Three rising stars, including a 19-year-old, at an island financial company, are celebrating exams success.

The happy trio work for financial adviser and insurance broker Edgewater Associates Limited.

Bryan O’Connor, John Walker and Samantha Hall have been awarded the Diploma in Insurance, Diploma in Financial Planning and Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, respectively, from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

The Diploma in Insurance [Dip CII] and Diploma in (Regulated) Financial Planning [DipPFS] are the technical qualifications for insurance practitioners and financial advisers, involving the completion of a number of complex modules ranging from financial accounting and insurance law for the Dip CII to pensions and investment planning for the DipPFS.

Samantha, 19, is said to be a key member of the client services team and provides administrative support to Edgewater’s growing team of financial consultants.

She is understood to be the youngest person in the Isle of Man to achieve the DipPFS qualification and received the Young Achiever’s Award at the Isle of Man Insurance Institute Dinner in February 2017.

Bryan joined Edgewater in 2016 and heads up the general and commercial insurance team. He is responsible for a diverse portfolio of commercial clients and began his insurance career in 2009 after a number of years working in investment management.

John works as a paraplanner and has been with the firm since early 2013. In addition to sitting on Edgewater’s investment committee, he assists managing director Sandra Cardwell in supporting her clients and works closely with the corporate and employee benefits Team.

Sandra Cardwell said: ’We are delighted Bryan, John and Samantha have achieved diploma level and their success affirms our commitment to the professional development of all of our staff. This is particularly relevant as the island’s regulator is currently consulting on the introduction of a minimum qualification level for all insurance brokers on the island, with the Diploma being the suggested level required for anyone advising commercial clients.’

Bryan is a past president, and currently education secretary of the local branch of the CII, while John is secretary of the local CII branch and vice-chairman of the Isle of Man branch of the Personal Finance Society. Both provide educational support and arrange CPD events for Isle of Man-based financial services professionals. After a deserved short break, all three are looking to progress to the next level and achieve Chartered status.