Wiltshire financial planners expand with opening of two new offices

Wiltshire-based financial planning firm, Chilvester Financial, has expanded its reach along the M4 corridor by opening new branch offices in Bristol and Newbury.

This move, following the company’s relocation to larger headquarters in Chippenham two years ago, aims to better serve a growing client base.

The expansion comes after Chilvester’s 2022 acquisition of Bristol’s Sovereign Asset Management, giving the business an existing presence in the city. The firm also supports a large client based in the Newbury and Marlborough area.

Chilvester’s Investment Director Sam Binstead said the new offices were a natural next step in the company’s growth strategy, enhancing client convenience for in-person meetings and extending a presence both westward and eastward.

“When we took over Sovereign we naturally had a period of moving those clients across and settling them in with our team, but it was always part of our plan to open an office in Bristol,” said Sam. “At the same time, having an office in Newbury helps expand our presence eastward and is very convenient for our many clients who live in the surrounding area.”

Andy Tottman, Chilvester’s Managing Director, said he was excited about this next stage of Chilvester’s development, noting that while central office functions remain in Chippenham, the branches will enable the team to cover a wider geographical area and potentially create local employment.

“Moving to the new offices in Chippenham in 2023 really supported our growth, and this remains our headquarters,” he said. “But through the new branches we can cover towns and villages in a wide area, stretching from Bristol and out towards Reading. Over time we can grow our branch offices, taking on people locally and so creating employment opportunities.

Andy stressed that not all client meetings need to be in-person. “We are always guided by our clients’ preferences, and are happy to hold meetings over video. But when we first engage with a new client, we like to do so face-to-face, so we get to know them. Our goal is to provide personal advice for our clients. Our service to our clients is at the heart of what we do.”

Chilvester Financial has a 14-strong team and last year celebrated 25 years in business. Andy and Sam are supported by a strong management team, comprising Compliance Manager Ian Stone, Head of Advice Shane Lucas and Systems & Operations Manager Jessica Tottman. Between them, they have around 100 years’ experience in the financial planning sector.

The company specialises in personal financial planning advice, tailored to the individual. The experienced planners support a wide range of people, from those planning for retirement, to businessowners seeking long-term financial planning, to homeowners considering equity release, to families looking to their financial future.

Chilvester’s Newbury branch is in Oxford Street, while its Bristol branch is in Prince Street. The Chippenham headquarters is in Avon Reach.