Cambridge Investment Research has acquired Dempsey Lord Smith, a long-standing independent financial services firm, in a transaction designed to accelerate advisor growth and broaden long-term opportunity for both organizations. The deal brings Dempsey Lord Smith into Cambridge as a wholly owned subsidiary. It represents a significant strategic shift for the firm, moving away from operating its own broker-dealer and instead leveraging Cambridge’s scale, technology, and operational infrastructure.
Dempsey Lord Smith has spent decades building a reputation for supporting independent financial professionals, emphasizing integrity, personalized service, and business growth. As industry dynamics continued to evolve, the firm’s leadership determined that advisor success no longer depended on maintaining an in-house broker-dealer, but instead on aligning with a larger platform capable of supporting expanded growth initiatives.
As part of the acquisition, about 75 financial professionals from Dempsey Lord Smith will join Cambridge. The leadership team of Dempsey Lord Smith will remain actively involved in advisor development, maintaining the organization’s culture and values while leveraging Cambridge’s broader platform of tools, technology, and resources.
Cambridge noted that the partnership aligns with its mission to support independent financial professionals and deepen capabilities across advisor technology, operational support, and practice development. The combined strengths of both firms aim to give advisors a stronger foundation for business expansion, including enhanced service infrastructure and a wider set of growth resources.
Dempsey Lord Smith, founded in 2007, provides wealth management and retirement planning solutions and supports independent advisors with objective financial guidance and extensive investment options. Republic Capital Group and Williams Private Wealth Advisory and Consulting served as the firm’s exclusive financial advisors.
Cambridge continues to operate as one of the country’s largest internally controlled independent broker-dealers, with a national footprint across advisory and brokerage services delivered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
KEY QUOTES
“Our mission has always been centered on helping advisors grow, and we realized we didn’t need to be a broker-dealer to keep doing that at a high level. This partnership allows us to build on the strong community we’ve created while giving our advisors access to a deeper set of tools, technology, and services. Together with Cambridge, we can accelerate their growth far faster than if we continued building it alone.”
Jerry Dempsey, Founder and CEO, Dempsey Lord Smith
“We’re honored to welcome Dempsey Lord Smith to Cambridge Nation. They have built an exceptional advisor community and a legacy of growth that aligns perfectly with our values. Their decision to shift away from operating a broker-dealer allows them to put 100 percent of their effort into what matters most: advisor success. With access to Cambridge’s scale, resources, and technology, they are positioned for their strongest growth curve yet.”
Jeff Vivacqua, President, Growth and Development, Cambridge
