John Osborne

My main driver when looking to sell my business was to find a reputable company that was independent and dedicated to being whole of market. I had spent years building my business and a core part of our offering to clients was our commitment to being independent, so it was important to me that continued.

I received a number of offers from different buyers, but they didn’t appeal to me as they insisted in the use of bespoke platforms and changing investment models and charging.

Fairstone on the other hand was happy with the way we were operating and to support us moving forward, which provided the continuity we were after for our clients.

We joined Fairstone’s DBO programme in 2016 before integrating with the firm and being fully acquired 18 months later.

Improved service for clients

Being acquired by Fairstone allowed us to continue providing clients with high quality independent financial advice, with the added support of a strong infrastructure. This enabled us to fully focus on our clients and ensure they get the best possible investment options.

One of the biggest positives we have seen post acquisition is the development of our client proposition. Fairstone has done a lot of work in negotiating discounts with platforms, and these savings are directly passed back to clients, which is very positive.

Acquisition

The acquisition went smoothly and it was pretty much business as usual straight away, transitioning from one business name to another.

It’s great to be part of a bigger business and that brings added security for our clients. From a personal point of view, I also like being part of a larger firm and enjoy meeting other advisers across the group and attending company events.

Earn-outs

The earn-outs have been impressive and each year we have performed better than base level, with an average of close to 10% out performance over three years.

I am very pleased to have joined Fairstone and I can honestly say that the acquisition has improved the service we offer clients.