INVESTMENT and retirement specialist, AXA Wealth has reporting significant growth across the business in its first quarter financial results for 2015.

Over the past five years, the Basingstoke headquartered company has built a business with over £29billion of assets, £4bn gross inflows, and developed strong relationships with specialist financial advisers, helping around 270,000 customers.

AXA Wealth’s total retail sales for the first quarter of 2015 were up 16 per cent to £902 million when compared to the first quarter of 2014.

This growth helped increase AXA Wealth’s overall funds under management (FUM) by 13 per cent from £25.7bn to £29.1bn over the same period.

Chief executive Mike Kellard, said: “The new pensions freedoms, announced by George Osborne in last year’s Budget, mean that savers over the age of 55 can now access their hard earned life-long savings in full – a huge shake-up to the pensions industry and how people will plan for their retirement.

“Since then, we’ve been working with customers and financial advisers on what the new freedoms would mean for them, and have launched a fresh approach to retirement planning to help people achieve the retirement they want. “All of this additional effort wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the dedication and determination of our people who have worked extremely hard.

"During this time, AXA Wealth and our people have remained committed to supporting the local community, and in the first part of the year employees have raised over £38,000 for local charities.

“From marathon running to obstacle courses, it’s all made for a fantastic start to the year.”