Fairstone completes £170m AUM Sussex IFA acquisition
7th October 2026
Deal summary
Fairstone has completed its acquisition of Foundation Financial Planning, a Haywards Heath-based financial advice firm with £170m in client assets under management.
The West Sussex business has four financial advisers and a support team, serving more than 400 clients across southern England, the majority of whom are based in West Sussex.
The acquisition follows Foundation Financial Planning's entry into Fairstone's Downstream Buy Out (DBO) programme in December 2024.
About Fairstone
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Sunderland, Fairstone is a financial planning and wealth management group backed by private equity firm TA Associates.
The group operates from more than 50 locations across the UK and Ireland, employs over 1,450 people and manages more than £23bn in client assets.
Fairstone's acquisition strategy centres on its DBO programme, through which it takes an initial minority stake in an advice business and provides investment, operational resources and regulatory support ahead of a full acquisition.
About Foundation Financial Planning
Established in 1998, Foundation Financial Planning provides financial planning and wealth management services, including investment management, pensions, mortgages, tax planning and estate planning.
The firm is led by Chartered Financial Planner Gianni Campopiano, who has remarked on the benefits of joining Fairstone, including access to a broader range of investment products and research capabilities while maintaining the firm's local presence in Haywards Heath.
Why is Fairstone acquiring Foundation Financial Planning?
The acquisition strengthens Fairstone's presence in the South East, particularly within the commuter belt between London and Brighton.
Rob McDonnell, Fairstone's Managing Director for the South, identified Haywards Heath as an area with strong demand for personal financial planning. He also pointed to opportunities to expand Fairstone's corporate financial advice offering among businesses in the region.
The transaction forms part of Fairstone's wider expansion strategy, which includes targeting established financial planning practices in the South of England through its DBO programme.
Fairstone's other recent acquisitions
Ferguson Hill Asset Management – August 2026
Fairstone acquired Belfast-based Ferguson Hill Asset Management, adding approximately £135m in client assets. The firm, led by principal Stephen Hill, had entered Fairstone's DBO programme in March 2024.
Grainger Financial Planning – July 2026
Fairstone completed the acquisition of Sunderland-based Grainger Financial Planning, which manages approximately £120m for almost 400 clients. The firm first joined the DBO programme in May 2024.
Riverstone Wealth Management – July 2026
Acquired alongside Grainger, Morpeth-based Riverstone Wealth Management manages £63m in client assets and advises more than 65 clients. The firm also entered Fairstone's DBO programme in May 2024.
Considering your next chapter?
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For a confidential conversation about valuation, buyer fit or your route to market, contact our team.
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