About Us

Our story

Spectrum was set up in 2021 by Paul McFadyen and Nadeen Watson.  The directors have worked together since 2009 and between them have over 75 years’ experience of helping people understand and make the most of their money.

Everyone at Spectrum shares an absolute passion for looking after their clients and “going the extra mile” for those who entrust the team to assist with their future plans.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred with dust and sweat; who strives valiantly, who errs and may fall again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming.

Theodore Roosevelt

Nadeen and Paul

Our philosophy

Feedback tells us that clients aren’t just interested in our technical expertise.  They take that for granted in a professional adviser.  People also want to feel welcome.  They want to be treated as individuals.

As a small business with a friendly approach and a “family feel”, we are well placed to know our clients intimately.  We take enormous pride in the common sense, personal service provided by our team, and our clients tell us they really value this.

Sometimes a coffee (or even a wine) and a chat with the team, is more important than the formal discussions.  In fact, sometimes our client meetings don’t progress from the sofa in reception to the meeting room.

We are independent financial planners, so we have no ties to any product or investment providers. Our only vested interests are in doing what is best for our clients.

Our expertise

The Spectrum Client Relationship Managers are the very core of the business.  As well as keeping in regular contact with our clients, they manage the office and generally keep things running smoothly.  Our dedicated team places our clients at the heart of everything they do.

We are a small team, but we work closely alongside an extensive network of external experts, who assist with various aspects of our business such as research, report writing, investment monitoring, IT and compliance.  In short, we make sure we have the support of appropriate partners to ensure we can deliver the best service to our clients.

Our firm is based around taking the time to make sure we know our clients as individuals.  We recognise and appreciate that each client has unique circumstances and each plan is tailored, based on these.

Our expertise lies in ensuring that our clients have enough money to do the things that they want to do, at the times that they want to do them.

Glasgow's only Top Rated Firm

We have been included in the VouchedFor Top Rated 2024 Guide, distributed in The Times. VouchedFor’s Top Rated Guide aims to identify and celebrate the UK’s best financial advice firms based on client feedback. We are proud to be Glasgow’s only Top Rated Firm.

BS 8577 Certified

Accredited professionals

BS 8577 – Framework for the provision of financial advice and planning services

This is the British Standard for financial planning businesses which demonstrate they have an operational framework of excellence in place. This includes clearly identifying the business purpose, supporting all team members and delivering a first-class service to clients.

In January 2023, we were first awarded our BS 8577 certification, making us one of a small group of UK financial planning businesses to have achieved this prestigious award.

The service we provide our clients is of utmost importance to us. To benchmark our services and internal processes against the British Standard of best practice, we enter a rigorous process of assessment each year.

ISO 22222

ISO 22222 – Personal Financial Planning – requirements for personal financial planners

This is an international benchmark awarded to financial planners who demonstrate they have the passion, skills, attributes, experience and ethical values to deliver an exceptional service centred around their clients.

In January 2024, our Managing Directors Paul McFadyen and Nadeen Watson were both awarded ISO 22222 certification, They join an elite group of financial planners, worldwide, who have achieved this international measure of excellence.

Our clients’ needs are at the heart of what we do, and we are committed to a programme of ongoing assessment. This ensures our continual development and that our processes and services are assessed annually by an independent, international certification body.

Meet the team

Pat Brogan

Financial Planner

Sam Bright

Client Relationship Manager