Why Independence

Your need for objective advice drives our…

INDEPENDENCE

Independence - Objectivity - Integrity

In a profession based on objective advice, true independence offers many choices intended to benefit you, the client. Your choice of an independent financial professional is the first step in getting personalized recommendations and impartial guidance based directly on your needs and goals.

What is an independent financial professional?

Objective advice on achieving your financial goals may be best delivered by an independent financial professional. Your independent financial professional is not an employee of an investment or financial services firm. They are an independent business owner, with the freedom to structure their business in a manner that best serves their clients. Your independent financial professional utilizes a broker-dealer who provides services that include processing investment business, marketing assistance, practice management and education. In addition, a broker-dealer holds responsibility for regulatory compliance and adherence to securities laws. 

What is an independent broker-dealer?

There are many different types of firms for your financial professional to consider in choosing a broker-dealer. You may be familiar with broker-dealers that are subsidiaries of conglomerates such as commercial banks, investment banks and investment companies. An independent broker-dealer is different from such firms because they generally do not underwrite securities, they do not create research and they do not engage in investment banking. 

Why is independence important?

Just as you have the opportunity to choose your financial professional, we choose our independent broker-dealer.  Our choice serves your best interests because Cambridge is independently owned giving us the freedom to offer you objective guidance.  This means Cambridge does not force us to sell proprietary products or meet any sales quotas.  Therefore, we as your financial professionals are not pressured or distracted by corporate interests and can focus on what is best for you and your financial goals.

Cambridge believes in the entrepreneurial spirit of financial professionals.  Instead of asking financial professionals to fit into a mold of how they think we should do business, they empower us with a vast menu of compliance-friendly programs, prodcuts, and services.  This enables us as financial professionals to customize an investment strategy and plan designed to meet your unique long-term needs.

Cambridge - a history of independence

One of the most respected independent broker-dealers in the industry, Cambridge, member FINRA/SIPC, remains strong and growing — thanks to our conservative financial strategy and the disciplined efforts of financial professionals in their independent practices. Together we maintained perspective during turbulent times in the financial markets and survived the unprecedented meltdown on Wall Street. More importantly, we are thriving as stability drives renewed interest in traditional values and conservative business practices. 

Honored to be among the most respected firms in the industry, Cabridge is a top-10 independt broker-dealer in total revenue1, and was named one of the fastest-growing independent firms2 by InvestmentNews. The firm has also received ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES awards3 for Thought Leadership and Education and Executive Leadership.

Cambridge’s overall finances and longer-term outlook are good, we have been consistently profitable for more than a decade, and we carry relatively low debt. In contrast to recent industry trends, we continue to hire additional staff to serve the needs of the growing number of financial professionals choosing Cambridge to support their independent practices.

True independence is a priority at Cambridge

Cambridge is dedicated to serving independent financial professionals and we’re committed to remaining privately owned. As one of the largest privately held independent broker-dealers in the U.S., Cambridge is owned entirely by its management and financial professionals. Our executive leadership has spent years consciously building a legal structure, business plan and a superior management team with the goal of remaining privately owned. 

Your need for objective advice drives our independence

Cambridge has continually put the objectivity of independent financial professionals first to ensure the long-term success of the financial services industry, financial professionals and clients. We offer one of the largest footprints of quality financial products and services available in the industry, and we are dedicated to providing the broadest scope of flexibility and choice to your financial professional. 

Cambridge’s service-oriented culture is driven by our core values of integrity, commitment, flexibility and kindness. The core values that have served us so well for more than 40 years will continue to drive our success for the years to come.

  1. Based on total revenue. Ranking received in InvestmentNews 2024 independent broker-dealer industry survey rakings.

  2. Based on revenue growth. Ranking received in InvestmentNews 2023 independent broker-dealer insustry survey rankings.

  3. ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES, Class of 2021, and 2023. To learn about the award criteria, visit https://event.thinkadvisor.com/luminaries-awards/criteria. Amy Webber an Seth Miller have been members  of the judging panel at ThinkAdvisor but did not vote for any category in which Cambridge was nominated. 

  4. Cambridge and its predecessor broker-dealer