Scandinavian financial adviser investment manager Söderberg & Partners said today (14 February) it will establish an independent financial advice and investment management business in the UK. 

In a statement, the firm said it "aims to partner with 500-1,000 financial advisers in the UK within five years".

Söderberg & Partners was founded in Sweden 2004 and is one of the largest providers of wealth management and corporate insurance services in the Nordic region and the Netherlands. 

The company has over 3,000 employees across more than 110 offices in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Spain, and more than £60bn in assets under management and assets under advice.

Gustaf Rentzhog, group chief executive officer, said: "There is strong and growing demand in the United Kingdom for high-quality financial advice. Söderberg & Partners has a track record of enabling advisers and their clients to plan and invest for better financial futures. Advisers and their clients want a responsible, long-term partner in the UK. It is our goal to become their first choice."

Söderberg & Partners will offer financial advice and investment solutions through its partnerships in the UK. With access to over 4,000 funds and supported by Söderberg & Partners' in-house investment research team, the group intends to make available solutions via a technology led solution. 

To lead this part of the venture, Söderberg & Partners has appointed Bill Vasilieff, Co-founder and CEO for the financial services platform Novia, and Nick Raine, former COO for Novia.

Vasilieff will take on the role as chairman of the board for the UK company and Raine will take on the role as CEO.   

Vasilieff said  he was excited about the new project that "lured" him out of retirement: "When Gustaf approached me and explained the depth of the proposition, I immediately saw it as truly innovative and unique in the UK adviser market. I am very excited to be involved in the launch into the UK."

Group chairman, Per-Olof Soderberg, said: "There are strong cultural, economic, and historical ties between the UK and Scandinavia. As other Swedish companies have demonstrated, the UK is receptive to a values-led, long-term approach to business. We are proud and pleased to enter one of the world's most important and sophisticated financial services markets." 

Söderberg & Partners will conduct its UK operations under the sub brand Söderberg & Partners Wealth Management.