FAIRFIELD, IA – August 4, 2025 — Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (“Cambridge”), a leading independent financial solutions firm supporting more than 4,000 financial professionals nationwide, is proud to be recognized across multiple categories in the 2025 InvestmentNews Women to Watch Awards. At the individual level, Executive Vice President and Chief Supervision Officer Andrea Shafer and Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer Val Vest are both finalists for Allyship Champion of the Year, while Vice President of Marketing and Communications Lindsay Haskins is a finalist for the Excellence in Philanthropy and Community Service award. At the firm level, Cambridge itself is a finalist for the Employer of Choice award.

Shafer is Executive Vice President and Chief Supervision Officer at Cambridge, where she leads the Advocacy & Supervision Team, provides guidance on legal and regulatory issues, and works with executives and senior leaders to execute strategic initiatives. Outside of her day-to-day executive duties, she is a facilitator with the Cambridge Community of Women (CCW), Executive Sponsor of Cambridge’s Commitment to Inclusion Committee, serves on Cambridge’s Conflicts Committee, and is a member of The Cambridge Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Vest is Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Cambridge, where she partners with teams across the firm to develop client-focused strategies that elevate the overall experience for both advisors and associates. A committed advocate for women in the industry, she is an active member of Cambridge’s Community of Women and helped launch its new CCW Academy. She also co-hosts Cambridge’s Let’s Talk podcast and co-founded Lead From Intention, a coaching program that helps women cultivate authentic, purpose-driven leadership.

Haskins is Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Cambridge, where she recently wrapped up her term as Chair of the firm’s Community Engagement Committee and served as President of The Cambridge Foundation. In 2024 alone, the committee’s work led to notable increases in community giving and reported volunteer hours across Cambridge’s 900+ associates. Key initiatives included firm-wide holiday giving campaigns, coordinated food and back-to-school drives to support children in need, and the launch of a financial literacy program for local students.

Cambridge is up for the Women to Watch Employer of Choice award. Through its Community of Women program and long-standing support of Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS), Cambridge continues to elevate women advisors and associates in the industry. In 2024, the firm launched its new ‘CCW Academy’, a mentorship program that pairs participants with experienced Cambridge women advisors for professional development and support. Today, more than 60% of Cambridge associates are women — a testament to the firm’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity in financial services.

Now in its tenth year, the InvestmentNews Women to Watch awards honor women across the financial services industry who are making an impact on their firm, their communities, and the profession as a whole. All finalists will be featured in print and online coverage by InvestmentNews, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in New York City on October 21. A record number of nominations were received this year.

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

InvestmentNews Women to Watch Awards Allyship Champion of the Year 2025 Excellence Awardee (Finalist) recognizes the individual who has supported and empowered women to fulfil their potential and achieve excellence within the workplace. InvestmentNews Women to Watch Awards Excellence in Philanthropy & Community Service 2025 Excellence Awardee (Finalist) recognizes the individual whose outstanding contribution of time, leadership and financial support over a sustained period of time, beyond normal expectations, has made significant impacts in the receiving causes or communities. InvestmentNews Women to Watch Awards Employer of Choice 2025 Excellence Awardee (Finalist) recognizes organization’s commitment to building a workplace that recognizes excellence and supports career growth for all and can be called an employer of choice within the wealth management and financial planning industry. Nominations can be made by any wealth management professional or organization and is determined by the InvestmentNews Awards team.