Expanding Chartered Financial Planner and wealth manager Advanta Wealth has opened a new office in Dundee as part of its growth plans.

The move will also involve absorbing local adviser firm Ann Bellingham Financial Services.

Advanta Wealth, which has strong links to professional football, has also appointed Chartered Financial Planner Susan Bennett FPFS as a regional director.

The firm now has offices in Glasgow, London and Dundee.

Advanta made six acquisitions in 2022 and is actively seeking acquisitions in 2023 after receiving “significant investment” from Beech Tree Private Equity. Beech Tree Private Equity invests between £10m and £35m in any one business.

The new Dundee office is in Prospect House on the Prospect Business Centre, enabling a transfer of clients from local adviser Ann Bellingham Financial Services to Advanta.

Ms Bennett said: “Prospect House is part of the heritage of Dundee and in a quirk of history is a building associated with Blairgowrie-based Ann Bellingham Financial Services which is currently in the process of transferring its clients to Advanta Wealth.”

“With the challenges that today’s economic climate presents, Advanta believes that an advice firm should be able to deliver high quality solutions across all aspects of personal finance ranging from mortgages, through to savings, tax planning, investments and general insurance risks."   

The client team in Dundee will be supported by more than 30 team members in the firm’s Glasgow office and the resources of the team in London, she said.

Mark Pearson, chief commercial officer, said: “Dundee is a city with a rich history and where we see the council has a desire to regenerate the centre; we see ourselves becoming part of that journey. As one of the official partners of the PFA Scotland we already have a working relationship with the city’s football teams and look forward to a greater working relationship with the people and employers of Dundee.”

Advanta Solutions is the holding company for Advanta Wealth and includes Advanta Mortgages, Advanta Invest and Advanta Risk.

Recent hires to the executive team include Mark Cliff as non executive chair, Mark Pearson as chief commercial officer (previously director business development at Origen Financial Services) and Ali Emamy as chief financial officer (previously finance director at NEST).