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 you've ever made?

When I went up to secondary school my parents bought me a posh, leather briefcase which I absolutely hated! 41 years later I'm still using it every day for work. It's a bit battered round the edges now, but I love it.

What do your shoes say about you?

When I started in the City, everybody wore black brogues and I've stuck with them for work ever since. I do love a good Jesus boot though…

What would your superpower be?

I'd turn back time so that I could have one last holiday in France with my late father and enjoy his company over some glorious food and wine.

Car or bike?

I'd probably plump for public transport.

What qualifies you to do this job?

I have a PhD in Nuclear Physics and spent a part of my early career working in the cryogenic superconducting magnet team of the world's highest energy particle accelerator. My early work used much of the same mathematics that underlies modern finance theory, providing a natural progression into quantitative finance and asset management. Over the past decade, I have been constructing and operating quantitative systematic investment strategies.

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

Don't lose the money!

What do your shoes say about you?

Not much, but when they do talk, they always put their foot in their mouth.

What can't you live without?

Electrons.

What's your favourite gadget?

A corkscrew.

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'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'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 lesson you’ve learnt?

Investing isn’t as risky as you might think, once you realise the combined impact of low interest rates and rising inflation on your cash savings.

What do your shoes say about you?

A clean pair of walking boots means I love the outdoors, but I rarely get to use them at the moment since the arrival of my baby boy.

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

The Wonder Weeks – it usefully tells me whether I should expect smiles or ‘grizzle chops’ from my son on a week-by-week basis.

What would your superpower be?

I’d choose the ability to freeze time and use the time to read a book, watch a couple of movies and have a cuppa with a few biscuits – basically all the things I wish I’d done more of before I became a dad – and still have lots of time for saving the world and putting the nappy bin out.

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 best investment you’ve ever made?

Spending a year working and travelling abroad – it cost a lot, but the experiences and memories were worth every penny.

What do your shoes say about you?

I love to get out and about and explore the world around me.

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

Videostream – a very clever little app that allows me to stream films and TV programmes from my computer to my TV, using just my phone.

What would your superpower be?

Flying. I always think it would be really relaxing, plus the freedom to go anywhere at any time would be awesome.

What thing can’t you live without?

Coffee, enough said!

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 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?

Always invest in a top-of-the-range mattress. You'll never make a good decision after a bad night's sleep.

What do your shoes say about you?

He's got the boots, he's got the socks, (he thinks) he's got the looks. But he can't bend it like Beckham

What gadget can't you live without?

Calculator - without one I wouldn't be gainfully employed.

What will your epitaph say?

Check back in 3 days, in case of resurrection.