Nucleus Financial Platforms, one of the UK’s independent, adviser platform groups has announced the completion of the acquisition of Third Financial, following regulatory approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in May this year.
Third Financial is an investment platform and front-to-back wealth management software provider, “serving discretionary wealth managers, multi-family offices, and adviser consolidators.”
This acquisition significantly expands Nucleus’s capability in “the ‘adviser-as-a-platform’ space.”
It’s now the only large-scale platform group “with a comprehensive range of bespoke platform solutions for advice and wealth management firms of all shapes and sizes.”
Richard Rowney, Chief Executive Officer of Nucleus, said:
“We’re delighted to have successfully completed the acquisition and officially welcome our new Third Financial colleagues to the group. At the heart of our offer is the fact that one size doesn’t fit all, and by combining the businesses we can now develop bespoke platform solutions for any client. We look forward to the next chapter in our growth journey with the integration of Third, and to developing the opportunities opening up to us to serve the wider wealth sector.”
Ian Partington, Chief Executive of Third Financial, “continues to lead the business reporting to Mike Regan, Chief Commercial Officer of Nucleus.”
Ian Partington, Chief Executive of Third Financial, added:
“Exceptional service, innovation, and deep knowledge of the financial advice and wealth management market have always been our core values. These are shared by Nucleus and we look forward to the opportunities ahead as part of a larger group.”
The group is now entrusted “with £97bn of assets under administration (AUA).”
Third Financial’s software service supports “the administration of a further £40bn of assets.”
As noted in the update, the Nucleus Financial Platforms group “offers investment platforms and products exclusively to financial advisers, that ultimately help make retirement more rewarding.”
Known for its SIPP expertise, James Hay Partnership has been “working with larger financial advisory groups for more than 40 years, providing the means to administer pensions, savings and investments in a cost and tax efficient way.”
Their platform Nucleus was founded in 2006 by advisers committed “to altering the balance of power in the industry by putting the customer centre stage.”
Curtis Banks is one of the UK’s largest administrators of SIPP and SSAS solutions for customers and businesses.
It is one of Europe’s largest commercial property landlords, “a specialist area for self-invested pensions. The business maintains a focus on providing high levels of technical support, robust service, modern technology and innovation.”
Together they’re one of the UK’s independent, adviser platform and product groups, “with approximately £97 billion in assets under administration, helping nearly 5,500 advisers make retirement more rewarding for almost 235,000 customers.”
As mentioned in the announcement, Third Financial is the UK’s investment platform for the thinking wealth adviser and manager.
It brings together its own technology and the expertise of “over 100 industry professionals within a culture of exceptional client service.”
It provides the core processing, asset servicing and market connectivity “for the management of over £50bn of assets.” It delivers a full digital experience to wealth professionals and their clients “with the reassurance of friendly and expert support when required.”