Cathy McBreen is managing director of Spectrem Group, responsible for the firm's Strategic Consulting and Information Services. She oversees a professional consulting and research staff that conducts a wide range of projects and research in the asset-gathering industries.

McBreen has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. While at Spectrem, she has been instrumental in the development of the firm's consulting practice. She is an industry expert on the retirement, high net worth and investment markets.

McBreen has developed strategies for companies to enter markets, assisted in forming strategic alliances and partnerships, implemented Internet strategies and designed various distribution strategies. In addition, she has used her industry and legal knowledge to analyze mutual fund complexes, design distribution practices and develop products and strategies for the high net worth and personal trust markets.

Prior to joining Spectrem, McBreen worked as in-house counsel at Harris Bank, where she became familiar with legal and business issues in the Trust, Investment Management, Retirement and Corporate and Indenture Trust areas.

McBreen has B.S. in speech communications from Northwestern University and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. She is a member of various industry organizations and a frequent speaker at conferences.

McBreen and George H. Walper, Jr., president of Spectrem, are co-authors of the upcoming book: Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass It On: The Wealth-Accumulation Secrets of America's Richest Families. Published by Portfolio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., it will be available on bookshelves in January 2008.