Rob Allen: What business owners should look for in an acquirer

If you were looking for a buyer for your home in a ‘seller's market' it would usually mean one thing - a higher price. So it may be tempting for financial advice firms to opt for the highest bidder at a time when increased competition allows them to play potential buyers off against each other. This would seem to be the prevailing climate in the advice market. The drivers of increased consolidation are largely familiar. The rising costs of running a business and meeting compliance demands; difficulties in securing affordable PI cover; coping with a high proportion of advisers reaching...