Mark Barlow
There are some awards that mean a little more than others, which is why we’re incredibly proud to announce that Equilibrium has been named in the Citywire New Model Adviser Top 100 for 2026, celebrating 100 of the leading financial planning firms from across the UK.
It’s always lovely to receive recognition for what we do, although accolades have never been what drives us. What matters far more is what sits behind them: the people we help, the relationships we build and the difference that great financial planning can make to someone’s life.
Success is about more than numbers
When you work in financial planning, there is naturally a temptation to measure success in numbers, whether that’s investment returns, assets under management or how much a business has grown.
We’ve always looked at things a little differently, because money on its own doesn’t have a purpose until you know what you want it to do.
For some clients, success might mean having the confidence to retire earlier, while for others it could be travelling more, helping children or grandchildren, leaving a legacy or simply knowing they can spend a little more today without jeopardising tomorrow.
Understanding those ambitions and helping people use their wealth to achieve them is what financial planning should really be about, and it’s an approach that has shaped Equilibrium for more than 30 years.
Growing while staying true to ourselves
Our Top 100 recognition comes at an exciting time for Equilibrium, as we continue to grow while remaining focused on the things that have always made us who we are.
That growth isn’t simply about becoming a bigger business. For us, it’s about making Equilibrium better by investing in our people, improving what we offer and continuing to find new ways to give clients greater clarity and confidence about their future.
The financial planning profession will inevitably evolve, as will the needs and expectations of clients, so standing still has never been an option. What shouldn’t change is the reason we are here in the first place.
It takes a team
While it’s Equilibrium’s name that appears in the Citywire New Model Adviser Top 100, recognition like this belongs to the entire team, because delivering an exceptional experience relies just as much on those working behind the scenes as it does on the people sitting across the table from our clients.
Most importantly, it also belongs to our clients, whose continued trust gives us the opportunity to help them make important decisions about their money, families and futures.
We’re immensely proud to be recognised among the UK’s Top 100 financial planning firms, although getting onto the list isn’t the end goal. Continuing to earn the trust that got us there is what really matters.
Check out the winners here The £1bn-plus firms who made the Top 100 2026
