But for a change of heart early on in his career, Nick Bealer might have been delivering sermons rather than stock options for the past 30 years.
While working as a jobber (more commonly known today as a market maker) at the London Stock Exchange, the man known to his colleagues as 'the vicar' trained to become a priest with the Church of England. "It seemed right for someone with that nickname to enter the clergy," says Nick (pictured above, far right). But following his brief flirtation with priesthood, he eventually decided to dedicate his life to finance.
The clergy's loss has been the financial services industry's gain. Nick's career has seen him work as a trader at Teather & Greenwood, where he was responsible for bringing in initial public offerings and raising funds while trading on the EASDAQ - an electronic stock market based in Belgium that traded stocks and shares across Europe - at Quartz Capital (which later became Knight Securities).
Explaining the marketToday, Nick works as Head of Corporate Broking at Cornhill Capital, a leading investment capital company in the City of London, where he helps public companies to raise finance. "We work with a lot of smaller companies," says, Nick, adding that the role requires a fair amount of client handholding.
SEVA pitch
SEVA began life as a football team in 1958. Over the years, the association became one of the best patronised organisations in the City with a cricket, golf and darts section.
With the closure of the Stock Exchange floor it became more difficult to continue the football team, and the aim "to assist, in every manner possible, persons in distress, either directly or through other institutions" through charitable donations became the driving force of SEVA.
The association also holds an Annual Memorial and Thanksgiving Service. "We started the memorial service about six years ago when two veterans passed away, says Nick. "It's our way of remembering old friends and colleagues and giving thanks for them."
Key upcoming SEVA dates:
AGM, Bangers Bar & Grill, London, 26 November 2014
Stock Exchange Veterans Memorial and Thanksgiving Service, St Margaret's Church, Lothbury, London, 18 June 2015
Vets Charity Gala Dinner, Grange St Paul's Hotel, London, 25 June 2015
For more information visit the SEVA website.
"The main challenge is trying to explain the market to, for instance, a mining company in Turkey," says Nick. "It's a difficult job and I won't pretend to have an in-depth understanding of mining, just as I'm fairly sure the client won't have an in-depth knowledge of stockbroking!"
Nick is content, though, with the relative calm of his current role compared to life on the trading floor. "It's nice in some ways, as it's slightly more relaxed than the trading side of things," he says. "I don't think you can be a trader for too long these days."
Nick is proud of his achievements as a broker. "I'd like to think that I've helped smaller companies over the years to raise capital as well as their profile in the market."
Helping fellow vets
Nick's involvement with the financial sector goes far beyond his day job. He is a member of the
CISI's Corporate Finance Professional Forum Committee, having been a member of the Institute since 1993, a year after its inception. The CISI was formed from the Stock Exchange, and Nick is also Chairman of the
Stock Exchange Veterans Association (SEVA).
One of SEVA's main aims is "to promote fraternity and good fellowship among its members", explains Nick. "This, to me, is important in a market that is now fragmented and where Stock Exchange member firms have less opportunity to meet since the halcyon days of the market floor."
He helps SEVA organise charitable social events throughout the year such as greyhound racing nights, darts competitions and golf days. In 2013-14, the association supported 85 charities ranging from Age Concern and Arthritis Care to Action for Kids and Children with Cancer.
All in a good cause
Nick demonstrated his dedication to fundraising at one of SEVA's annual dinner charity auctions. Nick, a diehard West Ham United fan, was coerced into bidding for a replica shirt of one of the Hammers' rival teams.
"I came away with a [Manchester] United shirt and a piece of Wembley Stadium, which was just a melted-down plastic seat," he jokes, "but it's for charity, and we raised £21,000 from the auction at last year's dinner, which had 400 people in attendance."
Having spent many years as a SEVA member, Bealer wants to encourage more young professionals to join the association. "We recently brought five younger people onto the committee to shadow the older members and eventually take our place," he says. "It's about preserving SEVA's legacy and continuing the organisation's good work."
Nick might have chosen a career outside the church, but his commitment to doing good remains as strong as ever.
Pictured above: Nick Bealer (right) with fellow SEVA members (from left) Christian Mather ACSI, SVS Securities, Stacey Parsons, Winterflood Bonds and Trisha Reay, Chartered FCSI, SVS Securities