Leading Financial Planner Amyr Rocha Lima and fellow planner Ian Cooke have launched a new Financial Planning practice in Surrey and announced the acquisition of another Financial Planning firm.

The new firm, launched with support from Benchmark Capital, is based in the centre of Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, and is called Strategic Wealth Partners.

As part of the launch Strategic Wealth Partners has acquired Kingswood Financial, a firm founded by Graham Day, a Chartered Financial Planner and Certified Financial Planner with over 30 years of experience.

The acquisition has added approximately £45 million in assets under management and an additional 50 client families.

Mr Rocha Lima is chairman of the CISI’s Financial Planning Forum Committee and is a well known Financial Planning professional. He writes a regular column for Financial Planning Today magazine and is a frequent speaker at planning conferences. He also runs a podcast focused on local business people.

Mr Rocha has worked in the Financial Planning profession for over a decade and is a Chartered and Certified Financial Planner. He previously worked at Holland Hahn & Wills LLP in Hampton Wick for over five years, leaving at the end of 2022 to work on his new venture.

The focus of Strategic Wealth will be successful professionals over 50, and people who have been recently bereaved. They will be offered a comprehensive Financial Planning service. The firm also plans to work with HNW clients throughout the UK.

Mr Rocha Lima said: “Our approach is all about comprehensive planning, from tax minimisation and smart, data-driven investment strategies to tailored retirement planning."

The new firm will also launch the 'Strategic Wealth Portal', a client gateway, “where technology meets human empathy.” It will help provide an “integrated experience” to clients.

The firm will use the SEI investment platform and will include a range of in-house, low-cost, globally-diversified investment portfolios and provide to clients a consolidated view of budgeting and cashflow planning integrated with open banking.

Amyr Rocha Lima, co-founder and managing director of Strategic Wealth Partners, added: "We're thrilled to launch Strategic Wealth Partners and offer a new option for high-net-worth individuals approaching retirement and those who have been recently bereaved. Our goal is to help our clients make smart financial decisions in order to achieve their most cherished life goals.”

Mr Cooke, co-founder and co-director, said:"We would like to express our gratitude to Benchmark Capital for their assistance and support throughout our platform selection process. Furthermore, their expertise has been instrumental in helping us develop and implement our cutting-edge, data-driven investment solutions. We are grateful for their commitment to our vision and for providing us with the resources to bring our innovative firm to fruition."

Mr Day, managing director of Kingswood Financial, said: "We are thrilled to join forces with two of the UK's leading and most well-respected Financial Planners. This acquisition is great news for our clients, bringing greater strength, depth, and continuity to the consolidated business."