Has a large group bought out your independent financial planner? It’s a trend that’s hard to miss. Across the UK, many once-local independent financial advice firms have been snapped up by large corporate investment groups. So, let’s have a frank discussion about financial planner acquisition.

On paper, it can look like business as usual – same office, same advisers, same promises. But behind the scenes, things often change.

And for clients, those changes matter.

Anthony Hoskisson, Questa managing director, says: “When a firm is acquired, the culture shifts. Suddenly there are sales targets, centralised products, and less freedom to do what’s right for the individual sitting across the desk.

“At Questa, our independence means our advice starts and ends with what’s best for you – nothing else.”

How Many Independent Financial Planners are Being Acquired?

Here’s what the latest figures and trends indicate for the UK:

• A “Hot” Market for Acquisitions: The UK financial services market, particularly the wealth management and IFA sectors, is experiencing a period of significant consolidation. This has been a dominant trend for several years, and it’s continuing to accelerate. Reports from 2024 and early 2025 consistently describe the market as “hot,” with high levels of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity.  
• High Volume of Deals: According to an analysis by EY, the number of M&A deals in the UK’s financial services industry reached its highest volume in over a decade in 2024. This included a significant number of acquisitions in the wealth and asset management sector, with 122 deals in 2024, up from 107 in 2023.  
• Private Equity as a Major Driver: A key factor driving this consolidation is the influx of private equity (PE) capital. These firms are creating “consolidators” that actively seek to acquire smaller, independent firms. Research from Dyer Baade & Company found that there were 31 active private equity-backed consolidators in the UK wealth management sector in 2021 alone, and this trend has continued to grow.

Why Independence Matters

When you work with a local, independent financial adviser, you’re not just another number on a spreadsheet. You’re part of a relationship built on trust, accountability, and freedom of choice.

Here’s what that means in practice:

Whole-of-Market Advice

Independent advisers can search the entire market. They’re not restricted to a shortlist of “preferred” products chosen by head office. That means the advice you get is genuinely about what suits you – not what suits a corporate target.

Local Knowledge, Real Context

A local adviser understands more than just your finances. They understand your world – the housing market in your area, the regional economy, and the local networks of accountants, solicitors, and brokers. That context helps create advice that actually fits your life.

Trust That Runs Deep

In a community, reputation is everything. Independent advisers rely on referrals and word of mouth. They have every reason to do right by you – every time. Corporate ownership can dilute that. When decisions are driven by distant shareholders, the personal connection weakens.

What Happens After a Buyout?

When small independent firms get absorbed into larger groups, subtle but important changes often follow:

• Restricted choice – advisers may be limited to a narrower range of products.
• Less flexibility – decisions are shaped by group-wide policies, not local circumstances.
• Pressure to sell – some advisers face sales targets, shifting the focus from advice to revenue.
• Culture change – what once felt like a personal service can become more corporate and transactional.

Anthony adds: “We’ve had clients come to us after their old adviser was bought out. They noticed the difference straight away – fewer choices, more jargon, less time spent on what really mattered to them. That’s not the kind of service we believe in.”

Fiercely Independent – And Proud of It

At Questa, we’re proud to be one of the largest independent firms on the Fylde Coast – and fiercely committed to staying that way. Our independence isn’t just a label. It’s what allows us to:

• Put clients first, always.
• Stay free from outside influence.
• Offer advice based solely on your needs, not a corporate agenda.
• Build long-term relationships rooted in trust, not targets.

Next steps

We understand the frustration when a trusted local service changes hands. When your independent financial planner sells to a national group, you may find the personal, local service you valued replaced with something more corporate. 

Step 1: Assess the New Situation

Before making any decisions, take stock of what’s changed:

• Will your adviser stay or go? Sometimes they remain for a transition period, sometimes not.
• Check the fees. Large groups often have different charging structures – and they’re not always in your favour.
• Understand their investment style. National firms may promote certain products more aggressively than others.
• Meet the new team. Get a feel for whether they’ll give you the personal, joined-up advice you expect.

Step 2: Consider Your Options

• Stay with the new firm. If you’re happy with the changes, you may decide to stick around.
• Switch to a truly independent adviser. If you miss the local, personal touch – or feel the new setup doesn’t work for you – this is the time to look elsewhere.

Why Call Questa?

Questa is fiercely independent – and proud of it. Based on the Fylde Coast, we’re one of the largest local independent firms in the region, regulated by the FCA and free from corporate ownership. That independence means:

• Whole-of-market advice – we’re not tied to pushing in-house products.
• Personal service – we know our clients, their families, and their goals.
• Local knowledge – we understand the regional property market, business community, and economy.
• Reputation built on trust – our clients recommend us because we do right by them, not because a head office says so.

The Bottom Line

If your local adviser has been bought out and you’re feeling uncertain, don’t settle for less. Talk to a firm that’s still proudly independent and focused on you.

Call Questa today to discuss your options – and keep your financial future in the hands of people who put you first.