Eric Schwartz is the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and serves on the Executive Council for Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. Over four decades ago, Schwartz listened carefully to independent financial professionals and acted with inspired vision in embracing the fee approach – long before the term ‘hybrid advisor’ became an industry norm. In turn he led an industry-wide paradigm shift: the development of a hybrid model to support freedom of choice and open architecture fee and commission platforms. Intent on innovation and problem solving, he also focused on solving one of the greatest challenges facing independent financial professionals and the industry – business continuity and succession planning. Schwartz realized that to inspire urgency for financial professionals to formalize business continuity and succession plans, Cambridge had to lead by example and embrace planning as a financial solutions firm with the same enthusiasm.

Schwartz has spent several decades leading the establishment of a flexible business model, a committed senior leadership team, a legal structure, and a formal succession plan. His dedication is clear in his focus on serving the needs of the independent financial professional while remaining true to Cambridge’s core values of integrity, commitment, flexibility, and kindness.

Schwartz was a founding member of the Financial Services Institute (FSI) Board of Directors in 2004, including serving as chair in 2009. FSI’s mission is to ensure that all individuals have access to competent and affordable financial advice, products, and services by working to create a healthier, more business-friendly regulatory environment. Schwartz was previously recognized among the 35 for 35 by Investment Advisor magazine as one of the 35 most influential people in the business over the past 35 years and was honored among the inaugural recognition for the 30 for 30 most influential people in the business by Investment Advisor magazine. He was also recognized in the inaugural ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Class of 2021¹ in the categories of Diversity and Inclusion, Thought Leadership and Education, and Executive Leadership.

¹ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES, Class of 2021. Firms and Individuals, from both the small and large investment firm space, are eligible to win in four different categories. Winners are chosen based on nominations which include qualitative and quantitative factors. To learn more about the award criteria, visit https://www.thinkadvisor.com/luminaries-awards/. Amy Webber is a member of the judging panel at ThinkAdvisor but did not vote for any category in which our firm was nominated.