FAIRFIELD, IA – September 22, 2023 – Cambridge recognizes independent financial professionals – Josh Schwartz, Traci Shughart, and Regina Quirk, and home office associates – Kay Black and Morae Metcalf – as the 2023 Spirit of Cambridge Award honorees. Each year, Cambridge associates vote to select two associates and three financial professionals they feel truly embody the heart of Cambridge to receive the award. As part of the recognition for their contribution to culture, values, and service, Cambridge makes a donation on their behalf to a charity of their choice.
Financial Professional Recipients
Josh Schwartz is president and a founding principal of Retirement Plan Advisors, located in Chicago, Illinois. He joined Cambridge in 2000 and has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Schwartz selected to split the donation between the Ancona School’s annual fund – The Butterfly Effect and the Center on Halstead – Broadway Youth Center, both in Chicago. The Butterfly Effect helps provide extraordinary student experiences through their tuition assistance program. The Center on Halstead works hard to provide a safe and welcoming environment with programs and services for its community.
Cambridge is a partial owner of Retirement Plan Advisors, LLC.
Traci Shughart is chief executive officer of Premier Wealth Management, located in Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania. She joined Cambridge in 2002 and has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Shughart selected Bethany House of Cumberland County, Inc., located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as her charity of choice. Bethany House provides transitional housing and supportive services to young ladies between the ages of 18 and 24 who are aging out of foster care, or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Cambridge and Premier Wealth Management are not affiliated.
Regina Quirk is president and co-owner of Strategic Financial Services, located in Norwell, Massachusetts. She has been with Cambridge for 20 years and has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Quirk selected Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center in Kingston, Massachusetts as her charity of choice. Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center is a bereavement and educational center for adults, children, teens, and their families who are grieving, dealing with illness, or facing other life challenges.
Cambridge and Strategic Financial Services are not affiliated.
Associate Recipients
Kay Black is a senior receptionist and has been with Cambridge for 22 years. Black selected St. Jude Children’s® Research Hospital as her charity of choice. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital works to provide lifesaving care and treatment for children, and meals, travel, food, and lodging for families.
Morae Metcalf is assistant vice president of Human Resources and has been with Cambridge for 11 years. Metcalf selected Little Superheroes as her charity of choice. Located in Fairfield, Iowa, Little Superheroes’ mission is to provide help and hope to children facing serious health issues through providing assistance for families facing long term medical crisis.
About Cambridge
Cambridge Investment Group, Inc. is a financial solutions firm focused on serving independent financial professionals and their investing clients. 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. Cambridge continues to be a multi-year honoree as a top workplace1 and broker-dealer2 of the year.
Contact: Jeff Wulf, Senior Vice President, Cambridge: jeff.wulf@cir2.com or 800-777-6080
About the Spirit of Cambridge Award
The Spirit of Cambridge Award is given annually to independent financial professionals and associates who are dedicated to service while reflecting Cambridge’s core values of integrity, commitment, flexibility, and kindness. Each year, Cambridge home office associates select three financial professionals and two associates from a pool of outstanding candidates who have been affiliated with Cambridge for at least 10 years. The awards are presented during Ignite, Cambridge’s annual national conference, along with a donation by Cambridge to a qualified charity of each recipient’s choice to further honor their spirit and dedication to their clients, Cambridge, and the industry.
The Spirit of Cambridge awards began in 2012 to recognize quality financial professionals reflecting the Cambridge spirit, and thousands of dollars has been donated in their honor to charities across the country. Given their dedication to their clients, Cambridge, and the financial services industry, this is a well-deserved award for each honoree. Spirit of Cambridge honorees to date include:
2022 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Kristen Hafner, David Nelson, Jen Schaefer
2021 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Dawn Baker, John Fenwick, and Kim Gaxiola
2020 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Denny Gustin-Piazza, Jimmy Williams, and Shane Westhoelter
2019 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Parker Consaul, Steve James, and Wanda Delgado
2018 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Kay Knuth, Michael Curtis, and Monte Ferguson
2017 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: David Wheat, Ed Kohlhepp, Jr., and Jim Regitz
2016 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Ed Kohlhepp, Sr., Ray Castaldi, and Scott Marshall
2015 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Cheryl Patterson, Mark Mitchell, and Steve Przewlocki
2014 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: John Rathbun, Karl Elsass, and Tom Bode
2013 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Bryan Kelly, Gerry Steffes, and Tim Shmidl
2012 Spirit of Cambridge honorees: Gary Wargo, Lisa Heath, and Robert Pugliese
1The Top Workplace in Iowa, 2011-2023, recognition is determined by associate feedback through an anonymous survey conducted by Energage, an independent research company. More information on the methodology to qualify can be found at https://topworkplaces.com/resources/national-top-workplaces-methodology/
2Investment Advisor magazine, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 - 2020, Division IV; A broker-dealer becomes eligible for this honor only after a minimum of 10% of its producing financial professionals cast valid ballots. The ballots rate the broker-dealer in 15 different categories defined by Investment Advisor as relevant challenges and concerns. Broker-dealers receiving the highest marks in each of four divisions are declared Broker-Dealer of the Year. Results are based on experiences and perceptions of participants surveyed in June of each of the years listed. Experience may vary. This recognition is not representative of investment performance or returns of financial professionals.
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.