Samuel D. Webster CIMA®
Sam’s primary responsibilities at Signal Ridge Capital Partners include overseeing the firm’s comprehensive planning efforts and ensuring that the plans and portfolios that are constructed are aligned with each client’s individual needs and circumstances.
Sam founded Signal Ridge Capital Partners in 2013 after four years advising clients at PW Global Advisors. Prior to his time at PWGA, Sam spent ten years at UBS Financial Services and its predecessor firm PaineWebber. Over the years, Sam has worked closely with high net worth individuals and institutional clients. He completed the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) program through the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he fostered his interest in financial theory and portfolio construction techniques. He has been an active member of the Investment Management Consultants Association since 2003 and the Financial Planning Association since 2010.
Prior to entering the wealth management field, Sam graduated from Williams College with a BA in Economics and captained the lacrosse team. Sam lives in Framingham, MA with his wife, three young sons, and giant dog. His hobbies include reading, traveling, hiking, mountain biking and soccer.
Joshua M. Street CFP®
Josh’s primary responsibility at Signal Ridge includes comprehensive financial planning for the team’s clients; from meeting with clients, preparing the plan, delivering actionable advice, and helping clients implement key actions to get them closer to their goals. Josh also handles much of the behind-the-scenes operations, with his detail- and action-oriented nature ensuring a smooth process for everyone involved.
Josh joined Signal Ridge Capital Partners in 2013 as an Associate. Solidifying his shared vision for the firm & servicing team clients, Josh naturally stepped up alongside Sam as a Partner shortly afterwards. In 2016, Josh completed the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) designation – the gold standard for the financial advice industry. He also completed the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designation in 2019.
Prior to Signal Ridge, Josh graduated Magna Cum Laude from Babson College, with a dual-concentration in finance and economics. Josh was a student manager on the Babson College Fund, where he and a dozen other students managed $1.9MM of Babson’s endowment. He was selected by Finance Faculty at Babson for the Outstanding Graduating Senior award, recognized by the Boston chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI), and recognized by the Economics Faculty as a top student and accordingly inducted into the Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society in Economics. Josh also received the Wallace P. Mors Award for academic excellence in finance/investment courses. In addition to his academic accomplishments, Josh’s prior professional experience includes portfolio management, financial planning, lending, and ForEx trading.
Josh currently lives with his wife and dog in Framingham, MA. In his spare time, he enjoys learning new things, home improvement projects, and practically anything outdoors – from bike riding to bowhunting.
Matthew B. Scales CFA®
Matt joined Signal Ridge in 2023 with a primary focus on the firm’s investment decision-making, portfolio construction, and risk management processes. Additionally, Matt publishes quarterly investment market commentary for clients while contributing to the overall management of the firm.
Prior to joining Signal Ridge, Matt founded Stagecoach Investment Consulting in 2018. In 2020 Stagecoach became a registered investment advisor to advise individuals and families with a range of financial needs. Previously, Matt worked in the asset management industry for nearly 25 years holding roles of Investment Director at Wellington Management, U.S Head of Product Development & Strategy at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Client Advisor at Bridgewater Associates, and Global Equity & Currency Product Team Leader at Putnam Investments. During his time at Putnam Matt also worked with a range of institutional clients from around the world as an ex-patriate in both the U.K and Australia.
Matt holds an MBA in Finance from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business and a BA in Economics from Rollins College, where he was also a co-captain of the varsity baseball team. Matt also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
In his free time, Matt enjoys a range of athletic activities, music and the outdoors and is a board member for SMS Youth Hockey and President of Friends of Lincoln-Sudbury Hockey. He lives in Sudbury, MA with his wife and two boys.
John F. Smitka, Jr.
John’s primary responsibilities at Signal Ridge Capital Partners include overseeing compliance efforts, as well as research efforts and monitoring investments made on behalf of clients.
John joined Signal Ridge Capital Partners in 2013. Prior to joining Signal Ridge, John operated Penguin Global Wealth Management, LLC, in part as a sub-advisor to Tiedemann & Associates Investment Advisors. Penguin was responsible for conducting investment research, generating portfolio analytics, and producing market commentary. John received his MBA from the Boston College Carroll School of Management in finance and securities analysis. He began his investment career as a portfolio manager for a large Rhode Island bank that is now part of Bank of America. He returned to Boston College to earn a law degree and enjoyed a successful career as an attorney with the Department of the Navy, as senior counsel for BostonEdison, corporate general counsel for Eastern Utilities Associates, and as a partner with McDermott, Will & Emery in Boston. In 2003, John decided to return to investment management. After receiving training and licensing from UBS and Bank of America, he launched Penguin Global.
John attended Colgate University where he was a dual major in history and international relations. After Colgate, John served as a destroyer officer in the Navy with a rank of lieutenant. John lives in Wellesley, MA with his wife and has two children and one little dog. He enjoys rowing, sailing, squash, tennis, hiking and a bit of skiing.
Ryan L. Bender
Ryan's responsibilities at Signal Ridge Capital Partners include general client service tasks, website and portfolio reporting maintenance, and various ad hoc projects to help make life easier for the team.
Since graduating from Dartmouth College, Ryan has worked primarily in client operations at Earnest and Hulu, helping build early-stage customer support teams. Before joining Signal Ridge, he spent the last few years as a stay-at-home dad.
Outside of work, Ryan enjoys cooking and wishes he would read more. He's happy to have finally put down roots in Hopkinton, MA with his wife and two young kids.