Benchmark Financial Planning Limited

Reference number: 227247

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Appointed representative

This firm does not hold FCA authorisation of its own, and acts under a principal firm, which is legally responsible for its regulated business.

Responsible principal firm

Best Practice IFA Group Limited Reference number: 223112 Authorised View firm →
What does this mean?
  • An appointed representative (AR) can carry out regulated financial services, but is not directly authorised by the FCA. A principal firm holds the authorisation and is legally responsible for the AR's conduct.
  • Benchmark Financial Planning Limited (FRN 227247) is an AR of Best Practice IFA Group Limited (FRN 223112). When you use Benchmark Financial Planning's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm.
  • Example: if you take financial advice from Benchmark Financial Planning, complaints and compensation usually follow the same rules as dealing with the principal, but this depends on the product and your circumstances.
  • Before you proceed, confirm contact details match the official FCA register for both firms. Scammers sometimes clone legitimate AR names and FRNs but use fake phone numbers and websites.

Website, phone number and address

Compare these against whatever you were given. Scammers clone real firm names and reference numbers but use their own phone number and website, so a detail that does not match the register is the clearest warning sign there is.

In the full report: 3 background checks

  • When benchmarkfp.co.uk first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 01403 331400 is
  • Who else gives the postcode RH12 4QP
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Other names (8)

If you were contacted under any of these names, it is this firm.

  • Aspect8 Chartered Financial Planners Trading name
  • Aspect8 Ltd Former name
  • Ian Cooke & Partners Ltd Former name
  • Independent Pilots Financial Services Former trading name
  • Marshall Thomas Former trading name
  • Paul Gregory Associates Former trading name
  • Schroders Sustainable Invest Former trading name
  • Talk Money Former trading name

FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Protection through the principal firm
    Protection works through Best Practice IFA Group Limited, the principal firm responsible for this firm's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
  • Complaints Ombudsman, free
    You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.

FCA disciplinary action and complaints

No FCA disciplinary action.

The Financial Ombudsman Service only publishes complaint figures for firms with 30 or more new complaints in six months, so there are none here for this firm.

Companies House record

The company behind the firm: its status, age, registered office and directors.

Company number
07572431
Company status
Active
Company type
Private limited company
Incorporated
21 March 2011 (15 years old)
Registered office
Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurst Wood Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4QP, England
Nature of business
  • Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation not elsewhere classified (SIC 66190)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Edward Dymott Director Jan 1979 10 Nov 2021 33 other companies
Wesley Sinclair Harrison Director Dec 1980 28 Nov 2024 2 other companies
Helen Louise Fitzgerald Director Jun 1981 27 Feb 2025 41 other companies
Karan Jitendra Sejpal Director Apr 1980 21 Nov 2025 8 other companies
Elizabeth May Adams Secretary Not published 23 Sep 2026 –

Other companies run by these 4 directors

A firm is run by people, and their other companies are their track record: what they built, what closed, and anything that failed. It is the check most people never think to make.

other companies
56
closed down
16
went insolvent
7

In the full report: all 56 companies, named

  • What each company does, and whether it is still trading
  • Which of these 4 directors sit on each board, and since when
  • The 7 that went into liquidation or administration
  • The 16 on the FCA register, including one no longer authorised
  • The 22 companies these 4 directors run together
  • All 14 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
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Key dates in its history

Benchmark Financial Planning’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (5) All events (40)

2022

2 December 2022

  • Changed its registered name from "Aspect8 Ltd"

FCA register

2016

6 April 2016

  • Benchmark Capital Limited took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

2011

21 March 2011

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

2010

19 October 2010

  • Changed its registered name from "Ian Cooke & Partners Ltd"

FCA register

2003

4 August 2003

  • Became an appointed representative

FCA register

In the full report: all 40 events

  • All 40 events in its history (5 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 24
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Firms connected to Benchmark Financial Planning

Other FCA-listed firms that share a director, phone number or address with Benchmark Financial Planning. A link shows who the firm is tied to, not whether either can be trusted.

connected firms
12
share a director
12
share its postcode
5

In the full report: all 12 connected firms, named

  • How each is linked: shared directors (12), the same postcode (5)
  • Who links each one: the named directors, with dates
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Firms like Benchmark Financial Planning

Other firms of the same type (financial adviser), nearest first.

In Horsham

Alastair ShepherdHorshamAppointed representativeBP Wealth Management LtdHorshamAppointed representativeBrian John RichardsonHorshamAppointed representativeElliott Financial Services LtdHorshamAppointed representativeGeoff Paffett Personal Financial Planning Services LtdHorshamAppointed representativeHorsham Financial Services LtdHorshamAppointed representative

Firms are listed by type and location, best known first. Being listed is not a recommendation: check any firm before you deal with it.

Get the full report on Benchmark Financial Planning

Everything on this page, plus everything locked above, in one dated PDF you can keep, file or send on.

  • 56 other companies its directors have run, named
  • 3 background checks on its contact details
  • All 40 events in its history
  • 12 connected firms, named, and who links them

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Benchmark Financial Planning Limited FCA authorised?
Benchmark Financial Planning Limited (FRN 227247) is not directly authorised. It is an appointed representative acting under the responsibility of a directly authorised principal firm.
What does appointed representative mean for Benchmark Financial Planning?
An appointed representative (AR) can carry out regulated financial services, but is not directly authorised by the FCA. A principal firm holds the authorisation and is legally responsible for the AR's conduct. Benchmark Financial Planning Limited (FRN 227247) is an AR of Best Practice IFA Group Limited (FRN 223112). When you use Benchmark Financial Planning's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm. Example: if you take financial advice from Benchmark Financial Planning, complaints and compensation usually follow the same rules as dealing with the principal, but this depends on the product and your circumstances. Before you proceed, confirm contact details match the official FCA register for both firms. Scammers sometimes clone legitimate AR names and FRNs but use fake phone numbers and websites.
What is Benchmark Financial Planning’s phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 01403 331400 and the website benchmarkfp.co.uk for Benchmark Financial Planning. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is Benchmark Financial Planning a scam or clone?
Benchmark Financial Planning is a genuine FCA-listed firm, and the FCA has published no warnings about fake versions of it. Scammers do copy real firms, though, so check that any contact details you were given match the ones on the register.
Is my money safe with Benchmark Financial Planning?
Protection works through Best Practice IFA Group Limited, the principal firm responsible for Benchmark Financial Planning's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Who owns Benchmark Financial Planning?
Benchmark Financial Planning is owned by Benchmark Capital Limited, which holds 75–100% of shares, 75–100% of votes and can appoint and remove the board, since 6 April 2016.
Who runs Benchmark Financial Planning?
Companies House lists 4 directors of Benchmark Financial Planning: Edward Dymott, Wesley Sinclair Harrison, Helen Louise Fitzgerald and Karan Jitendra Sejpal.
How long has Benchmark Financial Planning been in business?
The company was formed on 21 March 2011.
Does Benchmark Financial Planning use any other names?
It trades as Aspect8 Chartered Financial Planners. It has previously used 7 other names, including Aspect8 Ltd, Ian Cooke & Partners Ltd and Independent Pilots Financial Services.

Sources and links

The full report on Benchmark Financial Planning Limited

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