As we close out another remarkable year, we’re proud to share that 2024 marks our 23rd year serving you, our LCM client family. We continue to be honored and humbled by your confidence in our team as we strive to help you reach your goals and live a life of true abundance, however you define it.
Thanks to our collaboration with you, we were honored to receive a number of prestigious accolades this year. LCM was named to the Forbes List of America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms, an achievement that reflects our dedication to delivering top-tier guidance and service to our clients. We were also recognized by Financial Advisor Magazine as one of America’s Top RIAs, highlighting the strength of our fiduciary approach and the depth of our expertise. For a bit of icing on the cake, we earned a coveted spot on USA Today’s 2024 List of America’s Best Financial Advisory Firms.
And while new plaques on the wall are always appreciated (we are certainly proud of our success!), it is not outside recognition that drives us forward, but rather our people, principles, and dedication to do the best we can to serve every client. Over the past year, we’ve continued to deepen client relationships, refine our service and investment models, and expand our talented team.
Our newest team member, Brooke McCaffrey, is a prime example of this growth. With a unique blend of discipline, determination, and a results-driven mindset, Brooke’s impact has been felt across the firm since her arrival in September. Since joining LCM as a Senior Client Service Associate, Brooke has already made her mark, diving into a variety of key projects, including trust distributions, compliance support, reporting, and more. In just a few short months, it is evident that Brooke fully embodies the qualities that often define top athletes… Disciplined. Determined. Competitive.
Originally from Laguna Niguel, Brooke’s connection to sports runs deep. The oldest of three sisters, all the girls were competitive tennis players. Brooke led the pack, earning a full-ride athletic scholarship to Charleston Southern University where she balanced sports and academics with ease. She dominated on the tennis court as a Division I starter (the highest level of collegiate athletics) and was honored as the Big South Conference Player of the Year during her senior year. At the same time, she pursued a degree in finance, becoming the only female finance major in her graduating class.
While tennis was always a major part of Brooke’s life, finance was ingrained in her from an early age. Raised by two parents with careers in the financial industry, Brooke often jokes that she learned GDP before she mastered her ABCs! Her upbringing made her passionate about financial literacy. “Too many people live in debt without understanding why that’s a problem—how interest rates work or why saving early is crucial for long-term financial security,” Brooke explains. “That’s one reason I never work with blinders on. I want to understand every piece of the puzzle, so I can have a much bigger impact—not just in my role, but for our clients and the firm.”
At LCM, Brooke brings her passion for financial education and discipline into her role as our Senior Client Service Associate. Building on her extensive RIA experience at Knightsbridge Wealth Management, she spends much of her time tackling many of the highly complex tasks that require a deeper understanding of finance. “I thrive on ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. It’s the details that drive efficiency and accuracy—from ensuring inherited assets get into the right hands as quickly as possible, to making sure every report is 100% accurate and easy for people with less financial knowledge to read and understand.”
Having worked for companies of every size, Brooke learned that her personal ‘sweet spot’ was working at a smaller RIA. “At larger firms, I often felt like a cog in the machine,” she reflects. “There was too much red tape, and I couldn’t serve clients the way I wanted to. At LCM, it’s different. Everyone knows the clients by name, and there’s a clear mission to provide personalized service.”
LCM’s strong team culture also stood out to Brooke. “The lack of turnover here says a lot. In my previous roles, people came and went all the time. But at LCM, the team feels like a tight-knit family that carefully chooses who they bring on board.” Being a part of this type of supportive work environment became especially clear for Brooke during a personal challenge last year when her husband Kevin, the head baseball coach at Corona del Mar High School, was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma tumor. “It was such a tough time for us—and everything was happening when our daughter was just 18 months old,” she remembers. “But the high school community rallied around us, bringing meals, running errands, and offering support. Their generosity was tremendous in helping us through it all.”
Kevin has since made a full recovery, but the experience reshaped Brooke’s perspective on what she wanted from her professional life. “I realized I needed more than just a job. I wanted a place where I was not only respected for my skills, but where I also felt appreciated and cared for as a person.” Another major draw was the opportunity for professional development. While she gained valuable experience at Knightsbridge, she was looking for a role where she could expand her responsibilities. A senior management position at LCM was the perfect next step. Since joining, Brooke’s competitive spirit, commitment to excellence, and strong financial background have made her an invaluable member of the team.
Now living in Tustin with her husband Kevin and their daughter Marlee (who is already learning her ABCs—and a little about GDP!), Brooke is excited to grow alongside LCM and continue making a meaningful impact for our clients for years to come.
Looking ahead
At LCM, our mission has always been to help our clients invest wisely, live abundantly, and give purposefully. As we step into another new year (our 24th!), we look forward to building on what we’ve achieved to date and to thriving together in 2025!
