Business as usual? The impact of Covid-19 on advice M&A

clock • 8 min read

As the UK slowly tries to rid itself of the novel coronavirus, is it business as usual for financial advice consolidators? Or will these merger and acquisition growth strategies see long-term changes as a result of the pandemic?

For David Lawrence, UK CEO of Kingswood, which made several acquisitions last year, including an £18m Yorkshire IFA purchase in June 2020, the market is a mixed bag at the moment. "The opportunity to consolidate in what is a very fragmented marketplace remains strong, and in many ways has not been interrupted by the pandemic," says Lawrence. "Some owners have seen revenues dip during 2020 leaving them thoughtful about the timing of a sale, but this is often overcome by valuing the business on a sustainable basis and with the addition of an incentive for growth as we come out of the pa...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Why human connection remains central in a digitally enabled advice sector

Why human connection remains central in a digitally enabled advice sector

'It is clear that the sector is moving through a significant period of transformation'

Tim Riseborough
clock 17 December 2025 • 3 min read
Why advisers shouldn't rush into private markets

Why advisers shouldn't rush into private markets

'There's only so long the hamster wheel can keep turning'

Justin Cash
clock 15 December 2025 • 4 min read
Adviser workload set to rocket ahead of IHT on pensions changes

Adviser workload set to rocket ahead of IHT on pensions changes

Large volumes of clients will need reviews of financial plans

Isabel Baxter
clock 15 December 2025 • 3 min read