A new appointed representative firm of Beaufort Financial, the national partnership of independent financial advisers has been formed. WLS Financial Services is a joint venture with Wills and Legal Services Lt, a national paralegal firm based in Malvern. Founded in 2011, Wills and Legal specialises in will writing, setting up powers of attorney and trusts. Jason Lloyd, formerly of Stirling House and Blackfinch Investments, has been appointed to head up the financial advice business.

WLS Financial Services plans to recruit a team of national financial advisers to work alongside the 25 existing legal paralegals that advise some 120,000 private clients in England and Wales.

Commenting on the news Jason Lloyd, Director of WLS Financial Services said: We have an established paralegal business with ambitious plans. Rather than outsource financial planning to third parties, which is what most firms in our sector do, we established our own professional and independent financial planning arm. This is in the best interest of our clients and enables us to offer a full range of services to our client base.

In Beaufort Financial we have found the ideal modern and forward thinking partner. Maintaining whole of market independent status is a necessity and will be fundamental to the success of the business.

WLS Financial Services has appointed two financial advisers. Karen Pincher, a chartered status wealth manager joined from Meritor Financial Management and Deutsch Bank, whilst Hazel Carter, an equity release specialist joined from the Right Equity Release. Previously, Hazel was at Just Retirement.

Beaufort Group’s Executive Chairman, Simon Goldthorpe added:

Partnering with an ambitious paralegal firm makes a great deal of sense to our Group, whilst our partnership structure clearly does appeal to Jason, his colleagues and most importantly the clients. We look forward to working with Jason to grow the business.