Wealth management group Sanlam has unveiled Chartered Financial Planner and IFA Ergowealth as the first firm to join its partnership programme.

Founded in 2013, Ergowealth is based in Marlow and was described as “a growing presence across southern England.”

It provides investment and lifestyle Financial Planning services to private clients, businesses, charities, accountants and solicitors.
 
Launched in 2017, Sanlam Partnerships Ltd allows adviser firms to leverage the wider benefits of the Sanlam Group, including:
 
• investment proposition
• global investment research
• specialist technical knowledge
• special products
• business consultancy
• access to capital

Sanlam’s partnership programme will allow Ergowealth to retain ownership of its business and its clients.

The programme also allows adviser firms to draw on Sanlam’s HR, IT and compliance functions.
 
John White, CEO of Sanlam UK’s wealth division, said: “Ergowealth is a high quality and well run business that, like Sanlam, is committed to putting clients first.

“Our partnership programme has been designed to give adviser firms like Ergowealth the tools and support they need to grow while continuing to deliver a relevant, outcome-driven service to their clients.
 
“We are delighted Alastair and his team are the first firm to join our partnership programme and look forward to working together.” 
 
Alastair Whitehead, founder and chief executive of Ergowealth, said: “We bring considerable knowledge and experience to delivering a professional Financial Planning services to private clients.

”Sanlam’s considerable capabilities and resources will enable us to enhance our proposition and to extend it into a wider client community.
 
“At a time of consolidation in the advice market this move secures the longevity of our business.

“We will now be pursuing a growth plan over the next five years through recruitment and acquisition to build Ergowealth into the leading chartered Financial Planning firm in the region.”
 
He added: “Over the last eighteen months we have had conversations with a number of consolidators and investors active in the UK advice market.

“The Sanlam partnership proposition was unique, enabling access to capital to grow without compromising our business model, without prejudicing the interests of our clients or our staff, and without losing control of either the ownership or the management of our business.”