MWA Financial adds Wiltshire-based IFA Hawthorn Financial Services
- Simon Bourke
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
28th April 2026
Deal summary
MWA Financial has completed its acquisition of Hawthorn Financial Services, a pensions and investment planning firm based in Westbury, Wiltshire.
The transaction brings more than 70 client families and £26 million in assets under advice (AUA) into the MWA group. Founder Derek Avenell has joined MWA as an adviser with immediate effect.
The deal was supported by MWA's existing capital partners, Frontier Development Capital (FDC) and Coniston Capital, whose combined investment in the business underpins its ongoing acquisition programme. Following the deal, MWA now serves nearly 2,500 clients across multiple UK locations, overseeing approximately £950 million of assets under advice.
About MWA Financial
MWA Financial was founded in 2016 by CEO Campbell Banks, with the aim of building a leading UK financial advice business centred on holistic planning and long-term client outcomes. The firm is backed by private equity investor Coniston Capital, which took a minority stake in 2023, and specialist lender Frontier Development Capital, which extended a £7.5 million funding facility to the group in late 2024. Ed Rosengarten serves as executive chairman, bringing senior leadership experience from Smith & Williamson and M&G, where he was CEO of the firm's equity business. Following the Hawthorn transaction, MWA serves close to 2,500 clients across multiple UK locations, overseeing approximately £950 million in AUA and employing more than 50 staff.
About Hawthorn Financial Services
Hawthorn Financial Services is an independent financial advice practice based in Westbury, Wiltshire, offering services across pensions, savings and investments. The firm was founded and run by Derek Avenell, who brings more than two decades of FCA-regulated advisory experience.
Why is MWA Financial acquiring Hawthorn Financial Services?
MWA's strategy centres on acquiring high-quality regional IFA firms and integrating them onto a single holistic advice platform, with cultural fit and client quality taking precedence over size. The Hawthorn deal fits that pattern closely, and it illustrates a broader dynamic shaping the current consolidation market: the "sell and stay" arrangement, where the founding adviser remains with the business post-completion to ease the transition of clients into the new firm.
What happens next?
Derek Avenell will join MWA as an adviser with immediate effect.
What this deal means for IFA owners considering a sale
The Hawthorn transaction is a useful acquisition to look at for any IFA owner weighing up their options. It is a small, single-adviser practice with a loyal client base and a founder who chose to sell while remaining active in the business.
For firm owners, the practical takeaway is that acquirers are open to a range of structures, including arrangements where the selling adviser continues advising clients post-completion. Getting independent advice before entering any process remains important: consolidators operate with experienced M&A teams and access to capital, and sellers benefit from understanding their options and their firm’s value before any conversation begins.
For IFA owners considering a sale, this makes early preparation crucial. Chapters Capital has various resources on selling an IFA business, from how to prepare to sell your financial advice firm, to how long it takes to sell a financial planning firm, and the differences between asset sales vs share sales.
MWA Financial's other recent acquisitions
Stonewood Financial Planning — December 2025
MWA acquired the Market Harborough office of Stonewood Financial Planning, adding £53 million in AUA and more than 100 client family units. All staff joined MWA as part of the transaction, supported by FDC and Coniston Capital.
Knighthood Financial Advice (KFA) — May 2024
MWA acquired KFA, a former Tenet appointed representative firm founded in 2014, adding approximately £100 million in AUA. KFA's three advisers and support staff remained with the business and rebranded as MWA Financial Advice. The deal was MWA's first using Coniston's fresh capital following the 2023 investment.
Asset Management Advice (AMA) — May 2024
Completed alongside the KFA deal, MWA acquired the assets of AMA, a Hungerford-based IFA.
Considering your next chapter?
At Chapters Capital, we specialise in financial planning and wealth management M&A.
Whether you are considering a sale, merger, or want to learn more about buyers in the space, please contact one of our professional associates today for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.
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