A firm of Chartered Financial Planners set up 21 years ago by one man in his bedroom has reported a 20 per cent rise in annual turnover and its sixth consecutive year of growth.

Equilibrium Asset Management, founded by Colin Lawson, announced its turnover for 2016 was £6,003,198. The firm expanded its client base by an extra 85 families over the year – bringing its total to 850 families with over £595 million worth of assets.

The strong financial performance has allowed it to expand its number of staff by 20 per cent.

The Cheshire-based firm, which offers wealth and investment planning, pensions and inheritance tax advice to high net worth individuals, said it won over £90 million in new assets in the last 12 months.

Mr Lawson told Financial Planning Today magazine: “I set up the business from my own back bedroom in 1995 – so it’s a big year for us this year as we’re celebrating 21 years in business. Since the very early days things have changed immeasurably as I’m sure you can imagine.

“Yet again we’ve enjoyed a fantastic year of strong growth; it’s particularly pleasing that it also falls as we celebrate our 21st anniversary as a business.”

Mr Lawson speaks to Financial Planning Today magazine in depth about how he began his firm and grew it into a successful outfit in the next issue - due out next week. See below for how to read a copy.

Mr Lawson, whose early career included jobs with Norwich Union and Britannia Life, said: “Though global financial markets have proven particularly volatile over the past year, we’ve been agile enough to make key decisions, such as pulling funds out of UK commercial property in the wake of Brexit, to protect our clients’ interests and ensure they continue to see their savings grow.

“This is reflected in the fact they over the past year we’ve achieved a 99 per cent client retention rate, and expanded our Chester office due to increased demand for our services.”

Mr Lawson said: “Our annual results really are the icing on the cake of what has been a momentous year for everyone involved with Equilibrium.”

During the year, The Equilibrium Foundation raised £125,000 – putting it half way towards a target of £250,000 for good causes by the end of 2020.

The second issue of Financial Planning Today, our new 40-page digital magazine, is available to our email newsletter subscribers and is packed with news, features and comment for Financial Planners, Paraplanners and Wealth Managers.  

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The new editorially-independent digital magazine has exclusive content produced by a team of experienced financial journalists in London.

Financial Planning Today's second issue includes:

• Entrepreneurial Paraplanner Cathi Harrison on her growing business and her confidence in Paraplanning's future
• Comment on the heated Cashflow Modelling debate from the CISI's Campbell Edgar and Financial Planner Julie Lord
• Insights from PFS chief executive Keith Richard and Succession boss Simon Chamberlain
• Exclusive Report on Platforms post the Cofunds takeover - including Cofunds comments on planners' concerns 
• New Investment and DFM section, with analysis from senior fund managers at Lombard Odier and Architas plus 180+ DFM providers listed
• A special News Report on Sipps after the capital adequacy reforms
• News summaries, company news, professional body events coming up...

And much more too...

The magazine has been launched by Portfolio Publishing, publishers of Financial Planning Today and Sipps Professional websites, both of which carry daily news to thousands of professional financial advisers. 

Financial Planning Today Publisher & Editor Kevin O’Donnell said: “Our first issue was extremely well received and we're delighted to offer the only publication aimed exclusively at professional Financial Planners, Paraplanners and Wealth Managers. Our second issue is packed with features, analysis, comment and business tips. 

"Readers can also click on much of the exclusive content in the magazine to learn more. We believe it's an invaluable read for all professional advisers who want to keep up with their profession and learn from their peers. The emphasis is very much on professional and business growth and readers have told us they value this hugely."

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