SEQUENCE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Sequence Financial Management (SFM) was a financial advice firm involved in pension arrangements that have since come under scrutiny, particularly in connection with high risk and unregulated investments.
The firm accepted referrals from individuals and organisations that were not authorised to give regulated financial advice. Many clients were then encouraged to transfer their pensions into Small Self Administered Schemes, or SSAS’s. These schemes were often established with providers such as Rowanmoor, Cantwell Grove or Monument. As part of the process, investors were sometimes also advised to set up limited companies.
One of the main objectives behind these pension transfers was to enable investment into The Resort Group, an unregulated and high-risk overseas property development focused on hotels in Cape Verde. This type of investment was not suitable for most retail clients, particularly those with limited investment experience.
SFM supported clients in transferring a significant portion of their pension savings, in some cases as much as seventy percent, into these arrangements. Many were unaware of the true level of risk involved or the responsibilities that came with running a SSAS, including the costs and the need to file company accounts.
The firm failed to ensure that clients properly understood the implications of these decisions, or whether such investments were appropriate for their circumstances.
SFM also advised some clients to invest in other high-risk products held within Greyfriars SIPP arrangements. These included Elysian Fuels, Alpha Business Centre, Dubai Car Parks, P6 and Borgo Ala Vigna.
If you were advised by Sequence Financial Management to transfer your pension or to invest in any of these products, it is important to review your position. Even if your investment has not yet shown a loss, you may still be entitled to claim compensation. We can help assess the advice you received and determine whether a claim can be made.
Company background (public record)
The company was incorporated at Companies House on 5 February 2010 under company number 07147897. Its status at Companies House is recorded as dissolved.
Registered office: C/O Leonard Curtis Riverside House, Irwell Street, Manchester, M3 5EN, England.
Nature of business (SIC): 64999.
Company timeline (public record)
Key dated events for this firm, drawn from public records. Each entry shows its source.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 05 Feb 2010 | Company incorporated | Companies House |
| 05 Feb 2010 | Robert Eskild Colin appointed director | Companies House |
| 19 Oct 2010 | Robert Eskild Colin approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 01 Jun 2012 | Kenneth Whitworth approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 01 Oct 2013 | Paul Andrew Howarth approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 01 Oct 2013 | James Andrew Gallagher approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 01 May 2014 | Pension Calculator Limited appointed as appointed representative | FCA Register |
| 15 May 2014 | Simon Dominic Rumsey approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 26 Aug 2014 | Edward Papworth approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 26 Sep 2014 | Ian William Elliott Kells approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 04 May 2017 | Mark John Gerard Holleran appointed director | Companies House |
| 31 Jul 2017 | Neil Leslie Williams approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 03 Nov 2017 | Moneybrain Advice Limited appointed as appointed representative | FCA Register |
| 05 Dec 2017 | Moneybrain Investments Limited appointed as appointed representative | FCA Register |
| 10 Sep 2018 | Carl Hayes approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 31 Aug 2019 | Iain David Crawford resigned as director | Companies House |
| 10 Oct 2019 | Mark John Gerard Holleran resigned as director | Companies House |
| 12 Aug 2020 | Company entered administration (in administration) | Companies House |
| 03 Sep 2020 | Moneybrain Advice Limited ceased as appointed representative | FCA Register |
| 03 Sep 2020 | Moneybrain Investments Limited ceased as appointed representative | FCA Register |
| 29 Jan 2021 | Declared in default by the FSCS | FSCS |
| 25 Apr 2022 | FSCS update: We're currently investigating the firm to understand if there are protected claims | FSCS |
| 27 Jul 2022 | Company administration ended (in administration) | Companies House |
| 18 Aug 2022 | FSCS update: FSCS’s investigations into Sequence Financial Management Ltd are continuing | FSCS |
| 27 Oct 2022 | Company dissolved | Companies House |
| 02 Nov 2022 | FCA status recorded as: No longer authorised | FCA Register |
| 02 Nov 2022 | Cheshire Wealth Partnership Ltd ceased as appointed representative | FCA Register |
| 21 Nov 2022 | FSCS update: FSCS has now completed its investigation into Sequence Financial Management Ltd | FSCS |
Focused on the firm’s early history and the events leading up to and following its failure. 14 routine entries from its active years are omitted.
Who was involved?
The following individuals are listed on public records in connection with the firm. These are matters of public record only and their inclusion does not imply any wrongdoing by any named person.
- Robert Eskild Colin. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CPD6 – Personal recommendation on Friendly Soc tax-exempt policies(not Holloway) (from), CPD4 – Personal recommendation on retail investments (not broker funds) (from), Responsible for Insurance Distribution (01/10/2018 to 02/11/2022), SMF17 Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) (09/12/2019 to 02/11/2022) at the firm.
- Paul Andrew Howarth. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (01/10/2013 to 12/08/2015) at the firm.
- Mark John Gerard Holleran. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF2 Non Executive Director (24/04/2017 to 10/10/2019) at the firm.
- Iain David Crawford. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (21/07/2015 to 08/12/2019), CF11 Money Laundering Reporting (16/11/2017 to 11/05/2018), CF10 Compliance Oversight (13/10/2017 to 11/05/2018), [FCA CF] Client dealing (09/12/2019 to 14/05/2020) at the firm.
- Jonathan Paul Stokes. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (31/08/2016 to 03/09/2020) at the firm.
- James Charles Collins. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (25/08/2016 to 03/09/2020), CF1 Director (AR) (25/08/2016 to 03/09/2020) at the firm.
- Stephen Rawson. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (24/08/2016 to 29/07/2020) at the firm.
- Helen Anja Nightingale. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (23/02/2015 to 06/11/2017) at the firm.
- James Andrew Gallagher. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (01/10/2013 to 09/01/2015) at the firm.
- Neil Leslie Williams. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (31/07/2017 to 21/06/2018) at the firm.
Appointed Representatives and Agents
While it was authorised, the firm acted as principal for the following appointed representatives. An appointed representative carries on regulated business under the responsibility of its principal, so their conduct can be relevant to a claim.
| Appointed representative | Reference | Effective from | Ended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire Wealth Partnership Ltd | FRN 605920 | 22/08/2016 | 02/11/2022 |
| Moneybrain Advice Limited | FRN 793293 | 03/11/2017 | 03/09/2020 |
| Moneybrain Investments Limited | FRN 795823 | 05/12/2017 | 03/09/2020 |
| Pension Calculator Limited | FRN 622510 | 01/05/2014 | 09/01/2015 |
Review page sources: FCA Register (FRN 528196) · Companies House (07147897) · FSCS. Public records, provided for transparency.
