The £1.4bn finance company with eyes on Plymouth
Cardan Wealth Management, a Taunton-based firm within Cardan Financial Group, is accelerating its growth across the South West and has Plymouth firmly in its sights. With around 5,000 clients and approximately £1.4bn under management across the wider group, the business is planning new offices in the region and expects Plymouth and Truro to be among the next locations.
Expanding across the South West
The firm has been growing by acquiring and integrating established financial advice businesses, including those led by advisers considering retirement. Rather than selling to large private equity-backed consolidators, Cardan positions itself as a client-first alternative focused on continuity of service and local relationships.
The company has already completed an acquisition in Plymouth, bringing a small local advice practice into the fold. Those clients remain served by locally based advisers rather than distant call centres, underscoring Cardan’s emphasis on community presence. The team is exploring options to hire staff directly for new offices or to partner with existing firms and scale them up.
Client-first ethos, not just for the ultra-wealthy
While Cardan does work with some high-net-worth individuals—including a minority with portfolios exceeding £20m—their client base is deliberately broad. Typical clients include headteachers, small business owners, accountants, and solicitors. The leadership stresses that tailored financial planning should be accessible to a wide range of people, not just the super rich.
This inclusive approach underpins the firm’s expansion strategy: deliver sophisticated planning capabilities while remaining approachable and locally grounded.
Independent and regionally attuned
Cardan’s leaders describe the firm as fiercely independent, with a focus on decisions that reflect local needs and nuances. They argue that financial planning in Plymouth or Taunton often looks different from the approach in London, and that advice should adapt accordingly. The company’s guiding principle is simple: put people before profit and maintain the personal touch that builds long-term trust.
Conservative risk stance and comprehensive services
Cardan is cautious by design when it comes to investment risk. The firm avoids high-risk strategies and steers clear of cryptocurrency. Instead, it provides a broad suite of planning and advice services aimed at long-term outcomes and resilience.
Areas of support include:
- Mortgages and property-related advice
- Later-life planning and equity release
- Collective investments, including diversified funds with equity exposure
- Inheritance Tax planning, which the firm sees as a growing priority
Risk assessments are central to the firm’s process, with holistic guidance that balances goals, timelines, and comfort with volatility. The emphasis is on being available, providing hands-on support, and guiding clients through market cycles and life changes.
Experienced leadership and a growing team
The Cardan Wealth Management leadership includes chief executive Alex Morley and senior partner Andrew Hennah, alongside partner Simon Reeve, Clarisa McBride, and Tracey McLoughlin, who is based in Australia. The team brings decades of experience; Hennah, for example, previously served as a managing director at another financial company for 16 years and has client relationships spanning more than three decades.
This depth of experience informs the firm’s culture: continuity of advice, rigorous planning standards, and a commitment to long-term client outcomes.
Investing in future talent
Cardan is actively working to widen access to careers in financial planning, with a particular focus on recruiting young people and women into the profession. The company supports structured pathways to help newcomers progress toward chartered planner status, combining study, mentorship, and on-the-job experience. The aim is to build a diverse and future-ready advisory team that reflects the communities it serves.
What’s next for Plymouth and beyond
With momentum building across the South West, Cardan is preparing for a physical presence in Plymouth and expects to establish an office in Truro as well. Whether through new hires or by partnering with existing local firms, the approach remains consistent: keep advice local, maintain independence, and put clients at the centre of every decision.
As the company extends its footprint from Bristol to Land’s End, its leaders believe a regionally attuned, client-first model will continue to resonate—particularly among those seeking the reassurance of face-to-face advice and a measured approach to managing wealth.
