First Light Investments

People

Our Principal Advisor Peter Dracup is a graduate chemist from the University of Bristol. Peter spent a number of years working in secondary education, reaching senior management level. During that time he also worked in and chaired a number of working groups for Cambridge University Examinations Syndicate.

Peter has been a financial adviser from his base in Rutland, since 1993 and regularly sees many clients dating back to those times.

Peter writes.......

I set up an Independent Financial Advice Firm in Oakham during 1997. At that time I was disappointed with the poor level of knowledge and the sales and commissions culture in the Industry (which all still persist).

Quite simply we set out to do our best to advise and promote the best interests of every single one of our clients.

This continues to this day with myself as the chief adviser and a small number of advisory and administrative assistants.

Today we look after the personal wealth, pensions and investments of substantial numbers of clients and their families.

Financial Advisers and qualifications

The Financial Services Authority is trying its hardest to change the sales and commissions culture of the industry and is supporting higher level examinations and other changes.

We strongly support the Financial Services Authority's moves on this matter.

With the introduction of Advanced Financial Planning Qualifications in the late 1990s Financial Advisers are now split into a two tier system.

Consumers can now differentiate between Financial Advisers, the vast majority of Independent Financial Advisers are still on the lower tier holding just the basic qualifications.

As Chartered Financial Planners we are in the highest tier of Independent Financial Advisers.

We have an academic approach to professional qualifications.

Our Advanced Financial Planning Qualifications include the following:

• Registered as a Pension Transfer Specialist in 1999
• Certificate in Advanced Financial Planning in the year 2000 (Advanced Financial Planner)
• Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning in 2007
• The broad sweep of our work plus my qualifications and experience have resulted in the award of the Chartered Financial Planner designation in 2007 by the UK Chartered Insurance Institute.

From the outset we made major use of computer technology, systems that we have used for 10 years or more are only now becoming commonplace in the industry.

We have an Active Investment Process, good contacts worldwide and access some of the world's remarkable funds for clients.

We support a number of charities for children and environmental conservation.

• We are always pleased to assist in constructing green and ethical portfolios and have considerable knowledge and expertise in these matters.
• As far as we are able First Light Investments has at all times run a green and recycling office.