Vintage Investment Services
Vintage Investment Services (FRN 142806), also trading as Vintage, was a Stockton-on-Tees-based financial advisory firm that provided advice across pensions, investments, insurance and mortgages. The firm’s FCA authorisation was removed in October 2024, and it had previously been declared in default by the FSCS.
The FSCS declared Vintage Investment Services in default on 17 January 2023. By the time the investigation concluded, the FSCS had paid out £1.07 million in compensation to the firm’s former clients, against a total estimated claims value of £1.7 million. The firm’s key failing centred on the quality of its pension transfer advice, particularly in relation to the British Steel Pension Scheme.
In November 2024, the FCA announced bans on two of the firm’s advisers, Steven Hodgson and Paul Adams, for their roles in the mis-selling. Both men had advised clients to transfer out of defined benefit pension schemes, including the BSPS, without proper assessment of suitability. As part of the outcome, Hodgson was required to contribute £32,700 and Adams £53,200 to the FSCS to help meet redress owed to victims.
Issues / Why You May Have a Claim
Steelworkers and other defined benefit pension holders who were advised to transfer out of their scheme by Vintage Investment Services may have been put at severe long-term financial disadvantage. The BSPS and other defined benefit pensions offer guaranteed income in retirement that cannot be replicated by most alternative investments. Where that advice was driven by commission or fees rather than the client’s best interests, it represents a serious breach of regulatory duty.
Company timeline (public record)
Key dated events for this firm, drawn from public records. Each entry shows its source.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Dec 2001 | Paul Adams approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 01 Dec 2001 | Steven Lawrence Hodgson approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 01 Dec 2001 | Christine Josephine Tate approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 01 Nov 2005 | Simon James Tate approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 31 Jan 2006 | Stephen Matthew Cherrett approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 07 May 2013 | Anthony Peter Long approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 17 Aug 2016 | Helen Jennifer Weatherhead approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 14 Mar 2018 | Lisa Tipton approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 11 Apr 2018 | Simon Warne approved by the FCA at the firm | FCA Register |
| 05 Jul 2022 | FSCS update: Vintage Investment Services entered into a Partnership Voluntary Arrangement (PVA) on 05/07/ 2022 | FSCS |
| 17 Jan 2023 | Declared in default by the FSCS | FSCS |
| 23 Oct 2024 | FCA status recorded as: No longer authorised | FCA Register |
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.
- Paul Adams. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (01/11/2007 to 08/12/2019), CF11 Money Laundering Reporting (01/12/2001 to 08/12/2019), CF10 Compliance Oversight (01/12/2001 to 08/12/2019), CF4 Partner (01/12/2001 to 08/12/2019) at the firm.
- Simon James Tate. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF22 Investment Adviser (Trainee) (01/11/2005 to 31/12/2005) at the firm.
- Lisa Tipton. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (14/03/2018 to 19/06/2019) at the firm.
- Simon Warne. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (11/04/2018 to 08/12/2019) at the firm.
- Stephen Matthew Cherrett. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CPD21 – Advising or arranging equity release transactions (from), CPD20 – Advising or arranging regulated mortgage contracts (from), [FCA CF] Client dealing (09/12/2019 to 23/10/2024), [FCA CF] Functions requiring qualifications (09/12/2019 to 23/10/2024) at the firm.
- Helen Jennifer Weatherhead. 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), CF30 Customer (17/08/2016 to 08/12/2019), [FCA CF] Client dealing (09/12/2019 to 23/10/2024) at the firm.
- Anthony Peter Long. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF30 Customer (07/05/2013 to 08/12/2019) at the firm.
- Steven Lawrence Hodgson. 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), CF30 Customer (01/11/2007 to 08/12/2019), CF4 Partner (01/11/2005 to 08/12/2019) at the firm.
- Christine Josephine Tate. Listed on the FCA Register as having held CF4 Partner (01/12/2001 to 03/04/2007) at the firm.
Review page sources: FCA Register (FRN 142806) · Companies House (13142703) · FSCS. Public records, provided for transparency.
