News from the Home Team

We are light years away from where we were a few years ago. Feel like we are all in a good grove and know much more of the Cambridge landscape and how to navigate it. Regardless, I want to be proactive in reminding you that the Cantella team is always here and dedicated to ensuring you have the same service experience you’ve always had.

If you’re ever feeling otherwise, lean on us. We’ll take ownership, resolve it directly, or work with the right people at Cambridge to make it right.

Moreover, I want to remind you that we are here for much more than fixing things if they aren’t going smoothly. We are focused on bringing our years of experience and expertise to the table to help you grow and run an efficient, valuable business.

To that end, I have a few important team updates. First, I am thrilled to share the great news of Jay Lenaghan’s return to the team! Along with Jay’s return, I also wanted to share the bittersweet news that Taylor will be pursuing other business ventures in the near future. While he will no longer be part of our home office team, he is retaining his book of business and staying on as a financial advisor with us in addition to his other business ventures.

Lastly, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the specific areas where we each specialize. While our team is a collection of "best available athletes" and we are all here to help with any of your day-to-day needs, I want to point out the areas where we truly shine. Our goal is to ensure you have the best experience and feel supported as you run your business. You are our client, and your success and happiness are our top priority.

Marc: Reach out to Marc for help with complex operational and workflow items. He focuses on helping you grow and create efficiencies within your advisory practice — such as helping you build your own models or moving business to the Team Directed or CAAP^®1 platforms. He is your go-to for WealthPort^®, Morningstar portfolio analysis, and CIRStatements.

Terri: Reach out to Terri for all things operational, including fee billing. Additionally, she is our “fixer.” Having been with Cantella for 30+ years, she has handled nearly every function in the firm. If you aren’t sure where to start, let Terri help you and/or connect you to the right resources and ensure follow-through.

Jay (Lenaghan): He’s baaacckk! Reach out to Jay with any branch development needs — adding advisors to your branch, finding a successor, or identifying books to buy. He is also here to help with organic growth and practice management resources.

Troy: Reach out to Troy for operational support and supervisory visit questions. He is also cross-training with the team on advisory business and supervision. With his background at Commonwealth and his industry licenses, he is getting up to speed quickly.

Tom: Reach out to Tom for questions regarding trade review and account/transaction related approvals, compliance questions, supervisory guidance, or branch-related matters. Having also started at Cantella in 1999, and having served as Cantella’s Operations Manager for over 15 years, Tom understands compliance from a strong operational standpoint.

Yu: Reach out to Yu for any and all technology questions — setup, troubleshooting, integrations, and system support. If something needs to be routed through Cambridge, he will walk you through that process with you as well.

Sheelagh: Reach out to Sheelagh for guidance on compliance structure, supervisory matters, and implementing best practices. She is our resident guru on onboarding new advisors and clients in a way that is smooth, efficient, and compliant. She can also provide support with outside business activities, branding and rebranding, qualifications and continuing education, approved technology solutions, succession planning, and overall practice management.

Jennie: Reach out to me for help with strategic growth, long-term planning, recruiting and marketing, or navigating larger business initiatives. In addition to helping you think through big-picture opportunities, I can help you leverage our platform, tools, and partnerships.

We are proud to be your partner. Please don't hesitate to reach out to any of us.

Tech Tips

Cybersecurity and Insurance

Insurance

As a reminder, the Cambridge E&O policy includes a limited amount of cyber coverage:

• Per-Event Limit: $250,000
• Aggregate Limit (all advisors): $1,000,000
• Deductible: $10,000

The coverage includes discovery and legal services, which typically cost at least $10,000. As a result, you should expect to pay the full deductible out of pocket even for a relatively minor incident. Please note that the policy does not include remediation costs, which is essentially anything beyond initial discovery and legal services. Remediation expenses are often the most costly part of addressing a cyber breach and can range from tens of thousands to, in severe cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Previously, we discussed the option to purchase a separate cyber liability policy directly through vendors such as AON or Interweb. These policies generally:

• Sit in front of the cyber coverage included with Cambridge’s E&O policy
• Offer higher coverage limits and customizable deductibles
• Provide broader protection than the E&O policy alone

Of the two vendors listed below, Interweb conducts a more detailed underwriting process, including a technology assessment to identify vulnerabilities and tailor coverage to your specific practice. If you’d like to explore additional coverage, please contact the vendors directly:

• AON Affinity: 877-256-6296
• Interweb: 804-761-6608

Cybersecurity

The majority of breaches start with people, through phishing, credential theft, or misconfigurations, rather than sophisticated hacking tools. The most common attacks involve deceptive emails or messages that trick users into opening infected attachments, clicking malicious links, or sharing login credentials.

Below are several best practices to help minimize the risk of a cyber incident:

• If you aren’t expecting an attachment or file, don’t open it
• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or messages
• If you don’t know the sender, proceed with caution or verify before responding

Opportunity of the Month

Your 2026 Retirement Game Plan

The calendar says 2026, but for savvy investors, it’s actually "bonus season." We’ve officially entered that unique window where you can impact two tax years at once. Whether you're looking to slash your 2025 bill or supercharge your 2026 growth, here’s how to play the current landscape.

1. The 2025 "Last Call" (Deadline: April 15)

Think of this as a time machine for your money. You have until tax day to move funds into a Traditional or Roth IRA and have it count for 2025.

• The Math: You can tuck away $7,000 ($8,000 if you’re 50+)
• The Win: A Traditional IRA contribution could lower your 2025 tax bill right now. Plus, by using your "2025 bucket" today, you save your full 2026 limit for later this year

2. New Year, Higher Ceilings

The IRS gave us some breathing room for 2026 with higher limits across the board. If you haven’t adjusted your auto-deposits yet, now is the time.

• IRA Upgrades: Limits are up to $7,500 (under 50) and $8,600 (50+)
• Workplace Plans: 401(k) and 403(b) limits have jumped to $24,500
• The "Super Catch-Up": If you’re between 60 and 63, SECURE 2.0 is your new best friend. You can now stash a massive $35,750 total into your workplace plan. It’s the ultimate "sprint to the finish" for your career.

3. Why Act Now?

• Beat the Rush: Don't be the person calling your tax pro on April 14. Funding your 2025 IRA now ensures your paperwork is clean and your "Backdoor Roth" strategies are executed without a hitch.
• Compounding Is King: Money put to work in January or February has more time to ride the market than money sitting in a savings account until April
• Tax Efficiency: With the new OBBBA tax rules now in play, maximizing these accounts is the best way to keep your "Middle Class" status and keep more of your hard-earned paycheck

Compliance Corner

Don’t Let the Silence Do the Talking

March 2026 is proving to be a bumpy ride, but this is exactly where you add the most value. When the headlines get loud, one of your primary roles is to be the calm in the room for your clients.

Silence can be an advisor’s greatest enemy during volatility. If you aren’t reaching out, your clients are likely filling that void with worry or speaking to someone else who did reach out. Don't let them wonder if you still have your eye on what is going on and considering how it affects their financial picture. A proactive conversation right now helps reinforce you’re a trusted partner, not just a service provider.

Client Notes and AI

With the increased volume of calls during periods of market volatility, maintaining thorough and accurate client notes is paramount for both relationship management and risk management. Using an AI notetaker such as Zocks, JumpAI, Wealthbox, Zoom, Co-Pilot and others can be extremely beneficial during these times. While each one offers slightly different features, many will generate well organized meeting notes, create task lists and draft follow-up emails you can send to clients. Many of these tools also integrate with your CRM, calendar, and email, making it easier to stay organized, efficient and responsive. If you haven’t already implemented a note-taking tool, please reach out and we would be happy to walk you through any platform-specific requirements so you’re set up correctly.

Compliance Approved, Client-facing Pieces

Also, don’t forget to check out MarketCentral^® as there are a lot of good educational compliance approved, client-facing materials that address a broad range of issues from market activity and emotionally investing to social security and general retirement education. These are vetted, free and, if you would like, you can have them white labeled with your logo.

As you navigate these markets, remember that you don’t have to do it alone either – you always have the Cantella home office team to back you, as well as the resources Cambridge has to offer.

Did You Know?

Pershing: Money Market Mutual Fund Changes Now in Effect

BNY Pershing implemented changes to money market mutual funds (MMFs) on January 26, including the enforcement of minimum initial purchase requirements across MMFs on the platform.

Pershing will enforce minimum initial purchase requirements across all MMFs on the platform. While existing positions may remain open regardless of their current balance, opening new positions will be subject to the program minimums. The program minimums will apply in the following ways:

• Existing positions will remain unaffected regardless of balance
• Subsequent purchases into an existing MMF position will continue to be permitted. Once a position is fully liquidated ($0 balance), the new minimum purchase requirements will apply if you wish to re-establish that position.
• On a single trade, if the amount entered is below the required minimum, the order will be rejected. In model portfolios, eligible positions will be purchased, and any positions below the minimum will be rejected individually.

Financial professionals with impacted accounts will be notified as soon as information is available from Pershing.

Additional information on MMFs is available on cir2.com, including:

• A complete list of all MMFs and their new program initial purchase requirements
• A filtered view of funds with no minimums, which may provide ongoing flexibility

Please give us a call with any questions.

Save the Date

• Annual Conference – July 14-15 – Cantella’s Annual Conference is back in Boston at the Encore Boston Harbor! We will also be hosting a hands-on financial planning workshop where you will get expert hands-on assistance from logging into CLIC^® Advisor (powered by eMoney) to entering client information to leaving with a plan for your client.
• Cambridge Resource Center will be retired on May 1, and stay tuned for more information on CLIC Workstation and Indy. Trainings can be done through the Cambridge Knowledge Center, and we will offer a webinar with the Cambridge Cedar Team to walk through both and answer any questions. Date and time TBA.

Recipe of the Month

Irresistible French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes

These Irresistible French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes take the classic sandwich to a whole new level with a delightful mix of savory ground beef, sweet caramelized onions, and melted cheese on a soft toasted bun. Perfect for casual dinners, game day, or family gatherings, this dish combines comfort food with a gourmet touch that will impress everyone at your table.

Ingredients

For the Beef Mixture

• 1 pound ground beef (85% lean)
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1: Heat Olive Oil

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.

Step 2: Caramelize Onions

Add the sliced onions. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring often until they are golden and caramelized.

Step 3: Add Garlic

Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 4: Brown the Ground Beef

Add ground beef to the skillet.
Cook until fully browned, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks.

Step 5: Season the Mixture

Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
Stir in Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper.

Step 6: Simmer

Let the mixture simmer for another 5 minutes so flavors can meld together.

Step 7: Toast Buns

While simmering, toast the hamburger buns in another pan or under broiler until lightly golden.

Step 8: Assemble Sloppy Joes

Scoop the beef mixture onto the bottom half of each bun.
Top with shredded Swiss cheese before placing on the top bun.

Step 9: Garnish and Serve

Garnish with chopped parsley if desired before serving. Enjoy your Irresistible French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes!

Cambridge Market Commentary

The market is always moving. Prepared weekly, Cambridge’s market summaries cover the latest news, data, activity, and trends happening in the investing world so you never miss a beat.

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¹ CAAP^® is a registered mark of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. for its program for investment managers.