John Fox, managing director of Liberty Sipp, said the provider aims to grow by 33 per cent over the next 12 to 18 months.
Mr Fox told FTAdviser the provider was always refining its technology and is looking towards straight through processing to deliver growth.
He said: “Whereas we’ve got 32 staff now looking after 6,500 customers we are looking over the next 12 to 18 months to increase that to nearly 10,000 customers without having to man up on the staff because of the systems that we’ve generated.
“As a ratio we probably need about another five employees to grow the business by 33 per cent.”
In terms of targets, Mr Fox said the firm is using client numbers rather than assets but added over the next month Liberty Sipp’s assets under management are set to hit £1bn.
“We are at the stage where we are asking people to come back in 12 months because we don’t want to drown in our own paperwork.
“It actually helps us with some people. It is almost like being coy. I’d rather be honest with people and upfront than take on their business and fail and let them down. It is an interesting position to be in from starting from scratch back in 2007.”
He added the firm only takes on business it knows it can do and do well, because client retention and costs are key priorities.
Mr Fox said Liberty Sipp was also growing by taking over books of business from firms that on the surface appear to be quite IT savvy but underneath “it is the fur coat and no knickers”.
Robert Forbes, a chartered financial planner with London-based Stadden Forbes Wealth Management, said Liberty Sipp’s growth plans were ambitious.
He said: “If they can steal a march on other Sipp providers by being slick that is a good thing.
“Two grumbles people have with Sipp providers traditionally are costs and administration/functionality. So if they’ve got a slimmed down slick solution that can only be a good thing.”
ruth.gillbe@ft.com
