Retirement Professionals
Our partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network®, a leading independent broker/dealer, provides us access to a team of knowledgeable and experienced retirement professionals at Commonwealth who assist us in our efforts to provide you with the best possible service. Each of the members on this team brings a breadth of experience in the industry and within his or her own specialization. Learn more about the Commonwealth team below.
Paul Mahan
Senior Vice President, Retirement Consulting Services
- Leads Commonwealth’s Retirement Consulting group, helping advisors to better market and serve retirement plans
- Holds FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, 63, and 65 securities registrations
- Holds a degree from Boston College
- Former board member of the Retirement Advisor Council
- Has prior experience in positions at Pioneer Investments; Putnam Investments; Fidelity Investments; and Scudder, Stevens & Clark
Patricia Garvey
Product Manager
- Oversees development and ongoing enhancements related to key retirement plan products that are offered to Commonwealth advisors who manage qualified retirement plans, including data architecture, data management, and associated product testing
- Holds a degree in economics from Regis College
- Has prior experience in a variety of management, business automation, and relationship management positions at MFS Investment Management and Sun Life Financial
Michael Geraci, CRPC®, AIF®
Relationship Manager, Retirement Consulting Investment Platform
- Manages Commonwealth’s Retirement Plan Investment Recommended List, which serves as a key resource to the firm’s advisors, by ensuring coverage across key asset classes and share classes for mutual funds, comingled trusts, stable value products, and target-date portfolios, as well as maintaining an industry blueprint as to which recordkeeping platforms offer these strategies
- Holds FINRA 6, 7, and 63 securities registrations, a Massachusetts life and variable insurance license, and the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designations
- Holds a BA from the University of New Hampshire, an MS in finance from the Brandeis University International Business School, and a certificate in executive leadership from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management
- Has prior experience in the investments and retirement plan divisions at John Hancock, as well as in brokerage trading with Fidelity Investments
Steve Kochis
Manager, Retirement Programs
- Oversees all workflow between the Retirement Consulting Services department and the rest of Commonwealth, third-party partners, and Commonwealth’s advisors
- Manages the strategy and execution of the department’s policies and procedures
- Holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 66 securities registrations
- Holds a degree from UMass Amherst
- Has prior experience in retirement operations roles with Commonwealth
Mat Powers, CFA®, AIF®
Product Manager
- Manages all aspects of Commonwealth’s retirement tool suite offerings, as well as all vendor relationships, and acts as a primary liaison for Commonwealth advisors who have questions or issues regarding these tools
- Holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) and Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designations
- Holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in investment management from Boston University
- Has prior experience as a product manager at Fidelity Investments and an investment specialist at BNP Paribas
Dan Collins, AIF®
Business Development Consultant
- Works with advisors on driving retirement plan sales and improving the client experience
- Consults on business development, product options, sales strategies, competitive positioning, service models, and best practices related to building and supporting a successful retirement plan practice
- Holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation
- Has attended both Eastern Nazarene College and Bridgewater State University
- Has more than 17 years of experience in the 401(k) industry, including roles at MFS Investment Management, Sun Life, and The Hartford
Thomas Crutchfield, CFP®, AIF®, PPC™
Business Development Consultant
- Works with advisors on driving retirement plan sales and improving the client experience
- Consults on business development, product options, sales strategies, competitive positioning, service models, and best practices related to building and supporting a successful retirement plan practice
- Serves as a member of the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA)
- Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification, as well as Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) and Professional Plan Consultant (PPC™) designations
- Holds a BS in finance from the University of Houston
- Has prior experience as the director of financial planning programs at Merrimack College, where he managed all aspects of the CFP®certification curriculum
John Peters, CFP®, AIF®, PPC™
Business Development Consultant
- Works with advisors on driving retirement plan sales and helping to optimize their retirement practices
- Consults on business development, product options, sales strategies, competitive positioning, service models, and best practices related to building and supporting a successful retirement plan practice
- Holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations, as well as the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) and Professional Plan Consultant (PPC™) designations
- Was recognized as one of the “Top 300 Most Influential Advisors in Defined Contribution” by 401kWire in 2009 and 2010
- Holds a degree from Emory University in Atlanta
- Has prior experience as an advisor to corporate retirement plans, where he was actively involved in sales/marketing and client service to plan sponsors nationwide
Allen Cohen
Retirement Sales Consultant
- Fields inquiries from advisors and provides retirement consultation on all aspects of advisors’ retirement practices, from new business development and plan proposals to plan design, product placement, and regulatory matters
- Works with advisors on driving retirement plan sales and improving the client experience
- Holds FINRA Series 6 and 63 securities registrations
- Holds a BA from Bates College
- Has prior experience at State Street Bank, CitiStreet, and ING/Voya
Andrew Farrell, CEBS, CRPS®, GFS®
Retirement Sales Consultant
- Fields inquiries from advisors and provides retirement consultation to advisors on all aspects of their retirement practices, from new business development and plan proposals, to plan design, product placement, and regulatory matters
- Holds FINRA Series 6, 7, and 66 securities registrations, as well as the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Chartered Retirement Plans SpecialistSM (CRPS®), and Global Fiduciary Strategist (GFS®) designations
- Holds a degree from the University of Maryland, College Park
- Has 17 years of experience in financial services and 11 years of experience specializing in defined contribution and 401(k) plans
Derenig Kostikian, CFP®, AIF®
Retirement Sales Consultant
- Fields inquiries from advisors and provides retirement consultation to advisors on all aspects of their retirement practices, from new business development and plan proposals, to plan design, product placement, and regulatory matters
- Holds FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification, and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation
- Holds a degree from UMass Boston
- Has prior experience at Signator Investors Inc. and AARP Financial
Mike Clifford
IRA Consultant
- Helps advisors and Commonwealth home office staff navigate complex situations related to traditional, Roth, SIMPLE, and SEP IRAs, including addressing operational inquiries and concerns, IRS rules and regulations, and other questions
- Holds a BS in business management, with a concentration in marketing and management, from UMass Lowell
- Has prior experience as a client support administrator at Putnam Investments
Steven Johnian
IRA Consultant
- Helps advisors and Commonwealth home office staff navigate complex situations related to traditional, Roth, SIMPLE, and SEP IRAs, including addressing operational inquiries and concerns, IRS rules and regulations, and other questions
- Holds a degree from UMass Lowell
- Has prior experience in client services, quality control, annuity services, and specialty services roles at Putnam Investments
Sheryll Yee, CRPS®
IRA Consultant
- Helps advisors and Commonwealth home office staff navigate complex situations related to traditional, Roth, SIMPLE, and SEP IRAs, including addressing operational inquiries and concerns, IRS rules and regulations, and other questions
- Holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
- Holds the Chartered Retirement Plans SpecialistSM (CRPS®) designation
- Holds a BS from California State University, San Marcos
- Has prior experience as a supervision analyst associate at First Allied Securities