Mazars changes name and hunts for RIs

20 October 2005 0:00 am

Mazars is celebrating its new financial year with a new name - Mazars Financial Planning.

The UK IFA subsidiary of international accountants, formerly known as Mazars Financial Services, completed its financial year with 480m in assets under influence and says it will significantly expand its national IFA operation over the next 12 months.

It plans to increase its registered individual numbers from 20 to over 25 by the end of the year by recruiting financial planners, paraplanners, admin staff and specialist fund and research analysts.

The firm, currently with 18 offices throughout the UK, has switched from a traditional commission-based remuneration structure to a solely fee-based model, which it says is reflected in its new ethos.

Clients include internat-ional corporate groups, a range of owner-managed busin- esses and high-net-worth private individuals.

Chief executive Paul Will-ans says the name change was brought about to reflect its more inclusive and profess- ional provision of private and corporate advice.

He says the firm is working with the IFP and the CII to establish a minimum qualification benchmark of full AFPC and certified financial planner status for all its advisory and paraplanning staff.

Willans says: "The new dep-olarisation regime and, in particular, the obligation on 'independent' advisers to offer a genuine fee alternative to commission will steadily raise awareness among prospective clients of the advantage of objective, fee-based advice."

If you enjoyed this article, sign up here to receive daily email updates from Money Marketing and Follow @_moneymarketing