WREN STERLING BUYS OXFORD-BASED FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRM

Wren Sterling Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist financial planning advice to private and corporate clients, has bought Oxford-based IFA Critchleys Financial Planning, adding £150m to its assets under advice.

The rebranded business is set to provide Wren with a new hub in Oxfordshire to complement its eight other locations across the UK, including  London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bristol.

The Critchleys team, including principal financial planner, Jason McGuigan, will all be offered a place at Wren Sterling, along with their around 300 clients.

Wren Sterling’s CEO, James Twining, said: “Jason and the team have done a phenomenal job for their clients over the years, building a business of ambition and excellence that perfectly aligns to our own approach. The UK IFA market encompasses many excellent businesses deciding that now is the time to look for new investors, either to facilitate their own retirement or because they see that their clients stand to benefit significantly from the support of a larger organisation in the face of mounting regulatory, operational and technology costs and complexity.”

Jason McGuigan added: “It was important to us, when considering our future, that we partnered with an organisation that shared our core values of putting the client at the heart of everything we do. It was clear from our very first meeting with Wren Sterling, that this is central to their DNA.”

The transaction is Wren Sterling’s second since its secondary management buyout by Lightyear Capital in late 2022 having bought Mutual Financial Management in early June.

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