Cambridge is a fee-based investment adviser registered with the state of New York with its business
located at 6225 Sheridan Drive, Suite 102, Williamsville, NY 14221. Our firm has been in business
since 2011. Scott M. McCarthy, CPA, CFP®, Member and President, is a direct owner and
managing member of Cambridge.
As of December 2023, Cambridge has $35,128,481 in discretionary assets under management and
$7,422,518 in non-discretionary assets under management.
Portfolio Management Services
Cambridge provides continuous advice to a client regarding the investment of client funds based
on the individual needs of the client. Through personal discussions in which goals and objectives
based on a client's particular circumstances are established, we develop a client's personal
investment policy and create and manage a portfolio based on that policy. During our data-
gathering process, we determine the client’s individual objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance,
income tax situation, and liquidity needs. We may also review and discuss a client’s prior
investment history, as well as family composition and background.
We will manage advisory accounts on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, as agreed with
each client. Account supervision is guided by the stated objectives of the client which are reflected
in their individual Investment Policy Statement (i.e., Aggressive Growth, Capital Growth,
Balanced Growth, Conservative Growth, Capital Preservation or various alternative investment
options that may be desired, etc.), as well as tax considerations. Clients may impose restrictions
on investing in certain securities or types of securities.
Our investment recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered by a
broker dealer or insurance company and will primarily include advice regarding no-load or load-
waived mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-listed and over-the-counter
securities, corporate debt securities, United States governmental securities, certificates of deposit,
warrants, commercial paper, municipal securities, and private placements. Cambridge does not
participate in wrap fee programs.
Model Portfolio Management Services
Cambridge may also manage portfolios for suitable clients through Orion Portfolio Solutions.
Orion offers advisory services to Cambridge (but not directly to clients) that consist of access
to asset allocation programs and investment reporting services for use in the management of client
accounts. Through Orion, Cambridge may select asset allocation portfolios which diversify
client assets among mutual funds/ETF’s. The mutual funds provided consist of no-load fund
families and load- waived class A share funds covering all major asset classes.
Each model portfolio employed represents a different asset allocation strategy. Orion retains
third- party non-affiliated investment managers to design and manage model portfolios using
mutual funds/ETF’s. In determining the initial allocation to be used, the client will complete a
risk tolerance questionnaire which will be used to assist the client and Cambridge in determining
the suitability of Orion for the client.
Once the client has agreed to an initial asset allocation model, the portfolio will be implemented
using the mutual funds/ETF’s available through Orion. We may suggest a reallocation of the
client’s portfolio based on changing economic conditions or changes in the client’s individual
circumstances. Under the Orion platform, the client will be assumed to have directed that the
account be automatically invested in accordance with all adjustments and rebalancing of the asset
allocation model unless the client instructs us to terminate such automatic adjustment and
rebalancing.
Envestnet Account Management, Inc. (Envestnet).
Cambridge may recommend the use of Envestnet (Envestnet) Program separate managed account
services in order to access certain investment styles or strategies deemed appropriate in light of a
client’s professed financial objectives. Cambridge may access a variety of separate money
managers through Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor (Charles Schwab)Envestnet Program.
Through this program, Cambridge Advisors may select one or more specific asset managers to
deploy model asset allocations on behalf of its clients through Envestnet Asset Management, Inc.,
also known as the Overlay Portfolio Manager. The Overlay Portfolio Manager will then coordinate
and implement such recommendations in clients’ accounts in the form of model portfolios of all
types of securities including specific Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’s) and mutual funds. Charles
Schwab also allows Cambridge the option of selecting on clients’ behalf custom allocations and
other features
for their account(s) which the Overlay Manager implements based upon
Client’s consultation with Cambridge.
As the advisor, Cambridge will be responsible for assisting the client in selecting one or more
separate investment managers accessible through the Envestnet Program to achieve an appropriate
asset allocation and implementation of a desired investment strategy and including the on-going
monitoring of the manager(s) performance. Charles Schwab will act as custodian of the assets
being managed. A client choosing to participate in an Envestnet Program shall be required to enter
into various separate service agreements; one with the advisor, Cambridge, one with the Overlay
Manager on behalf of each investment manager, and one with Charles Schwab to act as custodian.
Alternative Investment Advisory Services
Cambridge may recommend alternative investments that cannot be custodied at Charles Schwab
and therefore must be either directly titled to the client or if IRA assets are being used, such assets
are placed with a specialized IRA custodian. Cambridge believes in broad asset class
diversification and will evaluate investment opportunities that may add an additional level of
diversification to a client’s overall investment portfolio. Sometimes, these types of investments
involve private placement offerings and clients are apprised of the often-associated restrictions on
liquidity that may accompany these types of investments.
Financial Planning Services
Cambridge provides its clients with a broad range of comprehensive financial planning and
consulting services (including non-investment related matters). Financial planning is a
comprehensive evaluation of a client’s current and future financial state by using currently
known variables to predict futur
e cash flows, asset values and distribution plans. The key defining
aspect of financial planning is that through the financial planning process, all questions,
information and analysis will be considered as they impact, and are impacted by, the entire
financial and life situation of the client.
In general, financial planning may address any or all of the following areas:
• Investment Advisory Services
• Retirement Accumulation and Distribution Planning
• Estate/Wealth Transfer Planning
• Income Tax Planning and Compliance
• Risk Management/Asset Protection Planning
• Elder Care/Long-Term Care
• Education Planning
We gather required information through in-depth personal interviews and/or comprehensive
questionnaires. Information gathered includes a client's current financial status (i.e. Net-Worth
Statement), current and anticipated cash-flows, future goals and attitudes towards risk. We
carefully review related documents supplied by the client, including a questionnaire completed
by the client, and prepare a written report. Implementation of financial plan recommendations is
entirely at the client's discretion. If a client wishes, and to the extent possible, Cambridge is
available to assist in the implementation of our financial planning recommendations.
Our financial planning recommendations are not limited to any specific product or service offered
by a broker dealer or insurance company.
If requested by the client, we may recommend the services of other professionals (i.e., attorneys,
actuaries, etc.) for implementation purposes. The client is under no obligation to engage the
services of any such recommended professional. The client retains absolute discretion over all
such implementation decisions and is free to accept or reject any recommendation from us.
Moreover, each client is advised that it remains his/her/its responsibility to promptly notify
Cambridge if there are ever any changes in his/her/its financial situation or investment objectives
for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services.
Consulting Services to 401(K) Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans
Cambridge may enter into an agreement to provide guidance to the Trustee(s) or Board of Trustees
of 401(k), Pension and Profit Share Plans to assist them in managing their fiduciary obligations
and other activities as directed by the Trustee or Board of Trustees. In this capacity, we may
attend quarterly meetings, may assist in the preparation of the Investment Policy Statement (IPS),
may assist in the selection of investments, monitor client’s investments according to the adopted
IPS, and participate in employee communications and education programs. The fee charged for
services shall be a percentage of the plan’s assets under advisement and will be contained in a
signed Consultation Agreement with each plan trustee.