Fast-expanding Nottingham-based Financial Planner Wren Sterling has acquired north east-based advisers Morfitt & Turnbull (Management Services), which has around £270m of client assets.

The acquisition is Wren Sterling’s fourth of 2022, with more deals planned.

The deal is subject to FCA approval but will see Morfitt & Turnbull’s managing director Gareth Shaw and his six-strong team working from Wren Sterling’s new North-West office in Wilmslow.

Wren Sterling has now received authorisation from the FCA to complete a deal announced earlier this year to acquire Mutual Financial Management LLP.

That takeover gave the business a North-West office and discretionary fund management permissions, gained through the acquisition of Mutual Financial Management’s sister company, MFDM LLP.

Former Mutual Financial Management managing partner Austin Hutchinson, will become Wren Sterling’s new regional director, reporting to James Twining, Wren Sterling’s chief executive.

Mr Twining said: “The past few weeks have been busy as we have continued to deliver on our acquisitions strategy, alongside our investments in improving our brand and proposition and simplifying our business.”

“Our goals are to build our national presence, which our new North-West hub will do now that we have received change of control approval, as well as acquire high quality IFA firms to bolster those offices, which we have been able to do with Morfitt & Turnbull.”

Other acquisitions in 2022 include Leamington Spa-based Chartered Financial Planner HB&O Financial Services in October to boost its regional presence in the Midlands.

In July it acquired Oxford-based Critchleys Financial Planning from accountancy firm Critchleys LLP.

Wren Sterling has also appointed Rory McPherson as chief investment officer, primarily to oversee the development of Wren Sterling Group’s new discretionary fund management. McPherson was previously at Punter Southall Wealth, where he was head of investment strategy, and before that, Russell Investments.

Mr Twining said: “Rory has a key role to play in developing the DFM capability the Group has through our acquisition of MFDM and ensuring that it delivers value for clients.”