Bristol-based Financial Planning business Brunel Wealth has merged with Chartered Financial Planner firm North Star Wealth Management of Southampton.

With the deal, Brunel Wealth will welcome experienced Financial Planner Ria Bedford, owner of North Star Wealth Management, as Financial Planning director for the merged firm.

Ms Bedford, who has 17 years’ experience in financial services, joins an established team including planners Carl Tuttiett (formerly Tilney), Alex Nicklin (formerly Tilney) and managing director Iain Black (also formerly at Tilney).

This year, she has been announced as a finalist in the Financial Adviser of the Year (South West) and Woman of the Year – Investment Advice categories for the Women in Financial Advice awards 2020.

She said: “The success already achieved by the wider Brunel Group and its people, as well as the experience and successes achieved individually by the team brought together under Brunel Wealth, means I have every confidence that together we will continue to build an incredible wealth management service.

“I am very happy to have been asked to be a part of it.”

Brunel Wealth was established in 2020 as part of the insurance broker and Financial Planning firm Brunel Group. Chartered Insurance Broker Brunel Group entered the Financial Planning sector earlier this year with the launch of an independent business called Brunel Wealth.

Iain Black, managing director of Brunel Wealth and formerly at Tilney, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ria Bedford to the Brunel Wealth team. Ria has had an extremely successful career within financial services and when discussing our vision at Brunel Wealth with her, she was keen to be part of it. Her skills and experience complement the existing team and bring further quality to our offering.”