Wealth manager 'will push on' after £2 billion boost

A national wealth management firm says it will continue expanding after an acquisition spree delivered a £2 billion-plus boost.

Fairstone is targeting further buyouts following an eight-strong swoop in the first three months of 2026.

The moves added more than £2 billion in assets under management, and bosses say the firm is primed to grow further with 13 acquisitions set to complete before the end of the year.

The Sunderland-headquartered operator’s deals included a move for Brierley Hill-based Prosperity Wealth, which has created a West Midlands hub office, and additional  practices in the South of England, the West Country, the East Midlands, North East England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The acquisitions were completed through Fairstone’s downstream buyout programme, which allows business owners to work with a company and grow operations while planning for a sale at a future date.

Steven Cooper, Fairstone chief executive, said: “We have added substantially to the business, not only in terms of the bare figures of client assets under management, but in terms of our presence and the depth and breadth of services.”

Hailing the business’ progress – including its planned 13 acquisitions – Steve McNicol, Fairstone chief development officer, said it was primed to add more firms to its downstream buyout stable.

He said: “An additional eight firms have signed up to the downstream buyout programme across the UK and Ireland, bringing with them more than £1 billion of client assets under management.

“We expect that number to grow during the rest of the year.

“We will continue to choose partner firms carefully to ensure they match our ambitions.”

Fairstone operates from more than 50 offices and oversees £23 billion in assets under management on behalf of more than 125,000 clients.

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