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