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Timely Market Insights and Advice

Commonwealth Investment Research Team

Learn about the colleagues with whom we work to keep you in the know about current investment news, market updates, and more.

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!

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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

Vice 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

Research Analyst, Fixed Income

  • Analyzes individual fixed income securities, responds to advisor requests, and assists with market research and commentary

  • Assists with trading and rebalancing of SMA portfolios

  • Earned a BA in economics from Tufts University and is currently a Level II Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) candidate

 

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

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