Business

St James's Place acquired largest partner to date in Northern Ireland

Jim Hughes, left, principal of Premier Wealth Management with Keith Willett, Northern Ireland head of business at St James’s Place
Jim Hughes, left, principal of Premier Wealth Management with Keith Willett, Northern Ireland head of business at St James’s Place Jim Hughes, left, principal of Premier Wealth Management with Keith Willett, Northern Ireland head of business at St James’s Place

WEALTH management firm St James's Place has announced its largest acquisition in Northern Ireland to date.

The high end financial advisory company has acquired Premier Wealth Management as a practice partner.

It means, St James's Place can add offices in Belfast, Omagh and Antrim and a team of eight experienced advisors and six support staff to its fold in the north.

St James's Place has been operating in Northern Ireland since 2000 and has built up a network of 42 partner practices and 66 advisers.

The FTSE 100 company grew throughout the recession and has partners in every county in the UK.

Head of business for the firm in the north, Keith Willett said: "We are delighted to announce our newest S. James’s Place Partner Practice, Premier Wealth Management, and look forward to years of continued success together serving a diverse range of clients.

“With a client base spanning Northern Ireland and further afield in the UK, Premier Wealth Management’s dedication to excellence within the industry and expertise in their dedicated services is reinforced by their joining St James’s Place."

St James’s Place use a targeted approach to acquiring strong financial adviser practices that share their commitment to comprehensive, quality wealth management advice.

Premier Wealth Management, which was set up in 2005, said becoming a St James’s Place partner practice was a "milestone" for the business.

Its principal adviser Jim Hughes said: "Our practice prides itself on putting our clients at the heart of everything we do. We offer bespoke solutions to fit our individual client’s needs and understand that no two clients are the same.

“We are delighted to have been recognised for the outstanding level of service provided to our clients and to have become the largest Partner Practice of St James’s Place in Northern Ireland.”

St James’s Place Wealth Management’s Partner Practices deliver wealth management advice including investment planning, retirement planning solutions, ways to protect clients’ estates as well as corporate financial planning.

St James’s Place manages more than £71 billion of client funds and is also the largest provider of stocks and shares ISAs in the UK.