Mazars merges its two brands

15 September 2005 0:00 am

Mazars' two brands - Mazars Financial Services and Russell Financial Services - are to be merged under the single brand of Mazars Financial Planning.

The firm says it will expand its national IFA operation over the next 12 months and increase its total of registered individual numbers from 20 to more than 25 by the end of this year.

The company has 18 offices throughout the UK and also plans to recruit financial planners, paraplanners, admin staff and specialist fund and research analysts, with the intention of growing its total staff to over 45 by the end of the year.

Mazars has switched from commission to a solely fee-based model. Its clients include international corporate groups, owner-managed busin- esses and private individuals.

Chief executive Paul Willans says the merger and name change aims to reflect inclusive and professional provision of private and corporate advice.

He adds that the firm is working with the Institute of Financial Planning and the Chartered Insurance Institute to establish a minimum qualification benchmark of full Advanced Financial Plannining Centificate and CFP status for all its advisory and paraplanning staff.

Willans says: "The new depolarisation regime and, in particular, the obligation on independent advisers to offer a genuine fee alternative to paying for services by comm- ission, will steadily raise awareness among prospective clients of the advantage of objective, fee-based advice."

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