Cambridge Investment Research recruits 189 advisors in first half of 2026

Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. added 189 advisors to its independent platform in the first six months of 2026, bringing approximately $6.8 billion in assets under advisement and $55.9 million in annualized revenue.

The results mark a step up from the same period last year, when Cambridge recruited 185 advisors carrying roughly $5.1 billion in total client assets meaning just four additional advisors in 2026 translated into nearly $1.7 billion more in AUA and more than $10 million in added revenue, a sign that the firm is attracting larger, more established teams.

Many of those joining came from firms caught up in consolidation waves, a trend that has reshaped the independent broker-dealer landscape as private equity-backed aggregators continue snapping up advisory practices. Cambridge has positioned itself as an alternative for advisors who want to preserve their autonomy rather than be absorbed into larger, centrally managed organizations.

"The Cambridge story resonates with advisors who find themselves suddenly affiliated with mega consolidators and serial M&A shops and want a firm that prioritizes relationships, community, and a people-first culture," said Tammy Robbins, executive vice president and chief business development officer at Cambridge. "These firms are unable to meet their needs. What Cambridge offers is different: a business model that is truly independent and delivers the resources to help advisors grow."

Quarter by quarter, the momentum accelerated. First-quarter new assets totaled $2.6 billion on revenue of $24.3 million, while the second quarter saw $4.2 billion in new assets and $31.6 million in revenue, a roughly 30% jump in both categories.

The recruiting push follows a record-setting 2025, in which Cambridge surpassed $2 billion in total revenue for the first time and posted back-to-back years of record recruiting. The firm, which operates Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. as a corporate RIA alongside its independent broker-dealer, is among the largest internally controlled independent broker-dealers in the country and is a member of FINRA and SIPC.

Robbins credited the firm's internal control structure which keeps decision-making away from outside investors, as central to its ability to invest in advisor support. Recent initiatives include agentic AI tools for independent advisors expanded leadership staffing, and enhancements to core operational services.

"Our internal control allows our leadership team to prioritize the empowerment of our advisors to thrive in an evolving marketplace," Robbins said. "Cambridge remains a destination for independent-minded financial advisors who want both the freedom to run their practice and the infrastructure to scale it."

As consolidation pressure on independent broker-dealers and RIAs shows no signs of easing, Cambridge's first-half performance suggests the flight-to-independence story still has room to run.