M&C Financial Planning Ltd

Reference number: 1038446

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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

ValidPath Limited Reference number: 197107 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.
  • M&C Financial Planning Ltd (FRN 1038446) is an AR of ValidPath Limited (FRN 197107). When you use M&C Financial Planning's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm.
  • Example: if you take financial advice from M&C 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.

  • No website on the FCA register

  • Phone number

    020 3890 5800

  • Address

    3rd Floor, 45 Albemarle Street, London, Westminster, W1S 4JL, United Kingdom

In the full report: 2 background checks, 1 thing worth a closer look

  • What kind of line 020 3890 5800 is
  • Whether W1S 4JL is a shared office: 20 other firms give it
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Other names (2)

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

  • M&C Financial Planing Ltd Former name
  • Smart Finance Group Ltd Former name

FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Protection through the principal firm
    Protection works through ValidPath 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
16409090
Company status
Active
Company type
Private limited company
Incorporated
25 April 2025 (1 year old)
Registered office
3rd Floor 45 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 4JL, United Kingdom
Nature of business
  • Activities auxiliary to financial intermediation not elsewhere classified (SIC 66190)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Matthew Holmes Director Sep 1991 25 Apr 2025 None

In the full report: every company its directors have run

  • Confirmation that its director runs no other company
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Key dates in its history

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

2025

13 October 2025

  • Changed its registered name from "M&C Financial Planing Ltd"

FCA register

10 October 2025

  • Changed its registered name from "Smart Finance Group Ltd"
  • Became an appointed representative

FCA register

25 April 2025

  • Incorporated at Companies House
  • Matthew Holmes took control (75–100% of shares)
  • Matthew Holmes appointed as a director

Companies House

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

Firms like M&C Financial Planning

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

In London

SIX Financial Information UK LimitedLondonAppointed representativeBarrenjoey Investment Management (UK) LimitedLondonAppointed representativeMoonfare UK LimitedLondonAppointed representativeAlpha FX Institutional LimitedLondonAppointed representativeLCP Capital Solutions LimitedLondonAppointed representativeBrighton Park Capital UK LimitedLondonAppointed 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 M&C Financial Planning

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

  • Every company its directors have run, named
  • 2 background checks on its contact details, 1 flagged
  • All 6 events in its history

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is M&C Financial Planning Ltd FCA authorised?
M&C Financial Planning Ltd (FRN 1038446) 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 M&C 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. M&C Financial Planning Ltd (FRN 1038446) is an AR of ValidPath Limited (FRN 197107). When you use M&C Financial Planning's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm. Example: if you take financial advice from M&C 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 M&C Financial Planning’s phone number?
The FCA register lists the phone number 020 3890 5800 for M&C Financial Planning. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is M&C Financial Planning a scam or clone?
M&C 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 M&C Financial Planning?
Protection works through ValidPath Limited, the principal firm responsible for M&C Financial Planning's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Who owns M&C Financial Planning?
Companies House lists one person with significant control of M&C Financial Planning: Mr Matthew Holmes (75–100% of shares).
Who runs M&C Financial Planning?
Companies House lists one director of M&C Financial Planning: Matthew Holmes.
How long has M&C Financial Planning been in business?
The company was formed on 25 April 2025.
Does M&C Financial Planning use any other names?
It has previously used 2 other names: M&C Financial Planing Ltd and Smart Finance Group Ltd.

Sources and links

The full report on M&C Financial Planning Ltd

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