Bell Financial, the ASX-listed owner of one of the country’s most storied stockbroking firms, says it is accelerating its expansion into wealth management in the hope of diversifying away from an industry prone to booms and busts and one that is rapidly becoming more difficult.

The company was founded by stockbroker Colin Bell in 1970 and was listed on the ASX in 2007. It is best known for Bell Potter, which has grown from broking into corporate advisory and other services.