FAIRFIELD, IA – November 16, 2022 — Cambridge extends a warm congratulations to CEO Amy Webber, the recipient of the 2022 InvestmentNews Women to Watch Alexandra Armstrong Lifetime Achievement award. An eight-member InvestmentNews committee reviewed the nomination materials of nearly 50 influential women from across the industry and evaluated candidates based on professional success and leadership skills, ability to spark change, willingness to share expertise with other women, and a commitment to giving back to the community. Webber delivered a speech in front of peers and colleagues at the Women to Watch awards ceremony in New York City on November 15.
“I’m incredibly honored to receive such a prestigious award,” Webber said. “It’s humbling to be selected from a pool of so many remarkable women who are working to drive our industry forward every day. I am fortunate to have an amazing network of mentors, colleagues, friends, and family members, and look forward to our continued efforts to make a difference. Thank you to the InvestmentNews team for providing a platform that consistently highlights the business and community achievements of women and everyone working in financial services.”
Now in its seventh year, the Women to Watch awards program honors women around the financial services industry who are making an impact on their firm, their communities, and the profession as a whole. The Lifetime Achievement award required nominees to have a minimum of 15 years of experience and encouraged submissions from senior leaders, firm founders, innovators, and highly influential thought leaders.
The honor is named after Alexandra Armstrong, who in 2016 was the first to win the Women to Watch Lifetime Achievement award. An author and founder of Armstrong, Fleming & Moore Inc. in Washington D.C., Armstrong has pioneered significant women and community initiatives during her over 40-year career in the financial services industry. In 1977, Armstrong became the first woman in the country and the first individual in Washington D.C. to earn the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification.
Just one Lifetime Achievement award is presented every year.
“When I first met Amy, we had an immediate connection and I recognized her ability to make things happen,” said Cambridge Founder and Executive Chairman, Eric Schwartz. “I could see how she listened and cared for people. When I hired her in 1998, I was paying her more than I was paying myself. She was able to execute my ideas and get people on board and in the right places. She was good at some of the things that I wasn’t, and over time she was able to take on many of the responsibilities of leading a company. As it turned out, she had those skills all along.”
Webber is only the second CEO in Cambridge’s 40-year history1, succeeding Schwartz in 2017. Webber joined Cambridge in 1998 as the firm’s 22nd employee, and has held leadership roles in service, marketing, operations, compliance, and sales during her tenure. In 2009 she was promoted to President, a position she held until August 2022.
Webber has led significant innovation at Cambridge, and is a visible voice on important issues across the industry. As one of the few female CEOs in the industry, she continues to blaze a trail through her participation and contributions to the profession. InvestmentNews created a tribute video to honor Webber’s career.
A few of the ways she has had a measurable effect on Cambridge, the financial services industry, and her community include:
Member, Board of Directors, Financial Services Institute (FSI) — Advocates for independent financial professionals and provides a strong female voice on the FSI Board of Directors. She previously served on the board from 2014-2017, and was re-elected in 2022.
Independent Dealer/Insurance Affiliate Governor, FINRA Board of Governors — Actively and publicly voiced support for effective change in regulation to support the future of independent objective financial advice.
Indian Hills Community College Board of Trustees — Webber was elected to the Indian Hills Community College Board of Trustees in 2019. She works with the Ottumwa, Iowa-based college to support local students in the area.
Executive Sponsor, Cambridge Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee and Advisory Council — Oversees the firm’s DE&I Committee and Advisory Councils, which strive to create a more diverse and inclusive environment for the firm’s financial professionals and associates.
Host, Cambridge Community of Women Forum — Hosts Cambridge’s annual Community of Women Forum, which unites women across the industry at a selected location through networking, sharing, and inspiration.
The Cambridge Next Step® Internship Program — To help attract younger people to the industry, Webber was instrumental in starting The Next Step® internship program, which is in its 11th year and has had more than 240 student interns from across the country participate. The program is designed to spark interest in the advice profession by giving college students a chance to learn the fundamentals of the financial services industry.
Host, Cambridge Stronger Podcast — Interviews Cambridge financial professionals and industry subject matter experts, discussing industry trends, community involvement, and life lessons. Webber has hosted over 60 episodes of the Cambridge Stronger podcast.
About Cambridge
Cambridge is a financial solutions firm focused on serving independent financial professionals and their clients while preserving its internal control. Cambridge offers a broad range of choices for independent financial professionals regarding solutions for advice, growth, technology, and independence. Cambridge’s national reach includes: Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. – a large corporate RIA; and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. – an independent broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, that is among the largest internally controlled independent broker-dealers in the country.
About InvestmentNews
InvestmentNews is a leading source for news, analysis and information essential to the financial advisory community. Since 1998, the publication has educated, informed, and engaged financial advisors across the country using its weekly newspaper, website, newsletters, research, events, social media, videos and webcasts. InvestmentNews provides exclusive and up-to-the-minute news, as well as actionable intelligence, that empowers financial advisors to serve their clients and run their businesses more effectively.
Contact: Jeff Wulf, Senior Vice President, Cambridge: jeff.wulf@cir2.com or 800-777-6080
1Cambridge and its predecessor broker-dealer
Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and investment advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of Cambridge Investment Group, Inc.
Media & PR Contacts
Please contact Cambridge’s Public Relations Team at publicrelations@cir2.com for news media inquiries, executive speaking engagements, industry sponsorship opportunities, media planning, and community involvement.
Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and investment advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Both are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Cambridge Investment Group, Inc.