Forvis Mazars has been named the UK’s most successful financial adviser in the FT Adviser Top 100 rankings, based on growth in assets under advice and client acquisition. The London-based firm credited its success to client referrals, with David Baker, partner and head of financial planning, stating that recommendations from existing clients were the greatest validation. The ranking, run for 30 years by FT Adviser in collaboration with ISS Market Intelligence, evaluates firms on business growth, client expansion, and professional credentials.
To qualify for the Top 100, firms must achieve at least £240mn in gross annual sales, a record high and £40mn more than in 2025. Growth was driven by rising demand for complex tax and estate planning, particularly among business owners, due to policy changes affecting business relief and pension benefits on death. Clair Lester of ISS Market Intelligence noted stronger adviser demand amid evolving regulations.
Despite the UK success, Forvis Mazars laid off approximately 3% of its US audit, tax, and advisory staff in the same year. Beckett Financial Services, another top-five firm, also reported increased enquiries on estate planning and defined-contribution pensions subject to inheritance tax from April 2027. The Top 100 includes the top 20 large firms and top 10 boutiques ranked by score, with others listed alphabetically.
FT Adviser also publishes a Top 50 Boutiques list for firms with fewer than 10 advisers, all of which achieved £200mn in gross sales in 2026.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing