Ciaran McLarnon

Reference number: 1026564

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Appointed representative

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

Responsible principal firm

Connect IFA Ltd Reference number: 441505 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.
  • Ciaran Mclarnon (FRN 1026564) is an AR of Connect IFA Ltd (FRN 441505). When you use Ciaran Mclarnon's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm.
  • Example: if you take financial advice from Ciaran Mclarnon, 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.

  • No website on the FCA register

  • Phone number

    07732 489258

  • Address

    10 Manor Court, Manor Street, Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, BT21 0GZ, United Kingdom

In the full report: 2 background checks

  • What kind of line 07732 489258 is
  • Who else gives the postcode BT21 0GZ
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Other names (1)

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

  • Smile Financial Solutions Trading name

FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Protection through the principal firm
    Protection works through Connect IFA Ltd, 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.

Key dates in its history

Ciaran McLarnon’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

2025

2 March 2025

  • Became an appointed representative
  • Began trading as "Smile Financial Solutions"

FCA register

Director appointments and resignations, and trading names, appear under All events.

Firms like Ciaran McLarnon

Other firms of the same type (mortgage adviser or broker), nearest first.

In the Belfast (BT) postcode area

UPS (Financial Services) LtdBelfastAppointed representative1 4 U Financial Solutions LtdBangorAppointed representativeAdrian Gallagher LtdCarrickfergusAppointed representativeAidan RiceNewryAppointed representativeAlan SmythLarneAppointed representativeAlison HughesCraigavonAppointed 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 Ciaran McLarnon

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

  • 2 background checks on its contact details
  • All 2 events in its history

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Ciaran McLarnon FCA authorised?
Ciaran McLarnon (FRN 1026564) 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 Ciaran McLarnon?
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. Ciaran McLarnon (FRN 1026564) is an AR of Connect IFA Ltd (FRN 441505). When you use Ciaran McLarnon's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm. Example: if you take financial advice from Ciaran McLarnon, 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 Ciaran McLarnon’s phone number?
The FCA register lists the phone number 07732 489258 for Ciaran McLarnon. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is Ciaran McLarnon a scam or clone?
Ciaran McLarnon 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 Ciaran McLarnon?
Protection works through Connect IFA Ltd, the principal firm responsible for Ciaran McLarnon's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Does Ciaran McLarnon use any other names?
It trades as Smile Financial Solutions.

Sources and links

The full report on Ciaran McLarnon

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