History
October 2000
LighthouseGroup was launched on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on 27th October
2000 as a specialist Wealth Management Advisory Company.
Since this time Lighthouse has undergone significant strategic development which has
enabled it to retain its position as a market leader in the financial services industry
whilst providing it with a solid base for the future.
April 2002
In order to increase the scale of the Group, Lighthouse acquired West Country based
Berkeley Wodehouse Associates (BWA) a regulated network of IFA's.
BWA has since been re-branded as
LighthouseXpress
October 2002
The Group swiftly follow the BWA acquisition by securing the mandate to recruit from Canada
Life their direct sales force following Canada Life's decision to withdraw from the tied
sector.
June 2003
In June 2003 LighthouseGroup acquired certain assets, together with the right to recruit
the advisers from RJ Temple Plc which established for Lighthouse a new National IFA
operation known as Temple Financial Planning from which circa 150 financial planning
consultants and managers operate throughout the UK providing bespoke financial planning
advice.
Temple Financial Planning has been subsequently re-branded - LighthouseTemple - and remains the Group's national division for self employed IFAs.
July 2004
The Group announces it has entered into joint venture arrangements with The Personal Group
PLC. This represents a significant entry for Lighthouse into the provision of IFA advice to
corporate entities, with an organisation which has been active in this area for some time.
September 2004
LighthouseGroup Board announces that it has recruited 34 advisers previously authorised by
Broadstone (I.F.A.) Limited.
LighthouseGroup establishes
LighthouseWealth
division aimed at IFAs who specialise in
providing wealth management services to High Net Worth clients. LighthouseWealth offers
bespoke advice to High Net Worth City based clients operating from our prestigious office
location in the heart of the City of London.
November 2005
LighthouseGroup undertake a complete re-brand which harmonises the divisions within the
group and streamlines the Lighthouse brand.
December 2005
Lighthouse acquires Carrwood Group. Carrwood Group, now LighthouseCarrwood, provides financial services to the clients of accountancy and professional services practices. The acquisition incorporates 45 advisers and 80 associations with accountancy practices into the group.
The Carrwood Group acquisition also brings City Trustees and Group Employee Benefits into the Group. City Trustees Ltd provide trustee and administration services for Small Self Administered Schemes (SSAS) and also Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP) working in tandem with the whole of the IFA market, accountancy firms and solicitors.
Group Employee Benefits, now operating as a separate division, focusses on the the group personal pension and associated protection products market.
March 2007
LV= outsources its customer requirements for independent financial advice to Lighthouse. 20 of the IFAs formerly employed by LV= join LighthouseTemple. A large client base with annualised recurring income of a value to Lighthouse in excess of £1m is also transferred to the Group. In return Lighthouse paid approximately £1m in new Lighthouse shares. LV= also subscribed for a 5% shareholding in Lighthouse for cash.
May 2008
The Group merges with another AIM listed IFA and Wealth management Group, Sumus plc, creating the UK's largest autonomous IFA and Wealth management group.
The acquisition brings major benefits in terms of scale and resources to the group as well as SUMUS plc's operating divisions in particular:
Falcon Group plc, a Bristol based national IFA and network
FSAS, a Scottish based IFA network