Adviser partnership Continuum has bolstered its presence in the north west, amid a "significant increase" in new adviser enquiries since the business became directly authorised last year.
The IFA firm has recruited adviser Gary Charlesworth based in Cumbria, adding roughly £20m in funds under management to the partnership.
In November last year Continuum left the Caerus network, which was taken over by Intrinsic in 2017, where it had been the largest advice firm with a turnover at the time of £6m.
The move was driven by a desire for the greater flexibility and control offered by direct authorisation, which Continuum said was necessary to further develop its client and adviser proposition.
Since the move to directly authorised status the number of advice firms with Continuum has grown by 25 per cent, up from 36 to 45, with an ultimate goal to reach 50 "quality" advisers in its partnership.
Martin Brown, managing partner at Continuum, said 50 firms was the "optimum" level to maintain a quality advice service.
Continuum's assets under influence now sit at more than £800m and are forecast to exceed £1bn in the next 12 months.
Mr Brown said: "Since becoming directly authorised we have experienced a significant increase in new adviser enquiries.
"I’m confident that our exciting plans to further develop our servicing and marketing support will continue to attract many high-quality advisers interested in developing their businesses and enhancing their client experience."
Mr Brown added Continuum had experienced "outstanding" year-on-year organic growth, which he attributed to a "strong three-way relationship" between Continuum, the adviser and client.
Gary Charlesworth, the latest adviser to join Continuum's partnership, said: "Having been an IFA for many years, the opportunity of working with Continuum was too good to miss.
"Continuum have a deep understanding of an adviser’s needs and their track record of delivering exceptional adviser support is impressive.
"I have total confidence that with Continuum I will have more time to deliver an even better service to my clients and to strongly develop my business as a whole."
In January Continuum sold a 19.99 per cent stake in its business to Marlborough Group Holdings for an undisclosed sum, following an 18-month search by the business for a long-term partner.
rachel.addison@ft.com
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