Commonwealth

our Broker/Dealer

Independent, Just Like Us

We are proud to partner with Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer that helps independent advisors like us serve their clients. Commonwealth manages total account assets of $242.9 billion.1

Commonwealth is independently owned and managed, which means the firm can act in the best interests of its financial advisors and their clients—not shareholders. Our partnership with Commonwealth supports our commitment to remain free to act in your best interest, without any pressure to promote proprietary products or strategies.

 *As of 12/31/2022

How Commonwealth Helps Us Help You

Commonwealth offers the scale, stability, and resources that help us deliver the solutions you need. It’s that infrastructure—and the always expanding wealth of resources it provides—that makes it easier for our firm to provide you with the best possible guidance and the prompt, personal service you expect and deserve.

Through Commonwealth, we have access to robust, independent market research, financial planning expertise, and a wide universe of investment options—from individual stocks and bonds to mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, alternative investments, managed accounts, and retirement plans.

The firm’s advisor-to-staff ratio is one of the best in the industry. This means staff members answer our calls promptly, execute transactions quickly and accurately, and, in general, offer our firm the same highly personalized treatment we strive to give you.

Commonwealth’s technology platform is a critical component in our ability to keep you on track with your financial goals. Its integrated web-based systems allow us to more efficiently manage your portfolio and your overall financial life.

Commonwealth is second to none in its commitment to safeguarding your privacy and ensuring that your personal data remains secure. From encryption standards to disaster recovery plans and other measures the firm employs, we are confident that the information our clients entrust us with will remain secure.

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Committed to Helping Those in Need

Commonwealth’s commitment to service doesn’t end with its advisors and their clients. For more than four decades, the firm has been dedicated to serving the communities where its employees and affiliated advisors work, live, and visit. Its charitable foundation, Commonwealth Cares, works to provide contributions of time, talent, and financial support to a wide range of philanthropic causes. That kind of dedication to the greater good is just one more reason we’re proud to be affiliated with Commonwealth.

Looking for more information? Just ask!

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Commonwealth Research Team

As our client, you benefit from a dedicated, full-time team of investment research professionals who specialize in areas ranging from alternative investments to equities and beyond. Through our partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network®, our Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer, we have access to an extended office that provides us with timely research, market insights, and guidance for our clients—you!

Brad McMillan, CFA®, CAIA, MAI

Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer

  • Chairs the Investment Committee and is the primary spokesperson for Commonwealth’s investment divisions
  • Shares his comments and thoughts on the economy in his blog, The Independent Market Observer
  • Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder, holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation, and is a member of the Appraisal Institute
  • Earned a BA from Dartmouth College, an MS in real estate from MIT, and an MS in finance from Boston College
  • Has prior experience as the founder of Dartmouth Realty Advisors

Brian Price, CFA®

Managing Principal, Investment Management and Research

  • Manages the Research team
  • Oversees asset allocation, fund selection, and overall management of Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program
  • Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and holds the FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations
  • Earned a BA from Georgetown University
  • Has prior experience as a senior financial advisor associate at Bernstein Investment Research and Management

Peter Essele, CFA®, CFP®, CAIA

Senior Vice President, Investment Management and Research

  • Oversees asset allocation, fund selection, and overall management of Commonwealth’s discretionary platform, Preferred Portfolio Services® Select
  • Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional certification and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society
  • Holds the FINRA Series 7, 24, 31, 53, and 66 securities registrations
  • Earned a BS in industrial economics from Union College
  • Has prior experience in positions at Albany International and Kestner Engineers

Chad LaFauci, CFA®, CAIA

Vice President, Alternative Investments

  • Analyzes, approves, and monitors all alternative investments products (e.g., private equity, private credit, hedge funds, real estate, infrastructure, and commodities)
  • Manages the Alternative Investments team, which assists advisors with portfolio construction, as well as individual investment research and analysis
  • Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and the FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 securities registrations
  • Earned a BS in economics from Bates College

Jim McAllister, CFA®

Vice President, Equity Research

  • Oversees the Equity Research team, which assists advisors with ongoing due diligence and analysis of equity-based mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, separately managed accounts, and individual securities
  • Manages the Preferred Portfolio Services® Select Equity Income SMA models and Preferred Portfolio Services® Select ESG All Cap SMA models
  • Responds to advisor inquiries on equity portfolio construction, individual equity research, and equity portfolio reviews
  • Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder
  • Earned a BS in finance from Lehigh University
  • Has prior experience as a research analyst at Loomis, Sayles & Co. and State Street Global Advisors in the U.S. quantitative group

Brian McCormick, CIMA®

Manager, Investment Management and Research

  • Manages evaluation, selection, and dissemination of research in the small- and mid-cap asset classes
  • Conducts research and due diligence on exchange-traded products
  • Responds to advisor inquiries on various investment topics, including asset allocation, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and separate account managers
  • Holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation and the FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 securities registrations
  • Earned a BS in management from Quinnipiac University
  • Has more than 21 years of industry experience including at positions at Signator Investors and Putnam Investments

Sam Millette

Manager, Fixed Income

  • Oversees the team’s fixed income research initiatives, responds to advisor inquiries, analyzes individual bonds, and creates market research and commentary
  • Earned a BA in economics from Tufts University and is a member of the CFA Society Boston

Robert Kane, CAIA

Manager, Alternatives

  • Facilitates due diligence and research activities on products within alternative financial strategies (e.g., managed futures, hedge funds, private credit, private equity and structured products)
  • Holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation,  FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 securities registrations and a certificate in Advanced Derivative Market Strategies
  • Earned a degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Andrew Kitchings, CFA®, CAIA, CMT, ERP, FRM

Manager, Investment Due Diligence - Investment Management and Research

  • Helps oversee Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program and the Commonwealth Model Portfolios
  • Assists with asset allocation, security selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring
  • Holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®), Chartered Market Technician (CMT), Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), Energy Risk Professional (ERP), and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designations and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society
  • Holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
  • Earned dual degrees in economics and history with a concentration in East Asian studies from Emory University
  • Has prior experience in positions at LPL Financial and Bank of America

Fred DeBaets

Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income

  • Manages Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select Fixed Income SMA strategies
  • Assists with portfolio construction and ideas on fixed income market opportunities
  • Earned a BS in financial management and economics and an MBA from Plymouth State University
  • Has prior experience in fixed income positions at Morgan Stanley and Bear Stearns

Chris Fasciano

Portfolio Manager, Investment Management and Research

  • Oversees Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program and the Commonwealth Model Portfolios
  • Assists with asset allocation, security selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring
  • Responds to advisor inquiries about their own model portfolios
  • Earned a BA in economics from Bates College and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School
  • Has more than 20 years of experience in small- and mid-cap stock research and managing small- and mid-cap value portfolios for institutional and high-net-worth clients

Rob Swanke, CFA®, CAIA

Senior Research Analyst, Equity

  • Analyzes individual fixed income securities and structured products, responds to advisor requests, and assists with fixed income market research
  • Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and the FINRA Series 65 securities registration
  • Earned a BS in finance and accounting from Boston College

Nathan Parker, CFA®, CAIA

Senior Research Analyst, Equity

  • Facilitates due diligence and research activities on real asset-focused investments (commercial real estate, commodities, infrastructure, and natural resources)
  • Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and the FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations
  • Earned a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Chico, and a master’s in finance from San Diego State University
  • Has prior experience at LPL Financial

Peter Roberto

Senior Research Analyst, Equity

  • Provides due diligence and research activities on International mutual funds, exchange traded-funds, and equities
  • Evaluates and selects managers and disseminates research in the Global and Foreign Large Cap, EM and Foreign SMID markets asset classes
  • Assists the Investment Management team with calculating, analyzing, and updating both internal and external performance and attribution reports
  • Earned a BS in management, with an emphasis in finance, from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is currently a Level II Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) candidate

Tom Scarlata

Senior Research Analyst, Fixed Income

  • Provides due diligence activities on fixed income mutual funds and exchange traded funds. Evaluates and selects fixed income managers for the mutual fund recommended list.
  • Assists the Investment Research team in the production of the mutual fund recommended list and other advisor facing content.
  • Earned a BS in Finance from Bentley University and is currently a Level II Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) candidate

Wayne Richardson

Research Analyst, Equity

  • Provides due diligence and research activities on Mid and Small Cap mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and equities                                             
  • Evaluates and selects managers and disseminates research in the Mid Cap and Small Cap equity asset classes
  • Assists the Investment Management team with calculating, analyzing, and updating internal performance reports
  • Earned a bachelor’s in economics from UConn and is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation holder

Justin Cleare, CFA®

Research Analyst, Real Assets

  • Facilitates due diligence and research activities on real asset-focused investments (commercial real estate, commodities, infrastructure, and natural resources)
  • Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and holds the FINRA series 6, 26, and 99 securities registrations
  • Earned a BBA in Finance and Operations Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Joe Dunn

Research Analyst, Fixed Income

  • Analyzes fixed income portfolios & individual fixed income securities, responds to advisor requests, and assists with fixed income market research
  • Earned a BS in Finance from UMass Amherst

Aaron Gigliotti

Research Associate, Investment Management and Research

  • Supporting analysts and senior analysts with ad-hoc investment research requests and administrative functions.
  • Researching and analyzing mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments and summarizing findings.
  • Responding to inquiries from Commonwealth’s advisors on investment topics and products.
  • Providing assistance with asset allocation, portfolio construction, case design, and consultation.
  • Holds a BSBA with a concentration in finance from Boston University

Sarah Hargreaves

Platform Manager, Investment Management and Research

  • She provides advanced technical, consultative, and platform-based support on a variety of topics to advisors and clients, particularly as it relates to Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® (PPS) Select program.
  • Holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
  • Earned a degree from Elon University

Sara Bray

Research Associate, Investment Management and Research

  • Supports analysts on the fixed income team with due diligence and research activities on various mutual funds, ETFs , or individual securities
  • Assists the Investment Management and Research team with updating both internal and external attribution reports
  • Holds a BS in Finance from Bentley University

Justin Duft, JD, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC

Vice President, Advanced Planning

  • Responsible for the strategic direction of the department, as well as providing a resource for advisors on issues involving trust, estate, tax, charitable, social security, business, insurance, and education planning
  • Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification and the Chartered Life Underwriter®(CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), and Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC) designations, as well as Massachusetts life, accident, and health insurance licenses
  • Holds the FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, and 63 securities registrations
  • Earned a BS in business administration from Northeastern University; an MSFS from the American College of Financial Services; and a JD, with a focus on estate, trust, and tax law, from New England Law Boston
  • Has prior experience in positions at Renaissance Insurance Group, John Hancock, and Ernst & Young

Heather Zack, JD, LLM, MSFP, CAP®

Manager, Advanced Planning

  • Leads a team of consultants that serve as a resource for advisors on issues involving estate, charitable, tax, social security, and education planning
  • Holds the Certified Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) certification as well as the FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, and 63 securities registrations
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree from Endicott College, a JD from the University of San Diego, an LLM (Master of Laws) in taxation with a focus on estate planning from Boston University, and an MS in financial planning from Bentley University
  • Has prior experience in positions at Bank of America Investment Services/Merrill Lynch and Investors Capital, as well as extensive operations experience at Commonwealth

Martin Baker, CFP®

Supervisor, Paraplanning & Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource on issues involving estate, trust, charitable, education, business, and social security planning strategies
  • Oversees a team providing financial planning support through assisting with plan creation, analysis, and recommendations for advisors’ clients.
  • Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional certification and the FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bentley University
  • Previously held several positions at Fidelity and UBS

David Haughton, JD

Team Lead, Advanced Planning

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and a JD from the Massachusetts School of Law
  • Is admitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bar and the State of New Hampshire bar
  • Was a practicing estate planning attorney

Krista Teegarden, CLU®, ChFC®, CSLP®, NSSA®

Senior Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on issues involving estate, trust, charitable, education, business, deferred compensation and social security planning strategies.
  • Is a National Social Security Advisor Certificate Holder (NSSA®), holds the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), and Certified Student Loan Professional (CSLP) designations, as well as the FINRA Series 7 and 24 securities registrations and California life, accident, and health insurance licenses
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from Biola University
  • Has prior experience conducting research and analysis and implementing advanced estate and business strategies with independent advisors

Maureen Baxter, MBA, CLU®, ChFC®

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors in all areas of financial planning, including executive benefits, as well as high-level insurance planning and social security, estate, and business planning
  • Holds the FINRA Series 7, as well as the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations
  • Earned an MBA from Plymouth State University
  • Has prior experience as an assistant vice president of advanced sales and sales development at Lincoln Financial Group; has also worked at Western and Southern Financial Group, Lafayette Life Insurance Company, and Jefferson Pilot Insurance Company

Aric Jacobson, JD, LLM, CFP®

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University, a JD from Tulane University School of Law, and an LLM in Taxation from NYU
  • Member of the New York State Bar (retired) and American Bar Association

Elizabeth Meyer, JD

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree from the Merrimack College and a JD from Suffolk Law School
  • Is admitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bar
  • Was a practicing estate and elder law attorney

Rafael Bernard, CFP®, MSFP

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College, a master’s degree in financial planning from the McCallum Graduate School of Business at Bentley University and a financial therapy certificate from Kansas State University
  • Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification. Was previously a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment and a subject matter expert for In Good Company, a MassMutual learning initiative

Anne Fontanet, BCL, LLM

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning
  • Spent two years at the University College Dublin in Ireland and the Université Paris Panthéon-Assas in France pursuing a double degree in comparative law and international law, earning the French and Irish equivalent of an American JD. She then earned an LLM in U.S. and international law from the Chicago-Kent College of Law
  • Has prior experience as an associate at an estate planning firm