition will see all HFA staff move across to Saltus and Mantini become Partner.
Speaking about the acquisition, Mantini said the move will offer HFA’s clients the technological advancements that being part of a larger firm can bring: “From our early discussions with Saltus, it was clear that a merger with them would provide a great fit for our business and our clients.
“We have always embraced technological change, however to get more out of technology and to deliver a ‘state of the art’ financial advice proposition to our clients. We needed greater flexibility and responsiveness, so we are delighted to have become part of the Saltus Group.”
Jon Macintosh, managing partner at Saltus added: “Gianpaolo and the team at HFA are a great fit for Saltus and we are delighted to welcome them on board.
“Not only do they share our goal-based approach to financial planning – placing the client at the heart of everything they do – but their well-established presence will really complement our financial planning services offering, enabling us to reach far more clients across the UK.”
All HFA staff will be based across Saltus’ four offices in London, Solent, Bournemouth and Farnham, with most predominantly working from the Mayfair base. All HFA clients will be keeping their HFA adviser.
