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

Financial adviser jailed for 11 years after £2m fraud

Financial adviser jailed for 11 years after £2m fraud

Timothy ‘Paul’ Barnes defrauded acquaintances, clients and a charity

Jen Frost
clock 23 June 2026 • 2 min read
Deputy editor's view: A Skilled Person Review sparks headlines

Deputy editor's view: A Skilled Person Review sparks headlines

The deputy editor's Friday Night Takeaway from 19 June

Jenna Brown
clock 22 June 2026 • 2 min read
CII publishes vulnerability data guidance for firms

CII publishes vulnerability data guidance for firms

Consumer Duty and GDPR

Cameron Roberts
clock 19 June 2026 • 2 min read