French Duncan, the Scottish progressive accountancy practice, has rebranded its wealth management arm from French Duncan Financial Services Ltd to French Duncan Wealth Management.

The company says that the move will better reflect its style of practice and changes in the way that financial services are delivered.

Zane Hunter, managing director of French Duncan Wealth Management, said: “Our rebranding more closely reflects our specialist offering of bespoke, fee-based financial planning and investment management advice and guidance to individuals and businesses, trusts and charities and marks the next phase of an ambitious evolutionary programme aimed at making French Duncan the exceptional mid-tier accountancy firm in Scotland.

“The provision of wealth management advice has changed dramatically over the past decade. While many of the insurance and investment companies have changed hands, there have also been significant changes to legislation and most people accept that further changes are yet to come.

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“Following the Retail Distribution Review in 2013, the manner in which advisers charge their clients is now likely to be different for most investors. This has forced wealth management businesses to focus on the service they deliver, both at the start of a relationship and on an ongoing basis. Commissions are finally being phased out, which means that client fee arrangements need to demonstrate value for money.

“These issues can present a substantial dilemma for clients and it is easy to see how somebody might lose track of their finances. We pride ourselves on the clarity of our advice and how we deliver this to clients. Our rebranding is a statement of our intent to gain wider recognition as one of the highest quality boutique wealth management businesses in the UK.”

Last month French Duncan Wealth Management achieved the CII’s ‘Chartered Financial Planner’ and added to its team by recruiting Chartered Financial Planners Kenny Stevenson as wealth manager and Peter McGowan as technical Paraplanner.