1st Financial Group
1st Financial Group is a financial firm that provides independent financial, mortgage, and insurance advice.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersTaunton, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 1st Financial Group does
Fairstone Group Ltd, operating under the 1st Financial Group brand, is a UK-headquartered independent wealth management firm founded in 2001. The company delivers whole-of-market financial advice, investment management, and financial planning services through a network of more than 50 locations across the UK and Ireland, with registered headquarters in Sunderland and regional offices including a Taunton office serving Somerset, Devon and Dorset. Its service portfolio spans investment planning, investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, mortgage and equity release advice, financial protection, and corporate financial planning and employee benefits, supplemented by dedicated sub-brands Fairstone Private Wealth (for high-net-worth clients) and Mineral by Fairstone.
The business model is built on three revenue streams: recurring advisory and subscription-based retainer fees for ongoing financial planning services, asset-based management fees on £20 billion of funds under management, and transaction-based commissions on mortgage and equity release placements. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer through face-to-face adviser consultations, supplemented by telephone-based inside sales and an online "Match me to an adviser" enquiry system. A professional partnership/introducer programme extends client acquisition via referral networks.
The company's regulatory and brand positioning underpins its competitive position: three FCA-authorized regulated entities (Fairstone Financial Management Ltd, Fairstone Wealth Management Ltd, Fairstone Private Wealth Ltd), Chartered Financial Planning status through affiliation with the Chartered Insurance Institute, eight consecutive years of Defaqto 5-star ratings on managed investment portfolios, and a "number one rated wealth management house" designation on Trustpilot. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary technology stack, or funded growth signals are disclosed in the source data, and headcount for the Taunton-listed entity is reported at 11-50 employees, which appears to reflect the regional office rather than the full group.
1st Financial Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 1st Financial Group
- Legal name
- 1st Financial Group Ltd
- Website
- https://firstfinancial.group/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 1st Financial Group is a financial firm that provides independent financial, mortgage, and insurance advice.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
1st Financial Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wealth Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate & Institutional Trust Services (FSAAANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Private Banking Business Owners & Entrepreneur Solutions (Liquidity Events, Pre-IPO) (FSABADAK)
Keywords
Where 1st Financial Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Taunton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
1st Financial Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Financial Advisory Services: Ongoing financial advice and planning services, likely structured as recurring advisory fees or subscription-based retainer arrangements for wealth management clients.
- Investment Management: Management of investment portfolios with funds under management of £20 billion, generating fees based on assets under management.
- Mortgages and Protection Products: Mortgage advice and equity release services, generating commission or transaction-based fees on placed products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based personalized advisory services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
1st Financial Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
1st Financial Group (operating as Fairstone) is a full-service wealth management house providing independent, whole-of-market financial advice across investment planning, investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, mortgage and equity release advice, financial protection, and corporate financial planning. Services are delivered through a network of qualified advisers across 50+ UK and Ireland locations and are supported by £20 billion in funds under management. The firm is FCA-authorized and incorporates one of the UK's largest Chartered financial planning firms.
Product overview
Fairstone is a full-service wealth management house delivering intelligent financial solutions for clients' lifetime financial journeys. The offering operates as a unified platform of advisory services, incorporating one of the UK's largest Chartered financial planning firms. The core product portfolio includes Investment Planning and Investment Management (with £20 billion in funds under management), supplemented by Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Mortgage Advice, Financial Protection, and Corporate Financial Planning services. Specialist offerings include Fairstone Private Wealth for high-net-worth clients and Mineral by Fairstone. The company operates independently without ties to specific product providers, offering whole-of-market choice across over 50 UK and Ireland locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Investment Planning Tailored investment planning services helping clients plan for their future with customized investment strategies; offered to individual clients seeking wealth growth.
- Investment Management Managed investment portfolios with Defaqto 5-star ratings, overseeing £20 billion in funds under management across the UK and Ireland; designed for individual and wealth clients seeking professional portfolio management.
- Retirement Planning Financial planning services focused on helping clients achieve their desired lifestyle and prepare for retirement; for individuals planning retirement funding.
- Estate Planning Services to help clients plan and manage the transfer of their estate; for individuals and families handling inheritance and estate preservation.
- Mortgage Advice Mortgage and equity release advisory services provided by specialists including senior mortgage and equity release advisers; for clients seeking mortgage financing or equity release.
- Financial Protection Financial protection planning to safeguard clients' financial futures; for individuals seeking protection against life events.
- Corporate Financial Planning Corporate financial planning and employee benefits services for businesses; for UK and Ireland employers needing workplace financial advice and benefits packages.
- Wealth Management Full-service wealth management providing comprehensive financial solutions for clients' lifetime financial journeys, combining investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, and protection services.
- Fairstone Private Wealth Private wealth management services for high-net-worth clients; a sub-brand of Fairstone tailored to high-net-worth individuals' complex financial needs.
- Mineral by Fairstone Wealth management offering under the Fairstone brand.
Quantifiable outcome
- Defaqto 5-star rating for eight consecutive years for managed investment portfolios
Companies that use 1st Financial Group
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
1st Financial Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
1st Financial Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
1st Financial Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- St. James's Place: Largest UK wealth manager by net inflows, offering adviser-led wealth management to mass-affluent and HNW clients. Directly comparable to Fairstone in target market, adviser-led distribution model, and AUM-based revenue structure.
- Rathbones Group: UK-listed wealth manager providing investment management and financial planning to individuals, charities, and intermediaries. Comparable in offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and estate planning services with a multi-office UK footprint.
- Quilter: UK wealth manager with a multi-brand adviser network (Quilter Financial Advisers, Private Client Advisers) and a wrap platform. Directly comparable to Fairstone's adviser-led wealth management model and broad financial planning offering.
- Evelyn Partners (formerly Tilney): UK wealth management and professional services group offering financial planning, investment management, and tax advice. Comparable in being a full-service, multi-office UK wealth manager with both individual and corporate clients.
- Charles Stanley: UK wealth manager providing investment management, financial planning, and intermediation services to private clients, charities, and intermediaries. Directly comparable in target market, multi-office UK footprint, and breadth of wealth management services.
- Brewin Dolphin: UK wealth manager offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth advice to private clients and intermediaries. Comparable in adviser-led model, broad planning offering, and regional UK office network.
- Wren Sterling: UK wealth management group providing independent financial advice, investment management, and retirement planning through a network of advisers. Closely comparable in being a multi-office independent IFA group serving mass-affluent and HNW clients.
- Close Brothers Asset Management: UK wealth manager offering investment management and financial planning services to private clients. Comparable in providing full-service wealth management with a focus on mid-to-high-net-worth individuals and families.
Emerging players
- True Potential: UK wealth-tech platform combining an adviser network with proprietary technology (impulseSave, etc.) for mass-affluent clients. Comparable as a UK advice distribution competitor, with a hybrid digital-plus-adviser model that pressures traditional IFA economics.
- Nutmeg: UK digital wealth manager offering robo-advice and managed portfolios to mass-market and mass-affluent clients. Comparable as a UK competitor targeting the same accumulation-phase clients that feed Fairstone's retiree pipeline, representing a structural cost-base threat to traditional IFAs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
1st Financial Group social profiles
Digital presence1st Financial Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
1st Financial Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
1st Financial Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
1st Financial Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
1st Financial Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 1st Financial Group
What does 1st Financial Group do?
1st Financial Group (operating as Fairstone) is a full-service wealth management house providing independent, whole-of-market financial advice across investment planning, investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, mortgage and equity release advice, financial protection, and corporate financial planning. Services are delivered through a network of qualified advisers across 50+ UK and Ireland locations and are supported by £20 billion in funds under management. The firm is FCA-authorized and incorporates one of the UK's largest Chartered financial planning firms.
Is 1st Financial Group a public or private company?
1st Financial Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was 1st Financial Group founded?
1st Financial Group was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 1st Financial Group based?
1st Financial Group is headquartered in Taunton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does 1st Financial Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Financial Advisory Services are the primary driver. The others are investment Management and mortgages and Protection Products.
Who are 1st Financial Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are St. James's Place, Rathbones Group, Quilter, Evelyn Partners (formerly Tilney), Charles Stanley, Brewin Dolphin, Wren Sterling and Close Brothers Asset Management. Emerging players are True Potential and Nutmeg.
Does 1st Financial Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for 1st Financial Group.
What industry is 1st Financial Group in?
1st Financial Group's product category is Wealth Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAANAB, Corporate & Institutional Trust Services, with a secondary code of FSABADAK, Private Banking Business Owners & Entrepreneur Solutions (Liquidity Events, Pre-IPO). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.