
Commonwealth Investment Research
Take advantage of 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®, we have access to timely research, market insights, and guidance exclusive to our clients.

Brad McMillan, CFA®
Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer
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Chairs the Investment Committee and is the primary spokesperson for Commonwealth's investment divisions
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Shares his comments and thoughts on the economy in his blog, The Independent Market Observer
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Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder
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Earned a BA from Dartmouth College, an MS in real estate from MIT, and an MS in finance from Boston College
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Has prior experience as the founder of Dartmouth Realty Advisors

Brian Price, CFA®
Managing Principal, Investment Management and Research
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Manages the Research team
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Oversees asset allocation, fund selection, and overall management of Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program
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Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and holds the FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations
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Earned a BA from Georgetown University
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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
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Oversees asset allocation, fund selection, and overall management of Commonwealth’s discretionary platform, Preferred Portfolio Services® Select
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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
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Holds the FINRA Series 7, 24, 31, 53, and 66 securities registrations
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Earned a BS in industrial economics from Union College
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Has prior experience in positions at Albany International and Kestner Engineers

Chad LaFauci, CFA®, CAIA
Vice President, Alternative Investments
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Analyzes, approves, and monitors all alternative investments products (e.g., private equity, private credit, hedge funds, real estate, infrastructure, and commodities)
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Manages the Alternative Investments team, which assists advisors with portfolio construction, as well as individual investment research and analysis
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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
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Earned a BS in economics from Bates College

Jim McAllister, CFA®
Vice President, Equity Research
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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
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Manages the Preferred Portfolio Services® Select Equity Income SMA models and Preferred Portfolio Services® Select ESG All Cap SMA models
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Responds to advisor inquiries on equity portfolio construction, individual equity research, and equity portfolio reviews
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Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder
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Earned a BS in finance from Lehigh University
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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®
Director, Investment Management and Research
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Manages evaluation, selection, and dissemination of research in the small- and mid-cap asset classes
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Conducts research and due diligence on exchange-traded products
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Responds to advisor inquiries on various investment topics, including asset allocation, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and separate account managers
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Holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation and the FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 securities registrations
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Earned a BS in management from Quinnipiac University
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Has more than 22 years of industry experience including at positions at Signator Investors and Putnam Investments

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

Robert Kane, CAIA
Manager, Alternatives
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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)
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Holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation, FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 securities registrations and a certificate in Advanced Derivative Market Strategies
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Earned a degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Andrew Kitchings, CFA®, CAIA, CMT, ERP, FRM
Manager, Investment Due Diligence - Investment Management and Research
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Helps oversee Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program and the Commonwealth Model Portfolios
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Assists with asset allocation, security selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring
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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
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Holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
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Earned dual degrees in economics and history with a concentration in East Asian studies from Emory University
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Has prior experience in positions at LPL Financial and Bank of America

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

Chris Fasciano
Portfolio Manager, Investment Management and Research
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Oversees Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program and the Commonwealth Model Portfolios
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Assists with asset allocation, security selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring
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Responds to advisor inquiries about their own model portfolios
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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
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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
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Analyzes individual fixed income securities and structured products, responds to advisor requests, and assists with fixed income market research
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Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and the FINRA Series 65 securities registration
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Earned a BS in finance and accounting from Boston College

Nathan Parker, CFA®, CAIA
Senior Research Analyst, Equity
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Facilitates due diligence and research activities on real asset-focused investments (commercial real estate, commodities, infrastructure, and natural resources)
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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
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Earned a bachelor's in business administration from California State University, Chico, and a master's in finance from San Diego State University
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Has prior experience at LPL Financial

Peter Roberto
Senior Research Analyst, Equity
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Provides due diligence and research activities on International mutual funds, exchange traded-funds, and equities
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Evaluates and selects managers and disseminates research in the Global and Foreign Large Cap, EM and Foreign SMID markets asset classes
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Assists the Investment Management team with calculating, analyzing, and updating both internal and external performance and attribution reports
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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