Our affiliation with Commonwealth Financial Network® gives us access to a team of advanced planning specialists. They aid us in our efforts to serve you well!
Anne Fontanet
Advanced Planning Consultant –Advanced Planning
Anne joined Commonwealth in July 2022 as an advanced planning consultant. In this role, her responsibilities include reviewing and summarizing plan and legal documents, identifying potential issues on a variety of wealth management projects, and reviewing clients’ planning objectives to help identify opportunities to meet their needs. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Anne was an associate attorney at Gosselin & Kyriakidis and a law clerk for a criminal defense attorney at the James J. Coviello Law Office. Shespent two years at the University College Dublin in Ireland and the Université Paris Panthéon-Assas in France pursuing a double degree in comparative law and international law, earning the French and Irish equivalent of an American JD. She then earned an LLM in U.S. and international law from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. She is also a licensed attorney in the state of New York. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking (sometimes with her cat), trail running, photography, skiing, reading, and DIY projects.
Aric Jacobson
Advanced Planning Consultant - Advanced Planning
Aric joined Commonwealth in August 2020 as an advanced planning consultant. In this role, he provides financial planning support for advisors, including estate, trust, charitable, education, business, and social security planning strategies. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Aric was a financial educator and subject matter expert at Edelman Financial Engines and Financial Knowledge. He earned his BS in biology from Tulane University and his JD from Tulane University School of Law. Aric then went on to earn his LLM in taxation from New York University School of Law. He currently holds his FINRA Series 6, 63, and 66 securities registrations and CFP certification and is a member of the New York State Bar. Outside of work, Aric enjoys hiking, doing the New York Times crosswords, studying ancient Roman history, and spending time with his wife, Alicia, and their black lab mix, Tosh. Aric also enjoys traveling and biking; he has biked across the U.S. twice as part of a charitable fundraising event and in 2018 he spent a month in Iran as a tourist.
Brian DeAcetis Jr.
Team Lead, Paraplanning – Advanced Planning
Brian joined Commonwealth in January 2022 as a paraplanner in the Advanced Planning department. In this role, his primary responsibilities include providing financial planning support through assisting with plan creation, analysis, and recommendations for advisors' clients. Brian conducts data gathering calls and virtual meetings with advisors and clients to obtain information required to develop or update the financial plan. Before joining Commonwealth, Brian worked as a client service specialist at Raskin Planning Group. He earned his BSBA in finance and his MS in finance from Suffolk University and holds his SIE and FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations. Outside of work, Brian enjoys running, going to the gym, and both playing and watching sports. He has played hockey and baseball all his life and tries to get out on the ice whenever he can.
David Haughton
TL, Advanced Planning – Advanced Planning
David joined Commonwealth in March 2018 as an advanced planning consultant. In this role, he provides financial planning support for advisors, including estate, trust, charitable, education, business, and social security planning strategies. Prior to Commonwealth, David was in private practice for eight years in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. He has prior experience representing individuals and companies in bankruptcy, as well as engaging with many other general practice areas. Over the past few years, he has exclusively practiced in the areas of elder law and estate planning and administration. David graduated with a BA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and earned his JD at the Massachusetts School of Law. He is admitted to the Massachusetts and New Hampshire bar, as well as the U.S District Court, District of Massachusetts, and the U.S District Court, District of New Hampshire. David is an avid Boston sports fan. In his spare time, he enjoys working out, golfing, traveling, taking long walks around Somerville, and spending time with his family and friends.
Eli Dorf
Associate Paraplanner –Advanced Planning
Eli joined Commonwealth in September 2022 as an associate paraplanner. In this role, he works collaboratively with advisors, helping with the development, implementation, and updating of financial plans and assisting with client delivery as needed. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Eli worked as an advice intern in the Financial Advisor Development Program at Vanguard. He holds both a bachelor’s degree in finance, with a concentration in financial planning, and a master’s degree in finance from Bentley University. He also holds his FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations. Outside of work, Eli enjoys golfing, traveling, learning to cook, and watching Formula 1 racing and hockey. He hopes to get involved with pro bono financial planning work when he’s eligible.
Elizabeth Meyer
Advanced Planning Consultant – Advanced Planning
Elizabeth joined Commonwealth in January 2022 as an advanced planning consultant. She acts as a resource for our advisors on issues involving elder care planning, estate planning, charitable, education, and social security planning. Before joining Commonwealth, Elizabeth worked as an estate and elder law attorney for Clougherty & Associates and Falco & Associates. She is a graduate of Merrimack College and Suffolk Law School. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys coaching her two children in team sports and playing tennis.
Geoffrey Skowronek
Paraplanner – Advanced Planning
Located At: Waltham Office
Geoff joined Commonwealth in October 2019 as a business transitions case manager and was promoted to senior business transitions case manager in June 2021. In January 2022, Geoff joined the Advanced Planning department as a paraplanner, bringing his operational expertise and advisor-centric approach to the team. In this role, his primary responsibilities include providing financial planning support through assisting with plan creation, analysis, and recommendations for advisors' clients. Before joining Commonwealth, Geoff was a financial consultant at AXA Advisors in North Carolina. He graduated from Assumption College, holds his FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations, and is licensed in life, accident, and health insurance and long-term care insurance. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, golfing, skiing, and following Boston sports teams, especially the New England Patriots.
Heather Zack
Mgr., Advanced Planning – Advanced Planning
Heather joined Commonwealth in June 2011. In her role as advanced planning consultant, she acts as a resource for advisors on issues involving estate, charitable, tax, social security, and education planning. Heather has an LLM in taxation from Boston University, with a concentration in estate planning; a JD from the University of San Diego, with a concentration in corporate and securities law; and a BS in business administration from Endicott College. She is also pursuing her MS in financial planning at Bentley University. Prior to joining Commonwealth, she held positions at Bank of America Investment Services/Merrill Lynch and Investors Capital. Heather holds her FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, and 63 securities registrations, as well as the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) certification. In her spare time, Heather enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and listening to great music.
Justin Duft
VP, Advanced Planning – Advanced Planning
Justin joined Commonwealth in June 2007. As director of advanced planning, Justin is responsible for the strategic direction of the department, as well as providing a resource for advisors on issues involving trust, estate, tax, charitable, social security, business, insurance, and education planning. Justin has a JD from New England Law Boston, with a focus on estate, trust, and tax law; an MS in financial services from the American College of Financial Services; and a BS in business administration from Northeastern University. He holds Massachusetts life, accident, and health insurance licenses; CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, and CLTC certifications; and FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, and 63 securities registrations. Prior to Commonwealth, Justin worked for Renaissance Insurance Group running its financial services department, and he has held positions with John Hancock and Ernst & Young.
Kevin Smit
Associate Paraplanner – Advanced Planning
Kevin joined Commonwealth in June 2020 as an operations support specialist in the Service Center. In September 2022, Kevin joined the Advanced Planning department as an associate paraplanner, bringing his operational expertise and advisor-centric approach to the team. In this role, his primary responsibilities include providing financial planning support by assisting with plan creation, analysis, and recommendations for advisors’ clients. Kevin graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a degree in chemistry, where he authored “Nanophosphor-Based Contrast Agents for Spectral X-Ray Imaging,” which was published in the scientific journal Nanomaterials. He holds the CFP® designation and FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations. Kevin enjoys volleyball, golfing, reading, and traveling.
Krista Teegarden
Senior Advanced Planning Consultant – Advanced Planning
Krista joined Commonwealth in September 2018 as an advanced planning consultant. In this role, she provides financial planning support for advisors, including estate, trust, charitable, education, business, and social security planning strategies. Before joining Commonwealth, Krista worked with independent advisors conducting research and analysis and implementing advanced estate and business strategies. She also worked closely with attorneys to design and implement nonqualified plans and executive benefits. Krista earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance at Biola University. She holds California life, accident, and health insurance licenses; the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Certified Student Loan Professional® (CSLP®), National Social Security Advisor® (NSSA®) designations; as well as her FINRA Series 7 securities registration. In her spare time, Krista likes to try out new recipes, spend time in her garden, and travel the world.
Martin Baker
Sup., Paraplanning & Advanced Planning Consultant – Advanced Planning
Martin joined Commonwealth in January 2019 as an advanced planning consultant. In this role, he provides financial planning support for advisors, including estate, trust, charitable, education, business, and social security planning strategies. Prior to Commonwealth, Martin was a private wealth relationship manager at Fidelity. Before that, he was a wealth strategist with UBS. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bentley University, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation, and FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his wife and two children, traveling, playing hockey, and golfing.
Maureen Baxter
Advanced Planning Consultant - Advanced Planning
Maureen joined Commonwealth in December 2013 as an advanced planning consultant. In this role, she acts as a resource for advisors in all areas of financial planning, including executive benefits and high-level insurance, social security, estate, and business planning. Maureen earned her MBA from Plymouth State University and her CLU® and ChFC® designations from the American College of Financial Services. Prior to Commonwealth, she held the roles of assistant vice president of advanced sales and assistant vice president of life marketing. She previously worked at Western and Southern Financial Group, Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Lincoln Financial Group, and Jefferson Pilot Insurance Company. In her free time, she enjoys family time, crocheting, musical theater, and reading-anything from mystery to history.
Mike Simolo
Advanced Planning Consultant – Advanced Planning
Mike started working with Commonwealth in October 2022 as an advanced planning consultant. In this role, he reviews and summarizes plan and legal documents and identifies potential issues on wealth management projects. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Mike worked as a partner at both Robinson Donovan and Fierst Bloomberg Ohm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Hobart College and a juris doctorate from Cornell Law School, and he is admitted to practice law in both Massachusetts and New York.
Robbie Peck
Associate Paraplanner – Advanced Planning
Ronnie joined Commonwealth in January 2021 as a brokerage cashier in the Cashiering department. In August 2023, Ronnie joined the Advanced Planning department as an associate paraplanner, bringing his operational expertise and advisor-centric approach to the team. In this role, his primary responsibilities include providing financial planning support by assisting with plan creation, analysis, and recommendations for advisors's clients. Before joining Commonwealth, Ronnie was a financial professional for Commonwealth Financial Group as well as a financial representative intern for Northwestern Mutual. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Endicott College and holds his SIE, FINRA Series 7 securities registration, and Massachusetts life, accident, and health insurance licenses. In his spare time, Ronnie enjoys watching sports (especially the Patriots), playing golf, fishing, and practicing fitness. He played rugby in college.