“We continue to look at ways to help clients visualise their financial future – and we are developing tools to meet this goal.
“We are committed to providing a truly client-centred experience at Close Brothers Asset Management and we are delighted that this has been recognised by FTAdviser with our firm being included in the Top 100 Advisers list.”
3: Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton made its way into the top 10 this year after climbing 23 spots.
The company saw its gross sales increase by 14.2 per cent to £240m, while its net sales remained flat at £140m. Its assets under management increased slightly to £1.2bn in 2019 from £1.1bn the previous year.
One of the company’s key expertise is trusts.
Neil Messenger, head of wealth advisory at Grant Thornton, says: “Many of our clients have established trusts to protect and preserve wealth for future generations.
“We provide advice on establishing and using trusts as part of a wider financial planning strategy. In order to do this, we work closely with fellow professionals including solicitors and our tax advisers in the private client team.
“Trusts can be complex, with legal requirements placed on the trustees. The Trustee Act 2000 sets out the responsibility the trustees have as custodians of the assets.
“We work closely with trustees to successfully navigate their way through this to develop investment strategies to satisfy their obligations and successfully meet the future needs of the beneficiaries.”
The business has some major changes of its own to navigate later this year.
In June it was announced that 1825, Standard Life’s financial planning and advice business, had entered into an agreement to acquire the wealth advisory unit of Grant Thornton UK.
This deal was completed after the Top 100 data was compiled.
Following the acquisition, 100 employees, including 34 financial planners, are expected to move across to the 1825 business.
Led by Mr Messenger, Grant Thornton’s wealth advisory team provides advice on all aspects of financial planning, including family and business finance.
The deal is expected to complete by the end of the year. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
4: The Fry Group
The Fry Group has moved up one spot into fourth place, in a year characterised by increased market volatility.
According to the data from Matrix Solutions, it had gross sales of £240m in the year to June 2019, up slightly from last year’s £230m, while net sales this year were £31m, a 55 per cent drop from £69m in 2018.
In addition, its assets under management at the end of June 2019 were £810m, a giant leap compared with £260m in the same period in 2018.
