Mat Powers, CFA®, AIF®, AIFA®, CPFA®
Vice President, Strategic Retirement Solutions
Mat joined Commonwealth in September 2014. In his current role as vice president of Strategic Retirement Solutions, Mat sets the overall direction and vision for the department and is responsible for developing and communicating a clear strategy that aligns with the organization’s goals. This includes making high-level decisions, allocating resources, and ensuring that the department’s team members are working toward defined objectives. He is a key member of the Commonwealth ERISA Committee, where he helps evaluate issues and opportunities related to activities covered by ERISA and makes recommendations that benefit Commonwealth and our advisors. Mat leads efforts working across teams to execute department goals and ensure quality project execution and consultation in support of our advisors.
Before joining Commonwealth, Mat worked at Fidelity Investments, BNP Paribas, and Loomis Sayles. Mat has a master’s degree in investment management and a bachelor’s degree in information management. He holds CPFA®, AIF®, and AIFA® designations and is a CFA® charter holder.
Thomas Crutchfield, CFP,® AIF,® PPC,® CPFA®
Director, Strategic Retirement Solutions
Thomas joined Commonwealth in April 2012 and is currently responsible for strategic initiatives, the retirement consulting program, and collaboration with internal departments and third-party service provider firms. Thomas started his career in 1987 as a retirement plan advisor and has since held various client-facing and management positions with Putnam Investments, Fidelity Investments, Diversified Investment Advisors, and New York Life, focusing on client strategy and product management. Thomas previously served as director of financial planning programs at Merrimack College, where he managed all aspects of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® curriculum.
Thomas graduated from the University of Houston with an MS in finance. He holds the CFP® professional certification, as well as AIF®, PPC®, and CPFA® designations.
Grant Harding
Product Manager
Grant joined Commonwealth in October 2024 as a product manager. His responsibilities include managing the held-away retirement account product, inclusive of Pontera, as well as other capabilities that allow our advisors to manage individual workplace savings accounts that are held away. Grant establishes consistent and cohesive business oversight across the capabilities relevant to this product and defines a product strategy that will guide if, how, and when Commonwealth seeks to develop or enhance held-away retirement account capabilities.
Before joining Commonwealth, Grant worked as a director of product management at John Hancock and as a business process consultant at Bridgepoint Group. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Economics. He holds the PMC-III designation.
Kara Tierney
Manager, Marketing and Communications, Strategic Retirement Solutions
Kara joined Commonwealth in October 2022. In her current role as manager of marketing and communications, Kara is responsible for the marketing and communications strategy and programs within Strategic Retirement Solutions as we strive to provide indispensable expertise, high-quality solutions, and innovative resources to advisors. Her focus is refining and enhancing our existing marketing and communications strategy and program in the retirement space.
Before joining Commonwealth, Kara worked at MassMutual Investments, Loomis Sayles, Wellington, Fidelity, and John Hancock Funds. She earned an MBA and BA from Boston College. She is also the point person for our Retirement Plan Expert Network Newsletter (RPEN).
Mike Geraci III, CRPC,® CRPS,® CPFA,® AIF,® AIFA,® CIMA®
Manager, Retirement Investment Solutions
Michael joined Commonwealth in February 2014. In his current role as manager, he oversees the Retirement Investment Solutions team, the Retirement Plan Investment Recommended List, and retirement plan investment due diligence. Michael also chairs the Investment Committee for the PlanAssist Investment Management 3(38) fiduciary program, performing manager due diligence and investment selection. His investment specialties entail coverage across key retirement asset classes and share classes for mutual funds, collective investment trusts, stable value products, and target-date portfolios.
Before joining Commonwealth, Mike worked at John Hancock Investment Management and Fidelity Investments. Mike graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in political science and from Brandeis University with a master’s in finance. He holds FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 99 securities registrations; the CRPC®, CRPS®, CPFA®, AIF®, AIFA®, and CIMA® designations; and Massachusetts and California life/variable insurance licenses.
Jon Good, AIF®
Manager, Retirement Consulting, Strategic Retirement Solutions
Jon joined Commonwealth in April 2023 as manager, retirement consulting. In this role, his responsibilities include overseeing a team of retirement consultants that fields inquiries from advisors and teammates around retirement-related topics, including employer-sponsored and individual retirement accounts. Jon is involved with numerous product and marketing efforts to increase Commonwealth's tools and capabilities for financial advisors and maintains critical vendor relationships to ensure that we have innovative resources.
Before joining Commonwealth, Jon led teams at Principal Financial Group in retirement education and was previously a financial advisor. Jon graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in Advertising. He holds FINRA Series 7, 26, and 66 securities registrations and carries the AIF® designation.
Allen Cohen, CPFA®
Senior Retirement Solutions Consultant
Allen joined Commonwealth in May 2015 as a retirement sales consultant. In his current role as senior retirement solutions consultant, he fields inquiries from financial advisors and home office staff on a variety of retirement-related topics, including traditional and Roth IRAs, qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans, retirement distribution strategies, beneficiary rules and options, and more. He stays abreast of trends and developments affecting retirement accounts, including IRS laws and regulations, as well as industry news.
Allen has been in the financial services industry for more than 20 years. Before joining Commonwealth, he worked at State Street Bank, CitiStreet, and ING/VOYA as a relationship manager for large market retirement plans. He graduated from Bates College with a BA in English and holds the CPFA® designation.
Michael Triana, CRPS,® CPFA,® NQPC™
Senior Retirement Solutions Consultant
Michael joined Commonwealth in May 2011 as a retirement operations specialist and was promoted to team lead in May 2014. In February 2017, Mike transitioned to the Strategic Retirement Solutions team as a retirement consultant. In his current role as senior retirement solutions consultant, Mike assists advisors and home office staff with a variety of retirement-related topics, ranging from traditional and Roth IRAs, qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans, retirement distribution strategies, beneficiary rules and options, and more. He stays abreast of trends and developments affecting retirement accounts, including IRS laws and regulations, as well as industry news.
Before joining Commonwealth, Mike worked for Wells Fargo Advisors in the operations department. He earned a degree in economics, with a concentration in management, from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Before joining Commonwealth, he lived in Orange County, where he worked for Wells Fargo Advisors in the operations department. He holds CRPS® and CPFA® designations.
Beau Asbury, CRC,® AIF,® QKA®
Retirement Solutions Consultant
Beau joined Commonwealth in June 2023 as a retirement solutions consultant. In this current role, he fields inquiries on a variety of retirement-related topics, including traditional and Roth IRAs, qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans, retirement distribution strategies, beneficiary rules and options, and more.
Before joining Commonwealth, Beau worked at LPL Financial in roles ranging from retirement services and operations in a call center environment to ERISA and retirement oversight in compliance. In these roles, he gained extensive experience helping advisors grow their retirement business and worked on advanced case management issues. Previously, he spent time at Scudder Investments in sales and service roles. Beau earned a BSBAM in business and finance from the University of Phoenix and holds the Series 6, 63, 7, and 24 securities registrations, as well as the CRC,® AIF,® and QKA® designations.
Mike Clifford, CPFA®
Retirement Solutions Consultant
Mike joined Commonwealth in April 2010 as a retirement operations specialist and transitioned to the Strategic Retirement Solutions team as a retirement consultant in April 2015. In his current role, he fields inquiries on a variety of retirement-related topics, including traditional and Roth IRAs, qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans, retirement distribution strategies, beneficiary rules and options, and more.
Mike has been in the financial services industry for nearly 20 years. Before joining Commonwealth, Mike worked at Putnam Investments as a client support administrator. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a BS in business management and a concentration in marketing and management. He holds the Series 66, 63, 7, 9, and 10 securities registrations, as well as the CPFA® designation.
Ronnie Peck, AIF®
Retirement Solutions Consultant
Ronnie joined Commonwealth in January 2021 as a brokerage cashier in the Cashiering department. In August 2023, Ronnie joined the Advanced Planning department as a paraplanner. In June 2025, Ronnie transitioned to his current role as a retirement solutions consultant on the Strategic Retirement Solutions team. In this role, Ronnie assists advisors and home office staff with a variety of retirement-related topics, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP/SIMPLE IRAs, distributions, beneficiary options, portability, and more. He stays informed about trends and developments affecting retirement accounts, including IRS laws and regulations, as well as broader industry news. Before joining Commonwealth, Ronnie was a financial professional for Commonwealth Financial Group. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Endicott College and holds his FINRA Series 7 securities registration and AIF® designation.
Bob Burke
Program Manager for Outsourced Fiduciary Solutions
Bob joined Commonwealth in August 2021. In his current role, he oversees PlanAssist Investment Management, Commonwealth’s 3(38) fiduciary service for direct-held retirement plans, and Gateway, Commonwealth’s pooled employer plan solution. He is responsible for consulting, administrative oversight, marketing, and program development for both solutions.
Before joining Commonwealth, Bob worked at The Standard, E*Trade, and SAVVI Financial. He earned his BS in finance from the University of North Carolina and his MS in finance from the University of Baltimore. He currently holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations.
Bill Li
Retirement Solutions Investment Associate
Bill joined Commonwealth in November 2022 as an operations priority specialist. In August 2024, he was promoted to operations priority specialist 2. In May 2025, he transitioned to the Strategic Retirement Solutions team as an investment associate. In this role, he fields advisor inquiries about investment oversight best practices. He also acts as a liaison for Commonwealth's retirement plan investment platform and associated resources, tools, and vendor relationships.
Prior to joining Commonwealth, Bill worked as a member services representative for the Navy Federal Credit Union and as a relationship manager for Bank of America. He holds a bachelor’s degree in applied management from Grand Canyon University and a project management certification.
Andrew Sylvia
Retirement Solutions Investment Associate
Andrew began working at Commonwealth in June 2016 as a temporary new accounts associate and was hired as a returned mail clerk in November 2016. In November 2020, he transitioned to a new accounts specialization associate and was promoted to new accounts specialization associate 2 in November 2021. In October 2024, he transitioned to the Strategic Retirement Solutions team as an investment associate. In this role, he fields advisor inquiries about investment oversight best practices. He also acts as a liaison for Commonwealth’s retirement plan investment platform and associated resources, tools, and vendor relationships.
Andrew earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Merrimack College. While there, he interned at Axial Financial Group.
Amber Cao, CPFA®
Strategic Retirement Solutions Associate
Amber began working at Commonwealth in February 2019 as a contractor in the Field Development and Transition department. She moved to the New Accounts team in May 2019 but later transitioned to the Strategic Retirement Solutions team in February 2024. In this role, Amber serves as a resource for advisors and their staff with questions related to Commonwealth’s Retirement Plan Consulting Program and the department’s core solutions, resources, and services.
Prior to joining Commonwealth, Amber worked as an assistant at Portal Square Family Dental. She received her BA in economics with minors in psychology and Japanese from the University of Pennsylvania. She currently holds the FINRA Series 7 securities registration and the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®) designation.
Patrick Samonte, CPFA®
Strategic Retirement Solutions Associate
Patrick joined Commonwealth in June 2019 on the New Accounts team in Waltham. In September 2024, he transitioned to the Strategic Retirement Solutions team as an associate in San Diego. In this role, Patrick serves as a resource for advisors and their staff with questions related to Commonwealth’s Retirement Plan Consulting Program and the department's core solutions, resources, and services.
Prior to joining Commonwealth, Patrick spent a summer working on Martha’s Vineyard as a dispatcher and taxi driver and as a special projects manager at a bike shop. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, watching sports, and attending live music shows. He graduated from UMass Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He currently holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®) designation.
Patti Garvey
Strategic Retirement Solutions Contractor
Patti began working at Commonwealth in February 2014 as a Strategic Retirement Solutions contractor. In this role, she oversees product development and ongoing enhancements related to key retirement plan products that are offered to Commonwealth advisors who manage qualified retirement business. She also oversees data architecture, data management, and associated product testing and serves as the point person for advisors using the tools.
Before joining Commonwealth, Patti worked at MFS and Sun Life Financial in a variety of management, business automation, and relationship management positions. Patti has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Regis College.
Steve Kochis
Strategic Retirement Solutions Contractor
Steve performs a number of administrative duties related to the Retirement Plan Consulting Program, including processing all versions of the Retirement Plan Consulting Agreement, change amendments, and addenda in a timely fashion. When agreements aren’t received in good order, he communicates with advisors to help them amend the issue. Before moving to a part-time role, Steve was manager for the Strategic Retirement Solutions team, managing department workflow and overseeing the execution of and strategy behind the department’s policies and procedures. Previously, Steve supervised retirement operations personnel and managed associated product and service delivery.
He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 66 securities registrations.