Brewin Dolphin makes Dundee acquisition

Wealth manager Brewin Dolphin has completed an acquisition for its Dundee office with the purchase of the financial planning and investment assets of local business Clark Thomson MortgageFinders Ltd.

The purchase price is not being disclosed.

It marks a significant move for the Brewin Dolphin Dundee office to further grow its financial planning and investment management services, with the addition of 150 clients.

The acquisition came about as a result of a longstanding professional relationship between David Hogg, one of the directors and owners of Clark Thomson Mortgagefinders Limited, and the head of Brewin Dolphin’s Dundee office, Ian MacDonald. David Hogg is set to retire after 35 years in the industry.

David Hogg, owner and director, Clark Thomson Mortgagefinders Limited, said: “I was very keen to make sure I found the best local outlet for my clients and had no hesitation in recommending Brewin Dolphin to them. They are a financially strong company with a local presence. I had also known Ian for many years and was confident the Dundee team would take good care of my clients.

“Being the only investment adviser at Clark Thomson MortgageFinders Ltd meant there were limited options for us, and so with three experienced financial planners in the Brewin Dolphin Dundee team, this means they can offer professional advice and a wider range of services.”

“As I am retiring, the acquisition does not involve taking on any employees, who will remain with Clark Thomson Mortgagefinders Limited, giving advice on mortgages and non-investment life insurance policies, which is headed up by owner/director Maureen Dye.”

Ian MacDonald, head of Brewin Dolphin’s Dundee office, said: “As people’s financial lives become more complex, and the economic climate more uncertain, we have seen an increasing need for trusted and expert advisers to take the strain from those who need help with their finances. We are keen to continue serving the financial needs of our local clients, with the strength and influence of the Brewin Dolphin name behind us.

He added: “I have known David Hogg for over 25 years and have every confidence that he ran a quality business. Our styles and philosophy are very similar, and I saw his clientele as being a good fit for us”.

Brewin Dolphin’s Dundee office was established in 1998 and currently has a team of 13 encompassing three fully-qualified financial planners, including new financial planner Blair Moffat, and three investment managers. The company also recently hired paraplanner Atif Khalid.