David O'Hara, Corbel Partners
Corbel Partners has made its 18th acquisition in just under three years and has also rolled out phase two of its technology platform.
In its most recent purchase, the network has acquired the client books of financial adviser Graham Carney.
Since 2023, the IFA Warrington-based network has been acquiring IFA businesses, mostly internally, as part of its independent exit proposition.
It received £10m in capital funding from Beechbrook Capital just before Christmas, which it said has helped fund the recent acquisitions, along with the rollout of Finpath 2.0, its in-house adviser platform.
Corbel Partners offers buyouts to retiring IFAs who want a "fully independent solution" and said that five more deals in the pipeline to complete in 2026.
Corbel Partners co-founder and co-director David O'Hara said: "Our members want a fully independent solution that means whichever product clients have today, they will still have after their adviser retires.
"They don't want to see their clients passed into the hands of consolidators and we're really pleased to be delivering exactly what advisers and clients want.
"Our five most recent acquisitions were all client banks belonging to retiring advisers, and one was a partial purchase from someone taking a phased retirement.
"All sales provided a meaningful capital event for the individual and as little disruption as possible for clients, who will continue to receive a genuinely independent service.
"In an ideal world, a client can run into their former adviser in the supermarket and have only positive things to say about the service they're still receiving.
"Those ongoing relationships are what advisers want, and it is what our network is built around."
Carney said: "I was really appreciative of David and Paul's approach to acquiring clients from me while giving me the room to wind down at my own pace. I trust they'll do right by those clients and am looking forward to retirement more than ever.
"David and Paul have always championed independence and client care. When the time came to think about winding down, Corbel was the first and only choice, to be honest."
Tech platform
Meanwhile, the network has invested a further £500,000 in phase two of its internal tech platform, Finpath, focusing on developing its automation and adviser support features over the coming year.
Phase one was launched in 2024, comprising a platform that advisers can use both as a client portal and as a CPD tracker.
"All their admin is in one place – CPD, letters of authority, connecting with our paraplanning and compliance teams, Aixigo cashflow modelling, and communicating securely with clients," Corbel Partners co-founder and co-director Paul Heath said.
"They don't pay for it either; it is a free-to-use platform built from adviser feedback."
Launched in April 2026, Finpath 2.0 has been created to focus on streamlining client information, including vulnerability reporting, documentation, letters of recommendation, and product selection.
"This is part of a multi-year build – at every stage, we review the modifications with our network members and use their feedback to inform the next stage of Finpath's development," Heath added.
