Team Bios

Katherine Liola headshot
Katherine Liola

CFP®, BFA™, CRPC®
CEO/Founder
kliola@concentricpw.com

Katherine Liola

CFP®, BFA™, CRPC®

Industry credentials are a key aspect of the industry, but Katherine never forgets that above all, this is a people business. She learned early on that helping clients understand why they’re making the decisions they make, and aligning their investment strategies with values-based life choices, helps them achieve their financial goals with comfort and clarity.

A little background

Katherine was honored by the inaugural InvestmentNews “Top 40 Under 40” list for 20141 and the Washington Business Journal “40 Under 40”2 list in 2017. Her passion for delivering value also earned her recognition in 2017 and 2018 as a Five Star Wealth Manager by Five Star Professional.3 A sought-after industry speaker, Katherine has also been quoted in several national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Woman’s Day magazine and InvestmentNews.

Degrees & Credentials
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
  • CRPC® (Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM)
  • BFA™ (Behavioral Financial Advice™)
  • Series 66 securities registrations, held through Commonwealth Financial Network®
  • Life and health insurance licenses
  • Member of the Financial Planning Association
  • BA Boston College
Giving back

Charitable causes have always been important to Katherine. Even in childhood, her parents instilled a strong sense of community, caring and appreciation. Today, Katherine is grateful for everything the community has given to her – so returning the goodwill comes naturally. Her personal passion, Concentric Cares, is a prime example of that giving back.

Other ways Katherine has served the community
  • Leadership of Greater Washington Signature Program
  • Finance Chair for the Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Board of Directors
  • Finance Advisory Board of Directors for the National Communication Association
  • Vice Chair of the Success in the City Board of Directors
  • Alumni Mentor through the Boston College Mentoring program

Katherine and her husband, David, a sales executive in the IT cyber security space, live in Willowsford, Virginia, with their children: Harper (8), Gannon (7), and Emerson (5). When not helping clients more fully experience the lives they are working so hard for, Katherine competes in distance racing with Fiv3 Racing and finds that training helps her keep up with her three children. Team Liola loves discovering new hiking trails, time by the water and travelling someplace new.

Personal Core Values
  • Health
  • Relationships
  • Experience
  • Creativity
  • Challenge
  • Independence
Pete- Resized
Peter Daniels

CFP®, BFA™
Client Advisor
pdaniels@concentricpw.com

Peter Daniels

CFP®, BFA™

Pete brings a passionate focus to every aspect of our financial planning process – from discovery, research, and analysis, to financial plan delivery.

Prior to working at Concentric, Pete was an English teacher for seven years at St. Luke Catholic School in McLean, VA. Peter’s fascination with finances and knowledge of how prudent planning can lead to a more fulfilling life led him to make a career transition from education to financial services.

Peter resides in Annandale, Virginia. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano and accordion, home brewing, reading history and literature, and participating in historical reenactments.

Degrees & Credentials
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
  • BFA™ (Behavioral Financial Advice™)
  • Series 66 securities registrations, held through Commonwealth Financial Network®
  • Life and health insurance licenses
  • BA University of Virginia
  • PGMT University of Virginia
Personal Core Values
  • Friendship
  • Happiness
  • Health
  • Integrity
  • Religion
beca_sanderson
Beca Sanderson

Director of Operations
bsanderson@concentricpw.com

Beca Sanderson

Beca has a thoughtful and solution-oriented approach to real-world challenges. Detail-oriented and perpetually caring, she brings an indispensable value to her role as our head of Client Services. We're guessing she developed her diplomacy talents from her Texas childhood as one of seven children, including a twin sister.

A graduate of Boston University with a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance, Beca’s experience and passion for the industry grew as she assumed client service roles at various Financial Services and Wealth Management firms in Miami, Dallas, and San Diego.

Beca is certified as a holistic health coach, honing her unique people skills even further. She further broadened her horizons by living in Japan with her husband for three years.

When not shining at client engagement, Beca can be found browsing bookstores, visiting local wineries, and traveling with her husband – they hope to explore Morocco and Portugal next.

Personal Core Values
  • Relationships
  • Impact
  • Learning
  • Loving Kindness
  • Joy

We have YOUR back because these specialists have OUR back.

The Commonwealth Financial Network is a long-time partner and trusted resource that helps round out the Concentric team.

Commonwealth Financial Network
Learn More

Research Team

Brad McMillan, CFA®, CAIA, MAI

Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer

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

Brian Price, CFA®

Senior Vice President, Investment Management, and Research

  • Manages the Equity Research and Investment Management teams
  • Oversees asset allocation, fund selection, and overall management of Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program
  • Holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations and the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation
  • Holds a BA from Georgetown University
  • Has prior experience as a senior financial advisor associate at Bernstein Investment Research and Management
Brian Price, CFA® Senior Vice President, Investment Management and Research

Susan Kelly, CAIA

Vice President, Investment Management, and Research

  • Analyzes approve and monitor all products within alternative financial strategies (e.g., managed futures, hedge funds, private equity, structured products) on an ongoing basis
  • Manages the Fixed Income Research group, which assists advisors with fixed income portfolio construction and design, as well as identifies potential opportunities in the fixed income market for advisors and their clients
  • Holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation
  • Holds a BS in management with a concentration in finance from Purdue University and an MBA from New York University
  • Has prior experience in positions at Citizens Advisors, John Hancock Advisers, and Citigroup/Smith Barney
Susan Kelly, CAIA Vice President, Investment Management and Research

Jim McAllister, CFA®

Director, Equity Research

  • 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
  • Manages the Preferred Portfolio Services® Select Equity Income SMA models
  • Responds to advisor inquiries on equity portfolio construction, individual equity research, and equity portfolio reviews
  • Holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation
  • Holds a BS in finance from Lehigh University
  • Has prior experience as a research analyst at Loomis Sayles and State Street Global Advisors in the U.S. quantitative group
Jim McAllister, CFA® Director, Equity Research

Chad LaFauci, CFA®, CAIA

Director, Real Asset Investment

  • Analyzes, approves, and monitors all products with real assets (e.g., commodities, infrastructure, and real estate) as their underlying investments
  • Manages the Real Assets team, which assists advisors with portfolio construction, as well as individual investment research and analysis
  • Holds FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 securities registrations, as well as the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations
  • Holds a BS in economics from Bates College
  • Has prior experience in a position at Investors Bank & Trust
Chad LaFauci, CFA®, CAIA Director, Real Asset Investment

Peter Essele, CFA®, CAIA, CFP®

Manager, Investment Management, and Research

  • Serves as a member of the Investment Management team, which oversees Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program and the Commonwealth Model Portfolios
  • Holds FINRA Series 7, 24, 31, 53, and 66 securities registrations
  • Holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations, as well as the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification, and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society
  • Holds a BS in industrial economics from Union College
  • Has prior experience in positions at Albany International and Kestner Engineers
Peter Essele, CFA®, CAIA, CFP® Manager, Investment Management and Research

Brian McCormick, CIMA®

Manager, Investment Management, and Research

  • Manages evaluation, selection, and dissemination of research in the small- and mid-cap asset classes
  • Conducts research and due diligence on exchange-traded products
  • Responds to advisor inquiries on various investment topics, including asset allocation, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and separate account managers
  • Holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 securities registrations and the Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA®) designation
  • Holds a BS in management from Quinnipiac University
  • Has prior experience in positions at Signator Investors and Putnam Investments
Brian McCormick, CIMA® Manager, Investment Management and Research

Fred DeBaets

Portfolio Manager, Investment Management, and Research

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

Chris Fasciano

Portfolio Manager, Investment Management, and Research

  • Serves as a member of the Investment Management team, which oversees Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program and the Commonwealth Model Portfolios
  • Assists with asset allocation, security selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring
  • Responds to advisor inquiries about their own model portfolios
  • Holds a BA in economics from Bates College and an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
  • 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
Chris Fasciano Portfolio Manager, Investment Management and Research

Andrew Kitchings, CAIA, ERP

Portfolio Manager, Investment Management, and Research

  • Serves as a member of the Investment Management team, which oversees Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program and the Commonwealth Model Portfolios
  • Assists with asset allocation, security selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring
  • Holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
  • Holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and Energy Risk Professional (ERP) designations and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society
  • Holds dual degrees in economics and history with a concentration in East Asian studies from Emory University
  • Has prior experience in positions at LPL and Bank of America
Andrew Kitchings, CAIA, ERP Portfolio Manager, Investment Management and Research

Anuradha Gaggar, CFA®

Senior Investment Research Analyst, Equity

  • Evaluates and selects managers and disseminates research in the international and emerging markets asset classes
  • Responds to advisor inquiries on equity portfolio construction, individual equity research, and equity portfolio reviews
  • Holds the FINRA Series 7 securities registration and the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation
  • Holds an MS in finance from Boston College and an MBA in finance from NMIMS in India
Anuradha Gaggar, CFA® Senior Investment Research Analyst, Equity

Chris Stuart

Senior Investment Research Analyst, Equity

  • Evaluates and selects managers and disseminates research in the large-cap equity asset class
  • Responds to advisor inquiries on equity portfolio construction, individual equity research, and equity portfolio reviews
  • Holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
  • Holds a BA in finance from UMass Amherst
  • Has prior experience in positions at Columbia Management, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, and TheStreet.com
Chris Stuart Senior Investment Research Analyst, Equity

Robert Kane, CAIA

Senior Investment Research Analyst, Alternatives

  • Facilitates due diligence and research activities on products within alternative financial strategies (e.g., managed futures, hedge funds, private equity, structured products, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds)
  • Holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 securities registrations and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation
  • Holds a degree from UMass Amherst
Robert Kane, CAIA Senior Investment Research Analyst, Alternatives

Nathan Parker, CFA®, CAIA

Senior Investment Research Analyst, Real Assets

  • Facilitates due diligence and research activities on real asset-focused investments (commercial real estate, commodities, infrastructure, and natural resources)
  • Holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations and the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations
  • Holds a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Chico, and a master’s in finance from San Diego State University
  • Has prior experience at LPL Financial
Nathan Parker, CFA®, CAIA Senior Investment Research Analyst, Real Assets

Eduardo Ciuffo, CFA®

Investment Research Analyst, Real Assets

  • Facilitates due diligence and research activities on real asset-focused investments
  • Holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations and the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation
  • Holds a master’s in finance from San Diego State University
  • Has prior experience at LPL Financial, where he traded and rebalanced SMA platforms
Eduardo Ciuffo, CFA® Investment Research Analyst, Real Assets

Thomas Ryan

Investment Research Analyst, Equity

  • Analyzes individual equity securities, responds to advisor red flag requests and assists with mutual fund due diligence
  • Holds the FINRA Series 65 securities registration
  • Holds a BS in management from Isenberg Business School at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Thomas Ryan Investment Research Analyst, Equity

Peter Roberto

Investment Research Associate

  • Supports analysts with due diligence and research activities on mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and equities
  • Assists the Investment Management team with calculating, analyzing, and updating both internal and external performance and attribution reports
  • Holds a BS in management, with an emphasis in finance, from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is currently a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) candidate (level I)
Peter Roberto Investment Research Associate

Nicholas Follett

Fixed Income Analyst

  • Evaluates and selects managers and disseminates research in the fixed income asset class
  • Holds the FINRA Series 7 securities registration
  • Holds a BFA from The New School for Social Research and an MBA in finance from San Francisco State University
Nicholas Follett Fixed Income Analyst

Sam Millette

Fixed Income Analyst

  • Analyzes individual fixed income securities, responds to advisor requests, and assists with fixed income market research
  • Assists with trading and rebalancing of SMA portfolios
  • Holds a BA in economics from Tufts University and is currently a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) candidate (level II)
Sam Millette Fixed Income Analyst

Rob Swanke, CFA®, CAIA

Fixed Income Analyst

  • Analyzes individual fixed income securities, responds to advisor requests, and assists with fixed income market research
  • Holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation, the CAIA designation, and the FINRA Series 65 securities registration
  • Holds a BS in finance and accounting from Boston College
Rob Swanke, CFA®, CAIA Fixed Income Analyst

Michael Comiskey, CAIA

Investment Risk Analyst

  • Serves as a member of the Investment Management team, which oversees Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program and the Commonwealth Model Portfolios
  • Assists with quantitative risk analysis, asset allocation, security selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring
  • Holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation
  • Holds a BS in economics and finance from Bentley University
Michael Comiskey, CAIA Investment Risk Analyst

Advanced Planning Team

Justin Duft, JD, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC

Director, Advanced Planning

  • 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
  • Holds a BS in business administration from Northeastern University; an MSFS from the American College of Financial Services; and a JD, with a focus on estate, trust, and tax law, from New England Law Boston
  • Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification and the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), and Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC) designations, as well as Massachusetts life, accident, and health insurance licenses
  • Holds FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, and 63 securities registrations
    Has prior experience in positions at Renaissance Insurance Group, John Hancock, and Ernst & Young
Justin Duft, JD, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC Director, Advanced Planning

Patrick Noonan, CFP®, CAP®

Team Lead, Advanced Planning

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on issues involving stock option strategies, as well as education, retirement income, social security, estate, and business planning
  • Holds a BS in finance from Fairfield University
  • Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification, the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation, FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations, and a life and health insurance license
  • Has prior experience advising clients on financial planning issues at Advest, Merrill Lynch, and Janney Montgomery Scott
Patrick Noonan, CFP®, CAP® Team Lead, Advanced Planning

Mike Baum, CFP®

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for our advisors on issues involving financial planning software and charitable, tax, education, and social security planning
  • Holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut School of Business
  • Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification and FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
  • Previously held several leadership roles on Commonwealth’s data integrity team, most recently as supervisor of the group
Mike Baum, CFP® Advanced Planning Consultant

Maureen Baxter, MBA, CLU®, ChFC®

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors in all areas of financial planning, including executive benefits, as well as high-level insurance planning and social security, estate, and business planning
  • Has an MBA from Plymouth State University
  • Holds the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant®(ChFC®) designations
  • Has prior experience as a senior advanced marketing and sales development consultant at Life Marketing; has also worked at Western and Southern Financial Group, Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Lincoln Financial Group, and Jefferson Pilot Insurance Company
Maureen Baxter, MBA, CLU®, ChFC® Advanced Planning Consultant

Whitney Drechsler, JD, LLM

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Supports advisors in financial planning for their clients, including estate, charitable, and business planning, as well as high-net-worth strategies
  • Holds a BBA in legal studies from the University of Miami; a JD from Thomas Jefferson School of Law; and an LLM (Master of Laws) in international tax and financial services with a certification in wealth management; is pursuing the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification
  • Has prior experience as an estate planning attorney in Southern California
Whitney Drechsler, JD, LLM Advanced Planning Consultant

David Haughton, JD

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning
  • Has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and a JD from the Massachusetts School of Law
  • Is admitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bar and the State of New Hampshire bar
  • Was previously a practicing estate planning attorney
David Haughton, JD Advanced Planning Consultant

Anna Hays, JD, LLM

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including business, education, estate, social security, and trust planning
  • Holds a bachelor’s degree and JD from Duquesne University and an LLM (Master of Laws) in international human rights from the National University of Ireland
  • Is currently pursuing the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification
  • Has prior experience working for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Anna Hays, JD, LLM Advanced Planning Consultant

Heather Zack, JD

Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Serves as a resource for advisors on issues involving estate, charitable, tax, social security, and education planning
  • Holds a bachelor’s degree from Endicott College, a JD from the University of San Diego, and an LLM (Master of Laws) in taxation with a focus on estate planning from Boston University and is currently pursuing an MS in financial planning from Bentley University
  • Holds the Certified Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) certification as well as FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, and 63 securities registrations
  • Has prior experience in positions at Bank of America Investment Services/Merrill Lynch and Investors Capital, as well as extensive operations experience at Commonwealth
Heather Zack, JD Advanced Planning Consultant

12014 InvestmentNews: 40 under 40 List:
Nominations were solicited from InvestmentNews readers and financial planning industry professionals. Nominees must be 39 or younger and are judged, by the editors of InvestmentNews, on their accomplishments, industry contributions, leadership, and promise (passion, enthusiasm, and ideas). 1,200 advisors were considered. 4% of candidates were named to the list. Individuals were selected solely based on the subjective opinions of InvestmentNews' editors and are not indicative of the advisor's future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit www.investmentnews.com/section/40-under-40/2014/listing

2Washington Business Journal 40 under 40:
The WBJ award recognized local business leaders in the Greater Washington Community for their business accomplishments, leadership, milestone, and community involvement. 450 local professionals were nominated and 40 were selected (9 %) to receive this recognition by a panel of judges who review the nominee forms. This award is not indicative of the advisor's future performance. Your experience may vary. Ranking published by WBJ base their nominations and selections on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized business leaders or other nominees. The winners of the WBJ 40 under 40 are required to attend a paid award event.

3Five Star Wealth Manager:
Based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria, including a minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional, favorable regulatory and complaint history, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, education, and professional designations. 1,417 Washington, D.C. wealth managers were considered for the award; 106 (13 percent of candidates) were named 2017 Five Star Wealth Managers. These awards are not indicative of the wealth managers' future performance. Your experiences may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Let's talk

We’re eager to learn more about YOU.

Schedule a Consultation