About us | RiverPeak Wealth

About us

JOINED UP FINANCIAL THINKING

About us

JOINED UP FINANCIAL THINKING

Our team have years of experience at the helm of top private banks, and wealth managers providing investment advice and a high level of service to some of the world’s most influential individuals and families.

In addition, our Advisory Board helps create a culture of excellence within the firm. Comprised of leading UK business and investment experts, the Board complements our directors’ extensive expertise by providing them with best in practice insight and guidance on today’s markets. So we’re even better placed to navigate you through the ever-changing world of industry trends and regulations.

MEET THE TEAM

Nick Parker - Co-Founder, Managing Director

Nick has been giving investment advice to clients for over 30 years. Before establishing RiverPeak Wealth with James in 2013 he held a number of senior executive and management roles with some of the world's best known private banks, including Citi Private Bank, Merrill Lynch International and Coutts, advising some of the UKs most influential individuals and families.

Nick is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Securities Institute and holds the Certificate in Private Client Investment Advice and Management.

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Shauna Bevan Head of Investment Advisory

Before joining RiverPeak in January 2017 Shauna was Co-Head of Collectives Research and Portfolio Management at Charles Stanley and a member of their Investment Strategy Committee. Before joining Charles Stanley in 2003, Shauna worked for Merrill Lynch, initially for the International Private Bank and then for Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.

Shauna is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. She graduated from University College, Oxford with a degree in Classics and also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Finance with Structure and Regulation of Financial Markets from Birkbeck College, University of London. She is a governor of Cumnor House School, Sussex and a trustee of CAT Ltd (Chartered Accountants Trustees) which incorporates the ICAEW Foundation.

James Hedges - Paraplanning Manager

James joined RiverPeak in 2015, and has over 15 years' experience in the financial services sector. Before RiverPeak, James enjoyed varied positions with Lloyds Private Banking and as a Technical Adviser Assistant at Close Brothers Asset Management.

James brings a range of skills and knowledge to the RiverPeak team including experience of training and the organisation and development of systems and processes.

James is a member of The Chartered Insurance Institute and holds the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.

Charlotte L'Esperance - Head of Administration

Charlotte joined RiverPeak in 2016 and brings over 20 years of experience in administration, project management and communications to RiverPeak.

Charlotte has worked in both the public and private sector, including BNP Paribas and Dresdner Kleinwort. She delivers invaluable expertise in client service and relationship management.

Charlotte has a BA in French and History of Art from the University of Birmingham, and is fluent in French and speaks ‘conversational’ German.

Jon Nisbet - Paraplanner

In his role as an Associate Paraplanner, Jon brings with him 5 years’ experience in the financial services sector. Before RiverPeak, Jon enjoyed varied positions with NatWest and as a Personal Banker at Santander UK.

Jon brings a range of skills and technical knowledge to the RiverPeak team including a broad knowledge of the financial services sector gained through his work in banking.

Jon has a BSc in Accounting & Finance from the University of Brighton and is a member of The Chartered Insurance Institute, currently working towards his Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.

James Powell - Co-Founder, Managing Director

James has over 25 years experience of giving financial planning and investment advice. Prior to establishing RiverPeak Wealth he held senior management roles with private banks and Wealth Managers in London, including Citi Private Bank and Financial Planning manager for SG Hambros Bank.

James has also worked as a financial planning manager at a UK top 20 accountancy firm and prior to that at a national Independent Financial Advisory business.

James has a degree in Economics and holds the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate as well as the Investment Management Certificate.

Daniel Wright - Financial Adviser

Daniel joined RiverPeak in 2022, bringing with him over 9 years’ experience in financial services.

Prior to RiverPeak, Daniel worked in the City for firms such as Brewin Dolphin, in the financial

planning division, and Coutts & Co, in commercial banking.

Daniel strives to achieve good client outcomes through hard work, due diligence and keeping the

client needs as the focus of everything he does.

Daniel is a member of The Chartered Insurance Institute and holds the Diploma in Regulated Financial

Planning, as well as the Certificate in Paraplanning. Daniel has a BA with Honours in Archaeology and

a Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Science.

Andrew Medcalf - Senior Paraplanner

Andrew joined the RiverPeak team in June 2021 having been working in Financial Services since 2004.

Andrew has enjoyed various specialist and analytical roles as well as Paraplanning, working with institutions such as Legal & General and Lloyds Private Banking.

More recently Andrew worked for a financial advisory firm leading a team of Paraplanners.

Andrew has a CII Diploma in Financial Planning, a Regulated Diploma and Certificate in Financial Planning as well as a BSc Honours from Bath University in Sport and Exercise Science.

Sally Johnson - Administration Manager

In her role as Client Services Manager, Sally brings over 36 years of experience in administration and client management skills.

Sally managed a team for many years in the Finance and Operations Department at Toyota Head Office. She has since worked at Standard Life Direct and before RiverPeak as an administrative expert for another Independent Financial Advice firm.

Sally’s background has provided her with excellent organisational skills and a keenness to always put the client first.

Elspeth Elsey - Client Support Administrator

Elspeth joined RiverPeak Wealth in 2022 as a Client Support Administrator, having had previous experience in Finance & Banking specialising, latterly in financial advice, audit and compliance.

Elspeth's qualifications include International Compliance Association (ICA) Advanced Certificate in compliance, Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP) and Certificate in Financial Advice together with an A level in Law.

Outside of work, Elspeth enjoys her family life, in addition to baking, canal boating, forest bathing, theatre and walking.

RIVERPEAK ADVISORY BOARD

We have surrounded ourselves with some of the UK’s business leaders to create a culture of excellence.

Trevor Brown

Trevor was Managing Director of Throgmorton UK Limited a leading financial outsourcing firm that counts among its clients some of the world’s best known and most respected alternative investment managers. Trevor has been a Chartered Accountant for more than thirty years and prior to joining Throgmorton, he spent 12 years with Salomon Brothers/Citigroup where most recently he was a director and Head of European Taxation within the investment banking division. He gained hands on experience of the SME sector as the finance director and founder of a privately owned internet-related business during the dotcom boom.

Trevor is now an Ambassador of The Change Foundation, a charity changing the lives of marginalised young people.

Colin Day

Colin was the Chief Executive Officer of Essentra PLC from 2011 to 2017, before that, for over 10 years, Colin was the Chief Financial Officer at Reckitt Benckiser PLC where he not only led the finance function but was also instrumental in the merger and acquisition activity and the development of group strategy. Prior to Reckitt Benckiser PLC, Colin was the Chief Financial Officer of Aegis PLC and has held a range of senior finance and operational positions at a variety of companies. Colin is currently the Chairman of Premier Foods PLC, a Non-Executive Director of UK Government DEFRA, Chairman of the Milton Keynes University Project at Cranfield University, Non-Executive Director of Meggitt PLC, UK Advisor and Board Committee Member of FM Global Inc (US) and has previously held similar positions at WPP PLC, Amec Foster Wheeler PLC, Cadbury PLC, EasyJet PLC, and Imperial Brands PLC.

Richard Grainger

Richard worked in the City of London for over 25 years. Having qualified with Price Waterhouse, Richard joined the corporate finance department of Hill Samuel Bank in 1987 prior to moving with the team to Close Brothers Corporate Finance (“CBCF”) in 1996. Richard was Chief Executive of CBCF during its most successful growth period between 2001 and 2007. During this time, Richard was involved driving the growth of the UK business and developing and expanding Close Brothers International. Previously, he ran the Leisure and Retail Team and founded their Restructuring Team. Richard sat on the Management Board of Close Brothers Group plc for six years and finished as Chairman of CBCF in June 2009.

An Oxford graduate and a qualified Chartered Accountant, Richard is currently Chairman of Liberation Group, the brewer, pub owner and drinks wholesaler and Chairman of McKay Securities PLC, a Property Investment Trust (REIT). He also sits on the Surrey Business Leaders Forum and is a trustee of the charity Horatio’s Garden. Previous roles include the Chairmanships of Safestore Plc, Palmer & Harvey PLC, Ipes and Harrington Brooks.

SOME OF OUR AWARDS