Fairstone Ireland continues growth with another strategic partnership with BRM Financial services, a leading provider of financial advisory firm based in Dublin. This marks Fairstone’s second strategic partnership for 2025, eighth overall, and reinforces its position as a leading provider of financial planning services in Ireland.
Following closely on the heels of its partnership with Financial Architects in January 2025, this latest milestone further strengthens Fairstone’s reputation as a dynamic and influential presence in the financial planning & wealth management industry. BRM Financial services has built a strong reputation for excellence, offering tailored financial planning and mortgage services. Through this partnership, Fairstone and BRM will enhance their ability to provide innovative financial solutions to individuals and businesses, ensuring continued growth and value for clients.
Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone Ireland, said “We are delighted to welcome Tom, Cathal and the team at BRM Financial Services to the Fairstone family. This partnership represents a pivotal step in our journey to become Ireland’s premier financial planning firm. Expanding into North Dublin enables us to serve even more clients with exceptional financial planning solutions while solidifying our presence in key areas across the country.”
This partnership builds upon the momentum of a highly successful 2024, during which Fairstone partnered with Three brokers, firmly establishing its position as a pioneer in the Irish financial services landscape. With this latest development, Fairstone’s total Assets Under Management (AUM) now exceeds €1.8 billion—a significant milestone in its growth trajectory.
Commenting on the partnership Tom Kennedy said“Joining Fairstone is an exciting opportunity for our team and clients. Our mission and purpose are to help individuals, and their families take a wide view of their financial values and goals to help them create the life they want and put their money to work for them. With Fairstone’s extensive resources and expertise, we can enhance our bespoke financial planning offerings and deliver even greater value to the clients we serve.”
Anthony O’Driscoll, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Fairstone Ireland, emphasised the strategic significance of the acquisition “The growth-focused mindset and the team aligns perfectly with Fairstone’s model of providing support and investment to our Partner Firms to assist them in achieving their growth objectives. Our Downstream Buy Out (DBO) model allows the owners of financial advice firms, to leverage the benefits of a highly supportive partner to optimise their business performance and capture an enhanced valuation. We look forward to working with the entire team.”
This partnership further establishes Fairstone Ireland as a key influencer shaping the future of financial planning and wealth management in Ireland. With ambitious growth strategies and a steadfast commitment to its clients, Fairstone continues to set a benchmark for excellence in 2025 and beyond.
Fairstone Ireland is delighted to announce the acquisition of John F. Loughrey Financial Services, a highly respected financial planning firm based in Letterkenny. This marks Fairstone Ireland’s sixth strategic acquisition, further solidifying its position as one of Ireland’s premier wealth management firms. By expanding into Letterkenny and the Northwest region, this move underscores Fairstone’s commitment to serving communities with exceptional financial planning and wealth management services.
John F. Loughrey Financial Services brings over 40 years of industry excellence, having built a strong reputation for delivering personalised financial solutions with a steadfast customer-first ethos. This shared philosophy of prioritising customer needs makes the partnership an ideal fit, enhancing opportunities for both firms and the Donegal community.
Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone Ireland, said:
“We are delighted to welcome John, Lisa, and their team to the Fairstone family. Letterkenny and the broader Northwest region are critical to our growth strategy, and this acquisition strengthens our presence in this key area. Together, we will continue to deliver outstanding service while elevating the standard of wealth management for clients in the region.”
The acquisition comes as John F. Loughrey Financial Services celebrates its 40th anniversary, making the partnership particularly significant for the firm and its clients. Founder John Loughrey said:
“This is an exciting new chapter for our firm and the Letterkenny community we’ve proudly served for decades. Joining Fairstone means access to greater resources and expertise, ensuring our clients in Letterkenny and Donegal benefit from world-class financial solutions.”
Lisa Loughrey, Managing Director, also highlighted the benefits for the local area:
“As we celebrate 40 years in business, this partnership sets the stage for the future, allowing us to continue serving Letterkenny with even greater care, innovation, and excellence. Fairstone’s support ensures our clients remain at the forefront of financial planning services.”
Anthony O’Driscoll, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Fairstone Ireland, emphasized the importance of the move:
“The financial landscape is increasingly complex, and scale is key to delivering the best solutions. By partnering with John F. Loughrey Financial Services, we deepen our presence in Letterkenny, a vibrant and growing area, ensuring we can meet the evolving needs of clients here and across the Northwest.”
This acquisition represents a significant milestone in Fairstone Ireland’s growth, bringing its total Assets Under Management (AUM) to €1.5 billion. By integrating the trusted expertise of John F. Loughrey Financial Services, Fairstone reinforces its mission to transform financial planning through innovation, collaboration, and a relentless focus on client success.
For Donegal, this partnership signals a bright future, offering enhanced services, access to leading financial expertise, and a continued commitment to the community. Together, Fairstone Ireland and John F. Loughrey Financial Services are poised to shape the next chapter of wealth management excellence in the region.
Minister of State for Financial Services, Neale Richmond, joined Fairstone’s leadership to announce the creation of 100 jobs nationwide over the next two years, with active recruitment underway for a variety of roles across Ireland. This expansion follows Fairstone Ireland’s impressive 35% year-over-year revenue growth, now reaching €24.6 million, as the company solidifies its presence in the Irish market.
This surge in growth is powered by Fairstone Ireland’s strategy to expand its footprint nationwide, partnering with respected financial planning firms and enhancing client services across the country. Since 2023, Fairstone has joined forces with five leading financial planning firms, driving its mission to deliver comprehensive, customised financial solutions to a growing client base. With new expansions into key locations like Kerry, Galway, Kildare, and Kilkenny, Fairstone Ireland is strengthening its presence in local communities, ensuring accessible, high-quality financial services
Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone Ireland, credits the company’s rapid growth and the creation of 100 jobs nationwide over the next two years to strategic partnerships and an expanded presence across Ireland. “Our remarkable revenue growth demonstrates the success of our partnerships with trusted local brokerages and our capacity to scale services nationwide,” Merriman said. “With our entry into new locations and commitment to outstanding service, we’re set to reach a broader audience with customised, value-driven financial solutions.”
Central to Fairstone’s growth strategy is its unique Downstream Buy Out (DBO) model, which integrates culturally aligned advisory firms in phases, ensuring a smooth transition while fostering long-term value for shareholders, employee’s and most importantly clients.
Alongside revenue growth, Fairstone Ireland has seen its Assets Under Management (AUM) surpass €1.5 billion, a milestone that underscores its strengthening position in Ireland’s financial advice landscape. The DBO model continues to support seamless integration and improved client services, positioning Fairstone Ireland as a leader in wealth management.
Minister of State for Financial Services, Neale Richmond, said, “Fairstone Ireland’s expansion and job creation is a fantastic boost for the Irish financial services sector. This investment is a testament to the strength of our local talent and reaffirms Ireland as a destination of choice for innovative financial services. These roles, which are available nationwide, will allow our Financial Services sector to continue to grow, and crucially, will expand access to financial planning for people and businesses across the country .”
This momentum marks a pivotal chapter in Fairstone Ireland’s expansion journey, underscoring its commitment to collaboration, innovation, and client success. As Fairstone Ireland scales its market presence and consolidates its leadership position, it remains focused on delivering high-quality, value-driven financial services nationwide.
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Fairstone Ireland, a leader in financial planning & wealth management, celebrates a significant milestone with the establishment of its fifth strategic partnership in Ireland with Killeen Financial Services Ltd trading as Cleere Life & Pensions. This achievement not only highlights Fairstone Ireland’s relentless pursuit of innovative financial solutions but also marks a significant leap forward in its growth trajectory as Fairstone Ireland surpasses €1 Billion of assets under management (AUM) since entering the market in 2022.
Under the leadership of CEO Paul Merriman, Fairstone Ireland now have four additional Financial Brokerages into their Irish operation, Carey Financial, Murray & Spelman Financial Services, Premier Financial as well as Cleere Life & Pensions.
Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone Ireland, commented “Our partnership with Cleere Life & Pensions not only exemplifies our commitment to become the leading wealth management firm in Ireland but also accelerates our growth momentum. Together, we aim to enhance our capabilities, foster mutual growth, and set a new benchmark of partnership excellence in wealth management, building stronger relationships with Financial Brokerages across Ireland. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with Gearoid and the entire team at Cleere Life & Pensions.”
Cleere Life & Pensions, a reputable financial planning firm headquartered in Kilkenny since 2015, is renowned for its client-centric approach and comprehensive range of financial services. The partnership with Fairstone opens up exciting prospects for Cleere Life & Pensions and their clients, to utilise Fairstone’s vast resources, expertise, and cutting-edge solutions.
Gearoid Cleere, Managing Director of Cleere Life & Pensions expressed excitement about the partnership: “Our partnership with Fairstone Ireland marks an exciting new chapter for Cleere Life & Pensions. Fairstone’s innovative model ensures that we can uphold our commitment to delivering top-tier financial services whilst leveraging Fairstone’s scale and expertise. This strategic move positions us for sustained growth and innovation in the dynamic financial landscape.”
Anthony O’Driscoll, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Fairstone Ireland added “We are very excited to partner with Cleere Life & Pensions via our unique Downstream Buy Out (DBO) model which allows the owners of ambitious financial advisory and wealth management firms to secure a liquidity event for themselves, whilst continuing to grow their business and benefit from the resulting upside”.
Fairstone remains dedicated to offering high-quality financial advice and exceptional service, perfectly aligning with Cleere Life & Pensions ethos. The partnership reaffirms Fairstone Ireland’s commitment to revolutionising the financial services sector and serves as a beacon of a new era of partnerships, emphasising teamwork, innovation, and a shared focus on client success. Fairstone Ireland are actively seeking to partner with other growing firms.
In a strategic move set to reshape the financial services landscape in Ireland, Fairstone has unveiled its revolutionary Irish Downstream Buy Out model, just one year after making waves with the acquisition of Dublin-based Pax Financial. Following a number of senior appointments, including Financial Planning Director Derek Delaney, Head of M&A, Anthony O’Driscoll, and Marketing Director Fergal Lynch, Fairstone is now poised to introduce its premium Downstream Buy Out (DBO) model to the Irish market.
At the core of Fairstone’s ambitious growth strategy, the Downstream Buy Out model seamlessly integrates culturally aligned firms before a complete acquisition, with the primary goal of maximising capital value. Throughout the integration phase, partnering firms gain access to Fairstone’s investment, cutting-edge technology, abundant resources, empowering them to realise their growth aspirations.
Fairstone Ireland CEO Paul Merriman commented, “The DBO is a market leader in the UK, and I am thrilled to extend this proposition to forward-thinking financial planning firms in Ireland. We are actively seeking partnerships with firms uninterested in an outright sale today; our focus is on investing in growth and supporting business owners dedicated to optimising their business value through a long-term partnership with Fairstone.”
Merriman emphasised the DBO’s distinctive nature, stating, “This is not your typical M&A transaction; it is crafted for visionary business leaders committed to their enterprises, eager to capitalise on future growth.”
Fairstone’s success in the UK is evident, boasting its best-ever dealmaking year, in 2023, with twelve firms embracing the DBO model. Fairstone Group, CEO Lee Hartley celebrated the Irish launch, saying, “Over the last 15 years, we’ve demonstrated the effectiveness of the model. Our unconventional approach to dealmaking consistently yields year-on-year outperformance, with the latest figures revealing fully acquired firms surpassing their target sale values by an average of 113%.”
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