IFA firm launches third UK operation in a month

Ex-SJP associate partner says he doesn’t ‘see a need for buying client bases’

|

Cheltenham-headquartered RockWealth has unveiled an office in Cardiff.

This comes after the firm launched two operations in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire and Brighton, East Sussex in February 2021.

Matt Millard will take on the role as founder of RockWealth Cardiff. He was previously a financial planner at Cardiff-based firm Niche IFA.

He said: “I am really enthusiastic about what the future holds and the opportunities that lie ahead. It is an exciting time to be a financial planner. I’ve been in the industry now for over 20 years and I’ve seen things that have been done well and things perhaps not so well. When I first spoke to Tim Horrocks, the managing partner at RockWealth, we instantly hit it off.

“When he explained who RockWealth were, how they operated and what their beliefs where I knew it would be a great fit for me. The genuine interest in supporting my business has been quite refreshing.”

Growth plans

In addition to Cardiff, RockWealth has plans to expand across the UK.

Horrocks, who was formerly an associate partner at SJP, spoke to International Adviser about growth plans for the firm: “We are hoping to have something ready for Cheshire in the next two-to-four weeks. That is the only current pipeline plan. For the next 12 months, it will be about consolidating what we have done and help support people that have just set up.

“Longer term, the plan is to open more offices to get a truly national spread. We are definitely light in London and the home counties. It is about finding the right people.”

Horrocks also said that he doesn’t “see a need for buying client bases”.

“I think the clients will seek out our offering rather than buy them up,” he added. “Particularly, with a lot of M&A activity, it is not always in the client’s best interest. I think a lot of consolidators want to impose their charging models and want to get a return on their investment.”

MORE ARTICLES ON