Merlin Andrew

Reference number: 1030930

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Appointed representative

Merlin Andrew 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

St. James's Place Wealth Management Plc Reference number: 195351 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.
  • Merlin Andrew (FRN 1030930) is an AR of St. James's Place Wealth Management Plc (FRN 195351). When you use Merlin Andrew's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm.
  • Example: if you take financial advice from Merlin Andrew, 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

    07976 471559

  • Address

    42A Longlands Drive, Heybrook Bay, Plymouth, Devon, PL9 0BL, United Kingdom

In the full report: 2 background checks

  • What kind of line 07976 471559 is
  • Who else gives the postcode PL9 0BL
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Other names (1)

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

  • Hill Fort Financial Planning Trading name

FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Protection through the principal firm
    Protection works through St. James's Place Wealth Management PLC, 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

Merlin Andrew’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

2025

29 March 2025

  • Became an appointed representative
  • Began trading as "Hill Fort Financial Planning"

FCA register

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

Firms like Merlin Andrew

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

In Plymouth

Channel Financial Planning LimitedPlymouthAppointed representativeChristopher RichardsPlymouthAppointed representativeFletcher WallenPlymouthAppointed representativeFuel Accountancy Services LimitedPlymouthAppointed representativeGold Reflect LtdPlymouthAppointed representativeJames O'GallagherPlymouthAppointed 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 Merlin Andrew

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 Merlin Andrew FCA authorised?
Merlin Andrew (FRN 1030930) 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 Merlin Andrew?
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. Merlin Andrew (FRN 1030930) is an AR of St. James's Place Wealth Management Plc (FRN 195351). When you use Merlin Andrew's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm. Example: if you take financial advice from Merlin Andrew, 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 Merlin Andrew’s phone number?
The FCA register lists the phone number 07976 471559 for Merlin Andrew. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is Merlin Andrew a scam or clone?
Merlin Andrew 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 Merlin Andrew?
Protection works through St. James's Place Wealth Management PLC, the principal firm responsible for Merlin Andrew's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Does Merlin Andrew use any other names?
It trades as Hill Fort Financial Planning.

Sources and links

The full report on Merlin Andrew

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