London-based financial advisory firm, Advies, has announced the acquisition of St Andrews Financial for an undisclosed amount.

St Andrews Financial advises around 300 clients and oversees approximately £200m in assets under management (AUM), with a client base made up predominantly in London and the South East.

Advies, a partner in the Saltus Partnership Programme, said the acquisition represents a significant step in its long-term growth strategy by expanding its financial planning capabilities.

St Andrews Financial, a boutique independent advice firm established more than 20 years ago by James Hickson, will be rebranded as Advies, with an integration taking place over the course of the next year. Hickson will join Advies as executive IFA and will continue advising clients from the firm’s office supported by an expanded team.

Hickson said: “In Advies, we have found a partner that shares that philosophy and has the scale, ambition and infrastructure to support the next stage of growth.

“Joining Advies means our clients will continue to receive the personal service they value, while benefiting from additional scale, capability and investments in technology.”

Clients of St Andrews Financial will continue to work with their current advisers and support team, with the additional benefit of Advies’ wider range of services, investment solutions, and client reporting.

“St Andrews Financial is a highly respected business with a long track record of delivering outstanding advice and building lasting client relationships,” commented partner at Advies, Conor MacSweeney.

“This acquisition strengthens our presence in London and the South East, brings exceptional people into the business, and adds further momentum to our long-term growth plans. We are delighted to welcome James Hickson and the St Andrews team to Advies.”

The acquisition was supported by financing from the Saltus Partnership Programme, which Advies joined in October 2023.

Through the programme, Advies receives additional business support including access to capital and mergers and acquisitions expertise, designed to help independent planning firms scale while maintaining autonomy.

“This acquisition is exactly the kind of strategic growth the Saltus Partnership Programme is designed to support,” said managing director of the Saltus Partnership Programme, Mike Stimpson.

“Advies is an ambitious, high-quality business, and the addition of St Andrews Financial further strengthens its proposition in a way that is aligned with its long-term plans.

“By combining access to capital with specialist mergers and acquisitions support, the programme helps firms like Advies pursue sustainable growth while preserving the qualities that made them successful in the first place.”

---