An investment management firm has expanded its Financial Planning team because of "increased appetite for high quality expertise" among consumers.

Tilney Bestinvest has made Neil Watson regional director of Financial Planning for the Midlands, while Ross Elliott has been hired as a Financial Planner to cover Bedford, Cambridge, Flitwick and Shefford.

The company said the appointments mark a milestone in the group's expansion plans for its 40-strong UK wide Financial Planning team.
Richard Dawes, managing director of Financial Planning at Tilney Bestinvest, said: "We are delighted to have hired Ross and to announce that Neil has taken on a regional role to develop our business in the Midlands.
"Expanding our Financial Planning team is a key strategic priority for Tilney Bestinvest as we see increased appetite for high quality financial planning expertise across the UK."

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Mr Elliott joins Tilney Bestinvest from Natwest where he was specialist financial advice manager and senior private investment manager.
Previous to this, he worked for HSBC where he provided holistic Financial Planning for HSBC Premier high net worth clients. Ross holds the Diploma of Financial Planning.
Mr Watson has over 28 years of experience in the financial services industry and joined Tilney Bestinvest as a result of its acquisition of Haines Watts Financial Services in 2011.
Prior to this he was a director of wealth management business Rocheberie Consulting.
He has also held roles at The Royal Bank of Scotland where he was private banking manager and at HSBC Private Clients where he was a business development manager.
Mr Watson has a Diploma in Financial Planning, and holds the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate and Equity Release Standalone Qualification.