Howden has moved to deepen its presence in Ireland's west with the acquisition of Maven Financial Planning Limited, a Galway-based financial planning and advisory firm.
The deal, which is subject to Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) regulatory approval, will establish Howden Ireland's life and pensions advisory capability in Galway and add a second location on the country's west coast.
The transaction reflects the ongoing consolidation of Ireland’s intermediary market, as larger groups build regional scale to provide more integrated advice across protection, pensions, investments and mortgage-related needs.
Maven's team of eight professionals will join Howden Ireland, continuing to support and develop the firm's portfolio of long-standing client relationships throughout the region.
For Howden, the move creates a platform in one of Ireland's key regional commercial centres, giving the broker additional reach into individual, SME and corporate clients along the west coast.
Howden's Financial Advisory team, launched just last year, is led by managing director Dermot Gaskin (pictured, right). The team of more than 80 and growing already manages a significant number of clients across Ireland, supporting their insurance and financial advisory needs.
The Maven deal aligns with a broader shift among brokers and intermediaries to expand beyond general insurance into financial planning, life and pensions, and mortgages.
Ireland’s life and pensions market continues to be shaped by demographic change, ongoing concern over retirement adequacy and a greater emphasis on independent advice. Strengthening local advisory capacity in cities such as Galway is strategically relevant for distributors and insurers seeking to grow protection and retirement solutions beyond Dublin and other major urban centres.
The combination of a multi-line broker’s capabilities with a specialist financial planning business may also support more joined-up conversations with clients around risk, from personal protection and wealth preservation through to business continuity, succession and key person cover. For insurers, partnerships with scaled advisory groups such as Howden can help broaden product distribution and deepen penetration in regional markets.
Gaskin said the acquisition of Maven highlights the company's "ambitious" growth strategy, supported by a pipeline of "transformative acquisitions" set for 2026 and beyond.
“Maven shares Howden’s values, prioritising its people and most importantly their clients to provide expert financial advice and class-leading service. As part of Howden, Maven’s clients will now be able to benefit from a suite of bespoke products and an even broader range of services," he added.
