Beaufort Financial, the national partnership of independent financial advisers, has added two are Midlands firms, in Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire.

In Worcestershire, Robert Burns, who has 30 years experience working in a financial environment including 14 years based in Spain, has joined the partnership and set up a new firm, Beaufort Financial (Worcester).

Mr Burns said: “I decided to come back to the UK and set up my own Financial Planning business.

“My approach is all about lifestyle Financial Planning and I want to help my clients achieve their personal and professional goals.

“Before becoming an adviser, I trained as an accountant and have a ten to 15 year plan to grow the business with the support of Beaufort Financial.

“I opted to join the partnership because of its friendly and flexible, family-like approach.

“I wish to be independent and offer whole of market solutions and the support I will receive from new business lead generational to marketing and in due course Paraplanning and compliance from Beaufort is very compelling.”

Beaufort Group's executive chairman, Simon Goldthorpe, said: “In addition to welcoming established firms to our partnership, we are also keen to help start ups and provide all the infrastructure and support that someone like Robert, an experienced adviser seeking a fresh challenge, needs.

“We foresee a long-term partnership with Robert and look forward to helping him grow his business.

“We are half-way to establishing 25 centres of excellence throughout the country and we have plans to welcome another four or five firms to the group this year.”

In Nottinghamshire a new office in Stanton on the Wolds will be headed up by Gurmit Nahal, who has 15 years' experience in the financial services sector.

Mr Goldthorpe added: “Opening an office in Nottingham is an important step in our strategy of measured growth.

“Gurmit comes with a very good reputation in the area and we will provide her with the backing to grow the business, concentrating on high net worth private clients.

“We now have 16 member firms in the partnership and plan to add three or four more by the end of the year.”