Laurus Associates moved to larger premises just before the pandemic hit and has only this year had the opportunity to settle in. Its new office caters better for wheelchair users and people with other disabilities and the firm has installed energy-saving features, such as motion sensor lighting.

Laurus Associates, under directors Karen Barwick (pictured) and Colin Dawson, has no centralised investment proposition, with portfolios being bespoke to each client. These increasingly contain sustainable investments, and 35% of funds recommended in the past year were specifically ESG.

What sets Laurus apart from its competitors is the range and complexity of its services. It says it is ‘not frightened to be true pension and investment advisers’ and invests accordingly in staff training.

Among the strings to its bow are pro bono work on care fees, wills and lasting powers of attorney, and defined benefit pension transfer advice. The recent renewal of its professional indemnity insurance on favourable terms illustrates the quality of its record-keeping and standards in this often controversial area of advice.

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