Meet the team

What qualifies you to do this job?

With a PhD in computer sciences, technology is at the heart of everything I do. I am an award-winning entrepreneur, having established a number of successful online companies, most recently, ActiveQuote – an online insurance comparison site that partners some of the UK's best-known aggregators.

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

Do what you love, invest in things you understand and don't try to outsmart the market.

What do your shoes say about you?

Business these days is about velocity…sometimes I feel I need to be on rollerblades to get more done.

What thing can't you live without?

My wife and children (sorry for calling you a ‘thing’ honey!).

Car or bike?

Cars are the great British folly, bikes should get more love.

What qualifies you to do this job?

I left medical school to enter the world of investing, a long standing passion of mine. Since then, I've worked as a stockbroker and investment manager, speeding through the industry exams to earn the title of Chartered Wealth Manager.

What's the best investment lesson you've learnt?

When I was 11, I used all the savings I had to make my first investment – I bought shares in a high-risk, biotech company which subsequently crumbled along with my dreams of making millions! Lesson learnt – don't try to get rich quick, spread your risk and diversify.

What do your shoes say about you?

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

What gadget can't you live without?

My alarm clock.

What will your epitaph say?

Perhaps she just overslept…!

What qualifies you to do this job?

I started my career as a stockbroker in the City of London back in 1985. Since then, I have worked in the finance industry establishing a number of successful business in the broking, asset management technology and proprietary trading environments.

What's the best investment lesson you've learnt?

Start saving early! As Albert Einstein pointed out, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world; it is the most powerful force in the universe.”

What do your shoes say about you?

I love cycling – obviously! If they could really talk, they'd tell you they've been London to Paris three times to raise money for Debra, an amazing charity that supports individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

What's the most useful App on your phone right now?

Strava – it gives me training stats and analysis of all my bike rides.

What gadget can't you live without?

My Garmin.

What qualifies you to do this job?

After gaining a first-class honours degree in Computer Science from Cardiff University, I joined Richard Theo and together we built ActiveQuote, an Award winning price comparison service and one of the fastest-growing companies in Wales.

What's the best investment you've ever made?

Saving up pocket money to build my very own PC at the age of 14, and teaching myself to code. It has paid me back in years of enjoyment (and the pocket money a few times over).

What do your shoes say about you?

This guy appreciates a good brogue - and a happy pair of socks. Tan leather brogues are the classiest of all footwear – fact!

What's the most useful App on your phone right now?

Gmail. Sometimes a curse, but having the power to check my emails at any time, night or day, saves me valuable time at the office.

Car or bike?

Car. Preferably one filled with as much tech as possible. And remotely controllable via an app - optional, but awesome.

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

Being encouraged by a wise old uncle to join the wave of first-time shareholders in the mid-1980s (that makes me feel old!)

What do your shoes say about you?

Run Forrest, run!

What gadget can't you live without?

My Polar M400 – I love numbers in all aspects of my life.

What's the most useful App on your phone right now?

Spotify - although I’m learning to love Slack!

What bit of advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

The same as I tell myself now – try not to sweat the small stuff.

What would your superpower be?

Infinite patience – my relationship with my children would benefit enormously.

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

When I got my first Saturday job, my mum told me to spend half, save half…if only I'd listened.

What do your shoes say about you?

There's no place like home.

What's the most useful App on your phone right now?

Headspace - 10 minutes to clear my mind, priceless.

What would your superpower be?

Nose wiggling, magical powers like Samantha from Bewitched

What qualifies you to do this job?

I left school and went straight into stockbroking at 19, taking an active role in dealing and advising customers. I hold the CISI Investment Advice Diploma and am a CFA Level II Candidate.

What's the best investment lesson you've learnt?

Markets aren't always logical, so don't be afraid if, in the short-term an investment isn't going your way.

What do your shoes say about you?

Sharp, professional and like to be kept on my toes!

What's the most useful App on your phone right now?

Having recently moved to Cardiff, it has to be Google Maps.

What gadget can't you live without?

My Swan steam generator iron.

What the best investment lesson you've learnt?

Investors buy for the longer term, speculators hope

What do your shoes say about you?

Being open to contrarian thought, I'll wear brown in town

What gadget can't you live without?

My iPhone

What's the most useful app on your phone right now?

Duolingo. I've learnt more in a few months than I ever did at school

What would your super power be?

Babel. Being able to understand everyone, everywhere

What's the best investment you've ever made?

I bought a guitar at 19 and taught myself to play - I'm quite a way off selling my millionth album, but it's brought me hours of pleasure nonetheless.

What do your shoes say about you?

Always on the go - usually running to make up time.

What's the most useful App on your phone right now?

My banking app - it's great to have control of your money on the go.

What gadget can't you live without?

The humble kettle - try living without one.

Car or bike?

Cycling to work is a wonderful tonic.

What’s the best investment you’ve ever made?

My very first Apple Mac. I taught myself how to use QuarkXpress, Illustrator and Photoshop, which helped me get my first Graphic Design job.

What do your shoes say about you?

The classic desert boot – simple, stylish and not averse to cutting a few shapes on the northern soul dancefloor.

What’s the most useful App on your phone right now?

Code School – a fantastic little free app I can now use to learn all sorts of coding languages whilst simultaneously tickling the back of my 2-year-old son to get him to sleep in the evening.

What thing can’t you live without?

My running shoes. There’s no better way to clear your head after a busy day at work, or get the blood pumping first thing in the morning, than a quick run.

Car or bike?

A bike would ruin the hair

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

My boyfriend keeps repeating the same motto: ‘save £20 a week, and you’ll get £1000 over a year’

What gadget can't you live without?

My kindle – best way to escape the real world.

What will your epitaph say?

#myjobhereisdone

What's the most useful App on your phone right now?

Instagram, aka the world of #selfies and #avocadotoasts

What would your superpower be?

I’d freeze time, so I can get more sleep in the morning.

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

My father is a retired stockbroker and my mum is an expert at finding weird and wonderful companies to invest in, so conversations regularly turn to sharing stock tips.

What do your shoes say about you?

These boots are made for walking! They’ve taken me to the top of the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales. Nowadays I’m pleased if I get to the top of the stairs.

What gadget can't you live without?

As a new parent it has to be my Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine. It gives me a bottle of formula milk at exactly the right temperature in less than two minutes – no kettles involved. We even take it on holiday with us!

What will your epitaph say?

Well, I wasn’t expecting that!

What would your superpower be?

The ability to eat chocolate and crisps indefinitely, without putting on weight.

What's the best financial advice you've ever been given?

If something costs £100 and you will use it 100 times – then it’s worth the money.

What do your shoes say about you?

I can’t resist a heel, even though they hurt. My trainers would probably say ‘Please wear me’.

What will your epitaph say?

Finally, she is quiet.

What gadget can't you live without?

My iphone. It keeps me in touch with everyone and everything going on in the world, tells me the time, gets me up in the morning, entertains my kids and lets me listen to music. I love a good sing song!

What would your superpower be?

I’d be a witch, so that I could fly, levitate objects, become invisible, clean and cook without moving and go to Hogwarts. Wingardium Leviosa!!

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

Stop giving money away paying rent and buy your own place.

What do your shoes say about you?

Clean, well-mannered and shiny ☺

What would your superpower be?

Absorb all information I come into contact with instantly, after all, knowledge is power.

What's the most useful app on your phone right now?

That's easy – Squirrel. I love using FinTech as well as making it. It’s responsible for getting me on track with my savings and putting aside enough to invest.

What do your shoes say about you?

I love finding stuff, whether it's bugs in software or geocaches in a muddy field!

What would your superpower be?

Super-fast learning. I LOVE to learn new things but it's hard to find enough time to learn everything!

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

Be patient.

What gadget can't you live without?

Does air conditioning count?

What's the best investment you've ever made?

University

What do your shoes say about you?

That I'm consistent

What's the most useful app on your phone right now?

Reddit!

What would your superpower be?

Captain Hindsight

What thing can't you live without?

My wife, and our cats!

What's the best investment you've ever made?

Bitcoin – if I’d sold them a week later!

What do your shoes say about you?

Calm, confident, comfortable.

What's the most useful app on your phone right now?

Binance – waiting for a cryptocurrency resurgence!

What gadget can't you live without?

My computer, I’m a software developer after all.

What’s the best investment you’ve ever made?

I bought a piano for my wife as a wedding present; we are learning to play together and will one day teach our children!

What do your shoes say about you?

They would say (in perfect German) how glad they are to have a guy as cool as me on board.

What’s the most useful App on your phone right now?

The Audible App – listening to autobiographies narrated by the author is particularly enthralling.

What would your superpower be?

The ability to travel faster than the speed of light – I’d like to check out the other side of the universe to see what I’m missing.

What thing can’t you live without?

My phone: I try to not let it take over my life, but most of the time it does.

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

Don’t work for money, make money work for you.

What do your shoes say about you?

I never duck my responsibilities, or let our customer experience slip (sorry!).

What gadget can't you live without?

My satnav; without it I’d never find my way anywhere.

What will your epitaph say?

I knew this would happen, eventually.

What would your superpower be?

The power to control time, I can go back and experience different eras, see what the future holds, or simply extend the present.

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

If you can’t afford three of what you’re about to buy, don’t buy any! It helps me stay within my financial means and not overspend.

What do your shoes say about you?

Versatile, and I don’t pick style over comfort!

What gadget can't you live without?

Alarm clock. Without a doubt a life saver.

What bit of advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Enjoy the little things.

What would your superpower be?

Flight - be nice to get some sun every weekend and to get away from the rain in Cardiff.

What do your shoes say about you?

Seriously Jess?! For once can you please go for comfort over style.

What gadget can't you live without?

My fitness watch! I’m obsessed with tracking every part of my life! (No wonder I’m an Executive Assistant!)

What will your epitaph say?

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye

What's the most useful App on your phone right now?

Being Australian, I’m always wanted to catch up with all the gossip back home! I’m always on my Australian news apps!

What would your superpower be?

The ability to fly. I’d save a fortune on getting back to Australia

What's the best investment you have ever made?

My Apple Music account. It allows me to keep my ever-changing playlists.

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

“Never invest in a business you cannot understand.” – Warren Buffett

What's the most useful app on your phone right now?

Skyscanner: lets me check the cheapest flights. I love a thrifty bargain.

What do your shoes say about you?

There will always be jumps and bumps in life. You need the control and stability to land them.

What would your super power be?

The ability to shape-shift. Then you’d pretty much have all the powers you want.

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

Start young and always focus on the long-term

What do your shoes say about you?

I’m part of a team that aims to be the best in its field.

What gadget can't you live without?

Satnav: it’s been great for discovering new places

What's the most useful app on your phone right now?

Spotify has come to my rescue on many a long journey!

What bit of advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Don’t sacrifice long term success for short term gains

What's the best investment advice you've been given?

Be patient, Stick it out, Believe in who is investing for you

What do your shoes say about you?

I’m an adventurer at heart who loves to try new things

What gadget can't you live without?

My phone, for many reasons. The main one being it has constant access to music!

What's the most useful app on your phone right now?

Spotify. Music is the key to joy

What bit of advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Learn to drive as soon as possible. It’s a beautiful world, get exploring!