UK-based wealth manager Saltus Group has bought financial planning firm Higgins Fairbairn Advisory (HFA) for an undisclosed sum.
The HFA deal will bring staff numbers at Saltus to over 120, and assets under management to £2.3bn ($2.75bn, €2.69bn).
The financial planning firm was spun out from accountancy practice Higgins Fairbairn & Co, with Gianpaolo Mantini leading the business. It was incorporated in 2009 and first authorised in 2010.
All HFA staff will move across to Saltus and Mantini will become partner. 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.
London-based HFA was chosen due to its presence in the English capital, which will enhance Saltus’ offering in the city.
The deal is Saltus’ third acquisition in less than a year – in September 2021, the firm acquired Fish Financial and, in March 2022, it bought NSL Wealth.
Jon Macintosh, managing partner at Saltus, said: “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.”
