Kirkwood is based in Belfast and will serve clients across Northern Ireland and beyond.
He will work with a wide range of clients and specialises in working with wealthy clients that are also business owners.
The firm said that Kirkwood was the first of several new advisers to join the partnership this year, bringing the advice team to 63 in total.
Kirkwood previously worked at S Rankin & Co as a self-employed senior financial planner for around three years.
Before that, he was a senior financial planner at AKFP Group for nearly five years and prior to that was a senior financial planner at Lanyon Astor Buller for around two years.
Kirkwood has also worked at Aon Hewitt, National Mutual and Endsleigh.
Continuum: ‘A new and important location’
Martin Brown, managing partner at Continuum, said: “We have set out to provide the very highest standards of financial advice, and Michael can help us ensure that we do it in what is a new and important location for us.
“Continuum is a partnership of like-minded financial advisers sharing a common passion, approach and commitment to practicing true financial planning. I know that Michael shares these values, and with his combination of qualifications and experience he is a valuable addition to our growing team.”
He continued: “We believe that by creating a three-way partnership between Continuum, the adviser and the client, we also create an environment where each party can only succeed and grow if the other parties also succeed and grow.
“I know that Michael is looking forward to demonstrating that approach to people across Northern Ireland.’’
Kirkwood added: “Continuum is a growing team, but they remain independent. This means that the help and advice that I provide can be independent too. There is no question of being tied into products from a particular financial provider. I’m free to recommend everything – pensions, insurance, investments – from any provider. The only factors I need to consider is the best interests of my client.
“I am very happy to have found Continuum as it offers everything I need to help me provide good consistent outcomes for my clients. The levels of support for me are excellent and this allows more time to concentrate on meeting clients and discussing possible solutions with them.”
Last year, M&G acquired Continuum Financial Services for an undisclosed sum, initially taking a stake of just under half with the plan to take over the remainder over the next two years.
Continuum was founded in 2014 by Brown as a national IFA brand that would offer “modern, new financial advice experience”. It holds assets under influence of £1.6bn.
