Expert VerifiedWhat Makes Hornbuckle Mitchell’s SIPP Different?
- Last Updated: 23 Oct 2025
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Key Takeaways
- A Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP offers a self-directed approach to managing your retirement funds, offering an array of investments, including stocks, bonds, funds, and commercial property.
- Fees vary based on the chosen plan and your investment selections, though investing in a Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP has perks such as tax relief on contributions and tax-free growth on investments.
- Transferring existing pensions is possible, but check for any applicable conditions.
If you have been reading up about your pensions savings options, you may have come across the Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP.
As the name suggests, a SIPP, or Self-Invested Personal Pension, puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to your retirement savings.
This means you will be able to choose your investments and how they are managed.
But is the Hornbuckle Mitchell option still available to investors today?
In This Article, You Will Discover:
In this article, the EveryInvestor team will highlight the fundamental aspects of the Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP to illustrate the benefits, eligibility criteria, and features of a Self-Invested Personal Pension product.
Read on to find out more.
Who Is Hornbuckle Mitchell?
Hornbuckle Mitchell is a UK-based provider of self-invested pension solutions, including SIPPs (Self-Invested Personal Pensions).
The company specializes in pension administration, offering a platform that allows individuals to have greater autonomy in managing their pension investments.
Hornbuckle Mitchell is recognized for its role in the pension industry, providing services to individuals and businesses.
It's important to check for the latest information about Hornbuckle Mitchell, as details about companies may evolve over time.
What Is a SIPP?
The Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) is a pension scheme offered in the UK, designed to give individuals enhanced oversight and adaptability with their retirement savings.
This personal pension plan enables the selection and governance of various investment types, including equities, bonds, and real estate, within the pension portfolio.
What Are the Benefits of a Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP?
A Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP offers several benefits for individuals looking to save for retirement.
Firstly, it provides a tax-efficient way to save for retirement, as contributions are eligible for tax relief.
This means that individuals can receive tax relief on their contributions, which helps to boost their pension savings.
Additionally, a Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP offers flexibility in terms of investment options.
Individuals can choose from a wide range of investments, including stocks, bonds, and property, giving them the freedom to tailor their pension savings to their specific financial goals.
With a Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP, individuals can also benefit from the ability to consolidate multiple pension schemes into one, making it easier to manage their retirement savings and potentially reducing administrative fees.
Learn More: What can You Invest in with SIPPs?
What is The Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP?
The Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP provider was a personal pension plan aimed at helping you save and invest funds for retirement.
While existing clients are still serviced, new applications will not be accepted for this product.1
Brief History & Overview
Hornbuckle Mitchell was established in 1982 by David White and Richard Hornbuckle.
Initially, the company specialised in advice, but soon recognised its core strength in administration services.2
In 1997, Hornbuckle entered the Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) market, focusing on developing SIPPs and Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) solutions for advised clients.3
Hornbuckle sold 60% of its business to two private investors, Phil Smith, and Richard Wohanka, in 2013, and the company was eventually rebranded as the Embark Group.4
Embark became part of Lloyds Banking Group in a £390 million deal in 2021.5
Key Players in Hornbuckle Mitchell's Development
Jackie Leiper6 was named the new CEO of Embark when the Lloyds deal was concluded.
Leiper had joined Lloyds in 2010 and replaced Phil Smith,7 one of the founders of the Embark Group.
Current Market Position
Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPPs are closed to new business because Embark is streamlining all its SIPP products into one unified brand, Embark Pensions.8
This consolidation brings together Embark Services Ltd, known in the market as Hornbuckle, and EBS Pensions Ltd, under a single trading umbrella.9
Existing Hornbuckle Mitchell clients continue to be serviced.
How Do You Compare Hornbuckle Mitchell's SIPP Offering With Competitors?
Comparing Hornbuckle Mitchell’s SIPP offering with competitors is difficult because the product is no longer open for new business.
If you are in the market for a SIPP, it is important to research and compare providers based on your individual investment goals and preferences, and your specific requirements to determine which one aligns best with your needs.
Here is a summary of what some of the other SIPP providers offer.
AJ Bell
AJ Bell maintains it was the first to bring an online SIPP to the UK market.
It has one of the lowest percentage-based platform fees at 0,25% of your plan’s value; however, this can become expensive if you have a large pension pot.10
Hargreaves Lansdown
Noted for its extensive investment research, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a user-friendly platform and a broad range of investment products.
Hargreaves Lansdown does not charge to set up a SIPP, and the annual holding fee never exceeds 0,45%.11
Curtis Banks
Curtis Banks has a large commercial property portfolio and its Your Future SIPP is targeted at high-net-worth individuals with a pension pot of at least £250,000.12
The administrative fee for a Your Future SIPP is £352 a year, provided you use Curtis Banks’ investment partners and/or one deposit account.13
Who Is Hornbuckle Mitchell's SIPP Product Best Suited to?
Hornbuckle Mitchell’s SIPP is not open to new business, and new clients are directed to the Embark SIPP instead.15
How To Contact Customer Service & Support?
Customer service and support encompasses the varied contact channels available, the efficiency reflected in response times, and the firsthand experiences captured in client reviews and testimonials.
Contact Channels
Contact channels available to Hornbuckle Mitchell customers are phone, email, and via an online contact form.16
Response Times
Response times can be immediate during business hours on weekdays as each page of the Embark Platform has a live chat function.17
Client Reviews & Testimonials
Hornbuckle Mitchell's parent company, Embark, faced criticism for service levels in a Money Marketing article in 2022.18
According to an FT Adviser article in November 2022, Embark was reported to have the highest upheld Financial Ombudsman Service cases among investment platforms.19
What is Regulatory Compliance & Protection?
Regulatory compliance and protection offered to Hornbuckle Mitchell fall under the FCA, FSCS, and data management measures.
Regulation
Embark Services Limited (registration no.120820) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.20
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) Protection
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)21 offers limited compensation to customers in cases where a UK-regulated company, supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is unable to fulfil claims.
Investments within your plan may be eligible for FSCS coverage, and if compensation is applicable, Hornbuckle Mitchell will handle the claim process on your behalf.22
Data Security Measures
Under UK Data Protection legislation and regulation, Embark Services Limited serves as the data controller for the Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP.23
Common Questions
Flexibility:
- Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPPs are known for their flexible investment options, allowing for a tailored approach to pension planning.
Wide Range of Investments:
- They typically offer access to a broad array of investment opportunities, including stocks, bonds, funds, and possibly non-standard assets like commercial property.
Customization:
- Their SIPPs are designed to accommodate various investment strategies, from straightforward portfolios to more complex arrangements.
Pension Consolidation:
- The ability to consolidate multiple pension pots into one SIPP for easier management and potentially lower costs.
Competitive Pricing:
- Hornbuckle Mitchell’s SIPP fees have been structured to be competitive, offering value for the services provided.
- Their fee structure typically includes set-up fees, annual management charges, and transactional fees, depending on the activities within the SIPP.
Transparency:
- They aim for transparency in their fee structure, making it easier for investors to understand the total cost of their SIPP.
Transfer-Friendly:
- Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPPs generally allow for the transfer of existing pensions, including other SIPPs, personal pensions, and some types of workplace pensions, into their SIPP.
Streamlined Process:
- The process is designed to be as smooth as possible, with support available to help manage the transfer and consolidate pensions effectively.
Diverse Choices:
- Investment options typically include a wide range of assets such as UK and international stocks, bonds, funds (including tracker funds and actively managed funds), ETFs, and investment trusts.
Non-Standard Assets:
- For more sophisticated investors, there might be opportunities to invest in non-standard assets, including commercial property, which can offer both diversification and potential tax advantages.
Tailored Solutions:
- Investors seeking a pension plan that can be customized to their individual needs might find Hornbuckle Mitchell’s SIPP appealing.
Expertise and Support:
- With a focus on high-quality customer service and access to pension specialists, investors can benefit from expert guidance.
Comprehensive Management Tools:
- Their platform typically provides robust tools for managing investments, tracking performance, and planning for retirement.
Flexibility for Growth:
- The SIPP is designed to grow with the investor, offering options to adjust investment strategies as circumstances change.
Hornbuckle Mitchell offers a wide range of investment options within its SIPP including stocks and bonds, ETFs, property, and cash.24
Hornbuckle Mitchell’s SIPP offers flexible withdrawal options, but specific terms and conditions should be reviewed.25
The tax implications of investing in a Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP are in line with the HMRC provisions.26
You can manage your Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP online using the Embark Pensions client portal.27
No, there is no mobile app for Hornbuckle Mitchell’s SIPP management.
Hornbuckle Mitchell’s customer service performance is linked to its parent company, Embark, which has not received favourable reviews on Trustpilot, albeit based on a very small sample.28
In Conclusion
Over the years, Hornbuckle Mitchell made significant strides in the SIPP market.
However, the company is not taking new clients, and the brand will eventually be incorporated into that of its parent company, Embark.
This change underscores the evolution of the retirement product industry, and the Hornbuckle Mitchell SIPP's enduring legacy is now intertwined with the broader Embark narrative.
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