Clifton Wealth Partnership acquires two financial planning firms

Clifton Wealth Partnership (CWP) has acquired financial planning firms Grovebridge Financial and Clifton Business Consultancy.

CWP said the firms had undergone a successful integration plan and acquisition process after working with them for more than 10 months to accommodate their needs in the lead up to the final acquisitions.

Combined, the acquisitions have added £146m of assets under management (AUM) to CWP.

Grovebridge Financial is based in West Yorkshire and has been providing financial services to around 200 families for nearly 10 years.

Its director and chartered financial planner, Paul Smith, will continue with the business, while fellow director, Hilary Stephenson, is retiring.

“We spent a considerable amount of time understanding the potential purchasers in the market,” said Stephenson.

“CWP stood out because they are closely aligned to our culture, values and views of how clients really are the central pillar of our profession and how best to provide for their future needs.

“We are impressed with CWP’s forward-thinking approach and use of technology to enhance the service proposition.”

Meanwhile, Bristol-based Clifton Business Consultancy has been in business for 16 years.

Its company director, Michael Lloyd, will be retiring, while his fellow director, Bob Thomas, will remain with the business.

“Building this business has been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life, and I am proud of what we’ve achieved together,” Lloyd commented.

“As we looked toward the future of the company, we thought long and hard about who we could trust to carry on the values and service standards we’ve worked so hard to uphold.

“After careful consideration, we are confident in our decision to align with CWP. Their approach, ethos, and commitment to clients mirror our own, and we believe this transition will ensure a continued high level of service and care for all our valued clients.”

CWP previously acquired seven financial planning firms in March 2025, which added £500m AUM and 25 staff to the business.

The financial planning and wealth management business is part of the Bristol-based Clifton Group, which has more than 12,000 clients, 120 employees, and more than £2.5bn in AUM.

Commenting on the latest acquisitions, CWP managing director, Anthony Carty, said: “Selling your business is one of the toughest decisions you’ll ever make. Our job is to give financial planning firms absolute assurance that both their clients and team will continue to receive the best support as part of the CWP family.

“We know that integration processes in particular can be a daunting thought for a financial planning business. Technology is part of our DNA at CWP and our in-house capabilities make everything as smooth as possible both during the acquisition process and the day-to-day experience for advisers and clients.

“As both Hilary from Grovebridge and Michael from Clifton Business Consultancy say in their own words, we are always upfront and honest about what we stand for, so that firms can judge for themselves if we’re the right fit for them.”



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