~ Financial planning firm creates new joint venture with Alexander & Co. ~

Manchester-based Pareto Financial Planning has launched a joint venture with Alexander & Co, Chartered Accountants, the specialist, entrepreneurial accountancy firm, to offer independent financial advice to its personal and business clients.

Service areas will include: planning for key person protection, shareholder cover, SSAS/SIPP pensions, employee benefit schemes, critical illness cover and inheritance tax.

Paul Stones, who joined Pareto from AIB twelve months ago, will head up the venture and be based full-time at Alexander & Co. Paul has 17 years’ experience in financial services working previously for RBS and Lloyds TSB Private Banking.

John Stevenson, director at Pareto commented: “The Alexander & Co JV represents a particularly exciting time for Pareto as we look to expand our service offering to a wider range of clients.

“Having Paul work from the Alexander & Co offices permanently will enable him to work with existing clients, identifying opportunities to enhance their business and personal financial planning. With a number of proposed, legislative changes affecting businesses in the coming months and years, the partnership will ensure that clients are well placed to maximise their investments.”

Adrian Berg, senior partner at Alexander& Co commented: “Our involvement with Pareto will provide us with a wide range of specialist, personal and business services to help our clients in the ever-changing commercial environment. By outsourcing these services to a respected provider, we will be offering quality financial advice to our clients."