Reading-based outsourced Paraplanning firm Argonaut Paraplanning has merged with JW Paraplanning.
The firm, which will continue to be known as Argonaut Paraplanning, will see Alan Gow and Julie Pipe CFP^CM become co-directors.
Ms Pipe set up JW Paraplanning, based in nearby Bracknell, in November 2012 following a role as Paraplanning team leader at Petrus Financial Services.
Mr Gow said he had been looking to expand following an increase in new business.
He said: "I found I was spending more time running the business than I was doing Paraplanning and I wanted someone who worked the same way as me. I found Julie just clicked so we started working together and completed the merger in July."
The firm is now looking to take on more staff but Mr Gow said this would happen "one at a time" as the company grew.
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He said he thought the RDR had been the catalyst for the increase with more firms choosing to outsource work.
"We've had a lot of enquiries and I expect that's the same across the board, the same as a lot of other outsourced companies who just don't have the capacity.
"RDR caused advisers to focus on the needs of their business. People are looking to cut costs and there's a lot of people moving around at the moment. People are finding it hard to recruit good staff."
Mr Gow said he preferred to work on long-term relationships and that firms were finding it was more cost-effective to use an outsourced firm than hire a Paraplanner.
"People are telling us that they didn't know this type of service existed and that it works well for their business." 

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