London business advisory firm acquires Devon-based pension specialist

Moore Kingston Smith has acquired Devon-based  Pilot Financial, a workplace pensions, employee benefits and financial planning consultancy.

The acquisition follows the recent announcement of investment from European private equity firm Waterland in the business to fund an ambitious M&A programme in the UK as part of its growth and thought leadership strategy.

Pilot Financial is one of the education sector’s leading professional advisers. Pilot Financial’s specialist team will join the firm’s existing financial planning team, Moore Kingston Smith Financial Advisers.

Managing partner of Moore Kingston Smith, Maureen Penfold, said: “Following our recent investment partnership with Waterland, we are ready to take our ambitious growth plans to the next level and expand our capabilities to clients by offering additional service lines as well as broader solutions. We are therefore thrilled to welcome Ian Thomas and his team to Moore Kingston Smith.  Not only do we share a vision for the sustainable growth and success of our people and our clients, but this addition also complements our existing offering for private clients and organisations in the Education sector, a space we have been fully committed to supporting for many years.”

Joining Moore Kingston Smith will enable Pilot Financial, which was co-founded by Ian Thomas in 2011, to scale significantly.

Thomas said: “We are very excited to be joining Moore Kingston Smith at a time when the firm is taking the next steps in its growth journey, boosted by its partnership with Waterland. Moore Kingston Smith has expertise in a multitude of disciplines which will enable us to offer our clients a greatly enhanced range of services, as well as provide greater opportunity and support for our people. The global reach afforded through the firm’s connections and membership of the Moore Global network will be a wonderful extension to our client offering.”