Hargreaves expects boom in client numbers

After gaining around 17,000 new clients in the second half of 2008, chief executive Peter Hargreaves says the firm will gain even more new customers before its financial year ends in June. "We saw a lot of new leads coming through at the end of 2008, and have seen even more this year," he says. "It typically takes around six months from someone first contacting us and becoming a client, so we expect many more to be joining us by around March." The firm hopes to capitalise on further business opportunities in 2009 and expects to receive additional interest as investors seek to shelter ...