For Marcel V. Quiroga, money has never just been about numbers. It’s about people, values, and the legacies they leave behind.
Quiroga, founder and CEO of TQM Wealth Partners on Washington Street in Marblehead, has spent nearly 30 years in financial services. A Retirement Management Advisor, she launched her own independent advisory firm in 2016 with a vision of putting people, not products, at the center of financial planning.
“The human aspect of wealth management is really important to me,” Quiroga said. “Money is a resource to enrich our human, social, and spiritual wealth. If we give it its proper place, it can enhance the living experience rather than be something that causes stress and confusion.”
Quiroga’s path to entrepreneurship is embedded in both professional expertise and personal resilience. Born to Bolivian parents – her father is a Spanish professor at Salem State University, and her mother is a school teacher – she moved to Marblehead at age 9. At the time, she recalls her family being one of the few Latino households in town.
After beginning her career in South America, Quiroga returned to the North Shore, eventually raising her children in Marblehead. Today, both of her adult children work alongside her at TQM Wealth Partners, making the practice a family business. She and her partner live in Salem, and she is a grandmother of two.
The firm’s Marblehead location reflects her roots.
“Having my business in Marblehead made a lot of sense,” she said. “I grew up here, my mom still lives here, and my son and his family are part of the community.”
Independence is a cornerstone of her approach. Unlike advisors tied to broker-dealers, TQM Wealth Partners operates as a registered investment advisory firm.
“If you know your financial advisor is not selling you products, you can feel more confident the advice you’re receiving is truly in your best interest,” Quiroga explained.
Her leadership extends far beyond finance. She serves on the boards of Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn, The Women’s Edge, and Enterprising Women, and she founded The Legacy Dialogues: an initiative that encourages people to align their time, talent, and financial resources with philanthropic opportunities.
“At Girls Inc., I see the power of helping young women close the opportunity gap so they can grow into strong, smart, and bold leaders,” Quiroga said. “And with Legacy Dialogues, it’s about helping people realize that philanthropy isn’t just writing a check it’s a way of life.”
Her work has earned industry recognition. Quiroga has been named a Five Star Wealth Manager three years in a row, an honor given to advisors with strong client satisfaction records and ethical standards.
She often compares financial health to physical health, encouraging individuals and families to think of annual reviews as a “financial physical.”
“It’s about asking: How well funded are your lifestyle, your goals, your needs? Having a financial health assessment creates the foundation for wealth creation and long-term strength,” she said. “That’s valuable not only for individuals and families, but also for our broader community.”
As she looks ahead, Quiroga remains committed to helping clients make financial decisions that reflect who they are and what they value most.
“If I can educate people on how to align their money with their values, then I think I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing,” she said.
