Commonwealth Research Team
Meet the Team
Our partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network®, a leading Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer, provides us access to a team of investment research specialists who assist us in our efforts to provide you with the best possible service. Each of the professionals on this team brings a breadth of experience in the industry and within his or her own specialization.

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®, CAIA, CFP®
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
- 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