Troubled SIPP operator Guinness Mahon sold to Hartley Pensions

Unclear where liabilities lie

Hannah Godfrey
clock • 1 min read

Troubled SIPP operator Guinness Mahon has been sold to Hartley Pensions after entering administration earlier this month.

Administrators from Smith & Williamson (S&W) were appointed on Monday (17 February) and immediately concluded the sale of the business and certain assets to Hartley Pensions. The sale included around 4,000 self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) previously administered by Guinness Mahon. Guinness Mahon entered administration following a number of claims made against it relating to non-standard investments in its SIPPs. Last year Professional Adviser reported the SIPP provider had opened SIPP schemes for clients after recommendations from unregulated agent Avacade, which cold-called...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Retirement

Defensive income before retirement: A four layered framework

Defensive income before retirement: A four layered framework

Entering decumulation can be an unsettling time for clients

Joe Simpson
clock 10 August 2026 • 4 min read
The FCA's decumulation challenge: Can UK REITs help deliver sustainable retirement income?

The FCA's decumulation challenge: Can UK REITs help deliver sustainable retirement income?

A look at the three Ss of retirement income

James Peel
clock 04 August 2026 • 7 min read
What the decumulation shift means for advice firms, and how the best are responding

What the decumulation shift means for advice firms, and how the best are responding

'Technology is part of this picture in ways that are worth being honest about'

Andy Zanelli
clock 14 July 2026 • 4 min read