Continuum has expanded into Northern Ireland as it appoints IFA Michael Kirkwood to join the partnership.
Kirkwood is based in Belfast and will serve clients from across Northern Ireland and beyond.
He joins with over 30 years experience, a Diploma in Financial Planning from the Personal Finance Society, and an honours degree from Belfast University.
Continuum said he also holds ISO 22222 certification, making him one of a small number of advisers who hold this global benchmark for information, skills, experience and ethical values.
Kirkwood said: “Continuum is a growing team, but they remain independent. This means that the help and advice that I provide can be independent too.
“There is no question of being tied into products from a particular financial provider. I’m free to recommend everything – pensions, insurance, investments – from any provider. The only factor I need to consider is the best interests of my client.”
Kirkwood will work with a wide range of clients, but has a particular specialism in working with wealthy clients who are also business owners.
He added: “I am very happy to have found Continuum as it offers everything I need to help me provide good consistent outcomes for my clients.
“The levels of support for me are excellent and this allows more time to concentrate on meeting clients and discussing possible solutions with them.”
Kirkwood is the first of several new advisers to join the partnership this year, which takes the advice team to 63.
Continuum’s managing partner Martin Brown, said: “We have set out to provide the very highest standards of financial advice, and Michael can help us ensure that we do it in what is a new and important location for us.
“I know that Michael shares these values, and with his combination of qualifications and experience he is a valuable addition to our growing team.
“We believe that by creating a three-way partnership between Continuum, the adviser and the client, we also create an environment where each party can only succeed and grow if the other parties also succeed and grow.”
In December, Continuum appointed IFA Jason Maddison, based in Spennymoor in County Durham to join the partnership.
In a recent interview with FTAdviser, Brown said the group had decided against becoming chartered due to the pressure to maintain the number of employees with a chartered status.
In order to qualify for Chartered Financial Planners status, a business must meet a number of criteria including at least 50 per cent of the firm's advisers being chartered financial planners, 90 per cent of consumer-facing staff holding CII membership, and a minimum of one board member holding accreditation.
“Our view was that we did not want to take chartered status, and then be under pressure to retain it," Brown said.
sonia.rach@ft.com
