Atomos has acquired MWA Financial as it continues to build a larger national footprint in financial planning and advice.

The transaction brings together Atomos’s scale, institutional investment capabilities and operational infrastructure with MWA’s entrepreneurial culture and focus on growth.

For Atomos, the deal adds another established financial planning business to its broader growth strategy, while MWA gains access to the resources and infrastructure of a larger organisation.

Bringing different strengths together

Atomos said the two businesses share a common approach to holistic financial planning, long-term stewardship of client wealth and investment in people, technology and innovation.

Jonathan Polin, CEO of Atomos, said MWA had built an exceptional business with a strong culture, outstanding people and a clear commitment to high-quality financial planning.

He added that early discussions highlighted a shared view of the future of advice and what a modern planning business should look like.

For MWA, the opportunity to join Atomos was also influenced by its leadership and the wider group’s ambition to build a leading UK financial planning business.

Culture remains part of the equation

Cam Banks, founder and CEO of MWA, said the opportunity to work alongside the Atomos leadership team was a major attraction. He also highlighted Atomos’s combination of high-quality advice, client outcomes and the scale to invest in the future.

The comments from both businesses underline the importance placed on cultural alignment alongside the more tangible benefits of a larger organisation.

For an acquiring group, bringing an established business into its organisation is not simply about adding clients or assets. The people, culture and approach that have helped build the business also form part of what the buyer is acquiring.

What this means for owners

For financial planning business owners considering their longer-term succession plans, the Atomos and MWA transaction highlights the importance of looking beyond the headline terms of a potential deal.

A buyer’s resources and infrastructure may be important, but so too are its approach to clients, people, investment and the future development of the business.

These considerations can help determine whether a buyer’s proposition is genuinely aligned with the objectives of the owner and the business.

For owners who are not yet ready to enter the market, understanding the different types of buyers and what they are looking for can also form an important part of longer-term preparation.

At Gunner & Co., we help financial planning and wealth management business owners assess their options, identify appropriate buyers and prepare for a transaction around their own objectives.

If you’re considering succession planning or would like to understand how buyers may view your business, click here to book a free confidential consultation and discuss your options.