Corporate adviser Mackenzie Taylor launches financial planning arm

Employee benefits specialist Mackenzie Taylor Benefits Consultants has launched a financial planning division.

The division will be led by Antony Pearse (pictured above right), previously an IFA with former New Model Adviser® cover star firm Clay Rogers & Partners, and George Koulloupas, who was a business development consultant at life company Aegon.

Bristol and London-based Mackenzie Taylor decided to launch the financial planning arm after being approached by Pearse and Koulloupas.

Pearse, at 31, is the youngest adviser to have achieved fellowship status with the Institute of Financial Planning and chartered status with the Chartered Insurance Institute. He said due to the current regulatory climate there were not many young advisers setting up their own businesses.

‘We were aware of virtually no young advisers setting up in the market place due to the risks associated with the retail distribution review (RDR) and saw this as a potential differentiator to our business,’ said Pearse.

‘Setting up the business was a target in itself, but we also have an aggressive, although realistic, business plan for the next 11 months.’