Intelligent Money was an FCA-authorised SIPP and investment platform operator. Some clients were advised by IFA firms to transfer existing pensions to an Intelligent Money SIPP and invest in non-standard or alternative assets. If you suffered losses following unsuitable advice, you may have a claim against the adviser or the operator.
Intelligent Money Limited was an FCA-authorised investment and SIPP platform operator. The firm provided self-invested personal pension administration services to retail clients, often in connection with IFA-recommended investment strategies. Some clients were recommended to transfer existing pensions to the Intelligent Money platform and invest in assets that proved unsuitable or illiquid.
Where IFAs recommended transfers to the Intelligent Money SIPP to access specific investments — particularly where those investments were non-standard, illiquid, or unregulated — claims may be available against both the advising IFA (for unsuitable advice) and against the operator (for inadequate due diligence under the FG13/8 and post-Berkeley Burke framework).
Claimants should check the FCA Register to establish the current regulatory status of Intelligent Money and identify whether any FSCS claims are available against the operator or against advisers in the recommendation chain.
The correct route depends on whether the firm is still active, the nature of your loss, and whether FSCS compensation has already been paid on related adviser claims.
Check the FCA Register for the firm's current status. If still active, submit a DISP complaint about the suitability of investments permitted within your SIPP or the due diligence applied by the operator.
Check FCA Register firstIf the firm rejects your complaint, escalate to FOS. FOS adjudicates on both adviser suitability and SIPP operator due diligence under the established regulatory framework.
FOS escalationIf Intelligent Money or an IFA in the recommendation chain has been declared in default, FSCS compensation up to £85,000 per eligible person per firm may be available.
If firm in defaultFor large pension losses, civil proceedings under the SIPP operator liability framework and COBS suitability rules can pursue uncapped recovery against surviving solvent parties.
Uncapped recoveryThe legal framework governing SIPP operator liability has been substantially clarified by two Court of Appeal decisions. Options UK Personal Pensions LLP v Fletcher [2024] EWCA Civ 541 confirmed that SIPP operators owe active due diligence duties and may be liable where they accept unsuitable non-standard assets into client SIPPs without proper assessment.
Adams v Carey Pensions UK LLP [2020] (FSMA s.27) established that where a SIPP was set up through an unauthorised introducer, the contract may be voidable, enabling full restitution of invested funds regardless of the FSCS cap.
In parallel, Berkeley Burke SIPP Administration Ltd v Financial Ombudsman Service [2018] EWHC 2368 (Admin) confirmed that FOS has jurisdiction to make awards requiring SIPP operators to compensate clients for due diligence failures — and that courts will not readily overturn such awards on judicial review.
SIPP operator claims are subject to the same DISP and Limitation Act deadlines as adviser claims. FSCS claims must also meet prescribed eligibility windows.
DISP: six years from advice or three years from discovery. FSCS eligibility windows apply. See redressadvisory.com/time-limits.
Redress Advisory assesses your position across all four routes and connects you with an SRA-regulated solicitor at no upfront cost.
Begin Your AssessmentYou do not need to use a claims management company to pursue a pension mis-selling complaint. You can complain directly to the financial firm, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), apply to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), or instruct a solicitor independently — all free of charge. Using Redress Advisory does not improve the likelihood of success compared to pursuing a claim yourself, and our fee will reduce any compensation you receive.
Redress Advisory Ltd (Company No. 17295681) is a claims management company. Regulated legal work is carried out by our Operating SRA Partner solicitor firms. We are not a firm of solicitors and we do not provide legal advice.
The information on this page is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or claims management advice. Individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. Historical outcomes in related cases are not a guarantee of results in your case.
FOS: 0800 023 4567 | FSCS: 0800 678 1100 | FCA Register: register.fca.org.uk