Two firms of Chartered Financial Planners in East Anglia - Smith & Pinching and Almary Green - are to merge, creating a business with 125 staff.

A move of this kind had been expected for some time after talks to sell Almary Green to Standard Life’s Financial Planning arm 1825 fell through in 2016.

The combined firm will be one of the largest IFA groups in East Anglia with a total staff of 125 people including 35 advisers, 18 with Chartered Financial Planner status and more studying for this designation.

The firms have already worked together on a number of projects over the past three years and say the directors shared “a similar culture and ethos.”

David Hughff, managing director of Smith & Pinching, said: “This move strengthens our presence in the region and as we move towards completely combining the two firms, we will be aligning processes and learning from each other to provide a solid platform for future growth.”

“This reinforces our status as one of the largest regional firms of Chartered Financial Planners in the East of England.”

Almary Green’s managing director Carl Lamb will join the Smith & Pinching board and will work with David Hughff and Scott Pinching to develop a joint client proposition. 

Mr Lamb said: “This is great news for clients of both firms. By pooling our expertise and resources, we can bring greater choice and flexibility. 

“For example, Almary Green clients will be given immediate access to Smith & Pinching’s highly successful Discretionary Investment Management service.”

The first stage of the merger will be to share premises, support teams and back-office resources. 

Both firms will operate from Smith & Pinching’s current Aylsham Road premises with effect from Monday 8 October. 

Almary Green’s Lowestoft services will relocate to Smith & Pinching’s Lowestoft branch – Park View Financial Planning in Mobbs Way. 

Clients in the Wisbech area will be able to meet their adviser in Almary Green’s space in the offices of Wheelers Accountants.