Wayne Bloom, Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Financial Network, and Managing Director, LPL Financial

Wayne began his career at Commonwealth in 1989 in the firm’s Compensation area. Since then, he has gained experience in virtually every facet of the firm. As CEO of Commonwealth, Wayne spends each day relentlessly managing our primary objective of providing indispensable service to our network of independent financial advisors and their investors. He joined the LPL Financial Management Committee following LPL’s acquisition of Commonwealth in August 2025.

Wayne’s favorite element of the firm is our unique culture that allows everyone to make a genuine difference through a collaborative relationship with our advisors. They challenge the team to be better every day with new ideas and suggestions—it’s this collaboration that’s the secret sauce of Commonwealth!

Trap Kloman, President and Chief Operating Officer

Trap serves as president and chief operating officer. With the firm since 2015, he serves to deliver on the company’s mission every day to help clients live their best lives by providing an indispensable advantage to our advisors. Trap’s responsibilities include leading the evolution of Commonwealth’s services and solutions and overseeing the firm’s technology, operations, compliance, legal, risk, and finance operations. Through these efforts, he focuses on enhancing the advisor experience, investing in the firm’s culture, and ensuring Commonwealth’s fiscal strength. The foundation for this success starts by building relationships, listening to our advisors, and keeping abreast of opportunities and industry trends. 

Kol Chu Birke, Managing Principal, Community & Technology Engagement

Kol has been with Commonwealth since 1999. He oversees efforts to connect all that Commonwealth offers—including each other—to help our community of advisors and home office staff thrive. In addition, he is passionate about financial behavior, with a hunger for making financial planning easier and more effective by helping advisors leverage the latest behavioral insights and techniques.

Values are the backbone of what makes Commonwealth so special. "In short, this place is driven by deeply held values of humility, hard work, and not being greedy," Kol says. "In a world that is so concerned about maintaining a polished image, it's refreshing to be able to be human."

Rory Barratt, SVP, Chief Strategy and Product Officer

Rory joined Commonwealth in January 2020. As senior vice president of corporate strategy, his role is to identify prevailing industry trends and to ensure that Commonwealth’s day-to-day work is connected to and supportive of its long-term goals. He also supports other senior executives and their departments by providing structures, processes, and analyses when needed.

“What I find most inspiring about Commonwealth is our commitment to the success of our advisors,” says Rory. “We’re deeply connected to them and their lives, which is rare. And it’s much easier to build collaborative relationships with my colleagues as we work together for what’s best for our community as a whole.”

Christopher Blotto­, SVP, Chief Digital & Information Officer

Christopher joined Commonwealth in March 2023 to lead the Technology department. His responsibilities encompass organizational leadership, aligning technology strategy with business needs and ensuring that the department stays abreast of trends like digital transformation and artificial intelligence. He also focuses on enhancing advisor and home office experiences through efficiency and productivity.

“Delivering indispensable advisor experiences fuels our technology strategy,” Christopher says.

Outside of work, Christopher enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, and Saint Berdoodle, as well as golfing, boating, cooking, mixology, collecting wine, live music, and watching sports.

Jon Bohs, Managing Principal, Trading and Brokerage Operations 

Jon joined Commonwealth in 1996 as a trader and now leads Commonwealth’s Trading, Service Center, New Accounts, Transfer of Assets, Retirement Operations, Asset Management Operations, Cashiering, Account Supervision, and Virtual Administration teams. Jon’s main responsibility is to identify ways to improve how Commonwealth serves its advisors and their clients. 

“I love working with all the great people in the Commonwealth community,” says Jon. “Many close friends of mine are either employees of Commonwealth or advisors at Commonwealth. It is a joy getting to collaborate with such an energetic group of individuals with a common goal of being the best.”

Matt Chisholm, SVP, Business Solutions—Executive Management

Matt joined Commonwealth in January 2020 as senior vice president, Business Solutions. In this role, he manages both practice management and business solutions while ensuring that our advisors have access to the strategy consultants, programs, and resources they need to build a scalable and sustainable business.

Matt says he appreciates Commonwealth’s emphasis on community. “My favorite part about Commonwealth is to be able to participate in the tangible benefits our advisors bring to their clients,” he says. “Our cultural attributes of quality and community are demonstrated through the meaningful impact they have on advisors’ relationships with their clients.”

Jon Cleasby, SVP, Chief Financial Officer 

Jon joined Commonwealth in June 2020 as senior vice president and chief financial officer. He is responsible for the financial health of Commonwealth, ensuring our continued growth and success across market cycles. Jon oversees finance and accounting, and he partners with departments to ensure that they have the resources and financial analysis they need to manage the business thoughtfully and provide indispensable service to our advisors.  

Jon says Commonwealth's biggest differentiator is its people. "Everyone is extremely supportive and willing to go the extra mile for anyone in the Commonwealth community."

Andrew Daniels, Managing Principal, Advisor Engagement 

Andrew brought his enthusiasm and outgoing personality to Commonwealth in 1998. After initially working in Operations, overseeing the predecessor of the Service Center, Andrew moved to the business development side of the firm where he coordinated and integrated efforts of the Marketing, Field Development, and Transition departments across 20 years. In these roles, he led the charge in sharing Commonwealth’s unique culture, exceptional skills and resources, and uncommon approach with prospective advisors.

Andrew is passionate about Commonwealth’s sense of community. He describes the firm as “a haven―a place that when I enter it, I feel safe.”

Nancy DiBattista, SVP, Transition 

Nancy began her Commonwealth career in 1999 in the Transfer of Assets department, left for a few years to work for Charles Schwab in California, and then returned to Commonwealth in 2002. As senior vice president, Nancy oversees the Transition, Fee-Only Transitions, and Business Transitions teams that support financial advisors joining the firm and through milestone moves of their business evolution. She is responsible for ensuring an optimal, streamlined experience for financial advisors who are onboarding, shifting to a fee-only business model, or transitioning their businesses in another way, such as through mergers and acquisitions.

Peter Essele, SVP, Head of Advisory Solutions

With Commonwealth since 2004, Peter oversees the Advisory Solutions department, a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality investment solutions and strategic guidance. Team members prioritize collaboration and communication, working closely with advisors to understand their unique business goals, preferences, and challenges. Whether providing investment suggestions, strategic guidance, or an in-depth advisory fee analysis, they are committed to delivering value-driven recommendations that help advisors succeed in a rapidly evolving environment.

“Commonwealth is a distinctive kind of firm,” says Peter. “Very rarely do you encounter an environment where everyone genuinely wants to make a difference, whether that’s helping a coworker, a financial advisor, or making the world a better place.”

Jessica Fougere, SVP, Community 

Jessica joined Commonwealth in 2004. As senior vice president of community, she leads an exceptional team dedicated to creating meaningful connections within the Commonwealth family through memorable events, networking experiences, and shared learning. She is passionate about helping people feel fulfilled and connected to something bigger than themselves.

Jessica is inspired by her team and the lasting impact they make in the lives of others. “At Commonwealth, we understand that by fostering fulfilling connections, we also elevate the personal and professional success of everyone within the Commonwealth family,” she says. “I am grateful to be at an organization that is committed to always doing right by our advisors and their clients.”

John Hagberg, SVP, Enterprise Business Operations

With Commonwealth since 2000, John's main responsibility is to coordinate resources to ensure that employees are working together on the initiatives that bring the most value to our advisors and home office teams.  

"In my 20 years at Commonwealth, the firm has demonstrated time and time again its unwavering approach to doing what is right for advisors, their clients, and our staff," John says. "While I love this consistency, there is also a deep culture that drives innovation and progress. This collaboration occurs both within the home office but also in real time with our advisors and their staff—regardless of tenure and ranks."

Becca Hajjar, Managing Principal, Chief Business Development Officer

As managing principal, chief business development officer, Becca’s primary focus is driving the recruitment of large, complex advisor offices along with serving as a leader for the broader Business Development team.

Indispensable in all of her interactions, she serves as a liaison between Commonwealth and prospective advisors, sharing her extensive knowledge of the firm and giving them a detailed understanding of what makes Commonwealth a unique RIA–broker/dealer.

"We approach our relationship with you as partners, fully invested in your success and always ready to engage with you as we navigate challenges and explore opportunities together."

Alex Hansen, Senior Vice President, RIA Solutions, and RIA Chief Compliance Officer

With Commonwealth since August 2021, Alex has extensive expertise in the investment advisory space. Alex serves as senior vice president, RIA Solutions, and RIA chief compliance officer, supervising all aspects of RIA compliance, ensuring Commonwealth stays ahead of all financial industry developments and SEC regulations, while also responding to the evolving needs of our advisors and staff. He was previously senior vice president of RIA compliance.

For Alex, it is the unwavering desire to support our advisors that sets Commonwealth apart. “As someone who has spent the majority of my career helping independent advisors with compliance considerations related to managing and growing their practices, Commonwealth’s reputation for service and dedication to helping our advisors is really what inspired me to join.”

Peggy Ho, SVP, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer

Peggy joined Commonwealth in April 2021. She oversees the legal, anti-money laundering, and risk management functions for the firm and its related companies, bringing leadership, strategic acumen, and a deep understanding of the business to drive positive outcomes. Among her many responsibilities, she also guides our executive management team on strategic initiatives and regulatory issues, represents the firm before regulatory oversight bodies, and supervises a team of professionals responsible for all aspects of legal and risk management.

Peggy came to Commonwealth with 14 years of experience in similar roles within the independent channel and was previously a corporate associate in private law practice at Ropes & Gray LLP.

Missy Jerome, SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer

Missy joined Commonwealth in November 2023 as senior vice president, chief human resources officer. She oversees Commonwealth’s HR team with unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, both internally and to our advisors. Missy is thrilled to be a part of a company with a rich tradition of being a great place to work. She is dedicated to building upon this legacy and enabling Commonwealth employees to achieve outstanding results and make a meaningful impact, all while having a lot of fun along the way. She brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for fostering a workplace culture centered on teamwork, innovation, inclusion, and belonging.

“No two companies are the same, and that’s exciting! Collaborating, leading people, and transforming business cultures to achieve goals all energize me. I love what I do because of the people I get to work with and the innovative growth we build together.”

David Kelly, Managing Principal, Advisor Engagement

Dave has been with Commonwealth since 1991 and became a managing principal in 1999. Dave led Commonwealth’s Trading and Brokerage Operations for 30 years. In 2022, Dave joined the Community team, focusing on advisor engagement to bring a more proactive approach to working with advisors across their business needs. Dave also serves on a number of executive committees.

"I love the fact that the people who seem to gravitate to Commonwealth, both the employees and our advisors in the field, are great people, many of whom I consider best friends," says Dave. "I enjoy the entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit that works across the entire organization."

Michelle Kelley, SVP, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer

Michelle joined Commonwealth in August 2022. In her dual role, she provides guiding counsel on enterprise-level strategic initiatives and regulatory matters. She also collaborates with the firm’s chief information security officer and the Information Security team on efforts to enhance Commonwealth’s privacy and data security. With more than 16 years working in various capacities in the independent channel prior to Commonwealth, Michelle brings a depth of advisory knowledge and proven experience in the cybersecurity arena, helping to keep Commonwealth at the forefront of the continually evolving regulatory and privacy landscapes.

For Michelle, having the drive to be the best at what you do comes down to the company you keep. “The talent and vibrance of the Commonwealth community are striking. It’s genuinely thrilling to be partnering with colleagues and advisors who challenge and inspire me daily.”

Chad LaFauci, SVP, Alternative Investments

Chad has been with Commonwealth for 25 years. He started at the Waltham office in 2000 and relocated to the San Diego office in 2001. In 2005, he transitioned to the Research team as an alternative investment analyst and now leads the alternative investment division of the Investment Management and Research department.

In his current role as senior vice president, alternative investments, Chad leads a team responsible for the analysis, approval, and ongoing monitoring of all alternative investment products, including private equity, private credit, hedge funds, real estate, infrastructure, and commodities. He’s also dedicated to training and educating advisors through a variety of print and digital resources.

Karen McColl, SVP, Wealth Management

Karen joined Commonwealth in February 2021 as senior vice president, wealth management. In this role, she oversees the Advanced Planning, Annuity Research, Insurance, Investment Consulting Services, and Retirement Consulting Services teams, ensuring that we consistently provide our advisors with the indispensable support and resources they need. In addition, she works with senior leadership to help identify and solve the biggest wealth management industry challenges Commonwealth faces.

Karen has seen firsthand the impact that sound financial advice and decisions can have on people's lives, and she believes that sticking to a disciplined investment approach is what helps people achieve their goals.

Brad McMillan, Managing Principal, Wealth Management, and Chief Investment Officer

Brad started at Commonwealth in 2006. As chief investment officer, he oversees Commonwealth's investment and asset management groups and is a frequent commentator on the financial markets, U.S. economic policy, and the global economy for national media outlets. Brad is viewed as our "wise counselor," helping advisors understand and navigate unexpected events and volatile markets to better protect and guide their clients.  

Brad believes the keystone of Commonwealth is the trust that exists among everyone in the Commonwealth community, from the partners, to the home staff, to the advisors. "We trust our advisors, and they trust us. And what makes it work is that trust is universally well deserved."

Rob Molinari, Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer

Rob joined Commonwealth in 2004. His main ongoing responsibility entails coordinating the firm’s regulatory compliance efforts. When he isn’t communicating with regulators, Rob works with home office departments on applying a reasonable, commonsense approach to their procedures.

What’s the hallmark of working at Commonwealth, according to Rob? “My favorite thing about working at Commonwealth is the culture—and the people who contribute to enhancing it,” he says. “The bonds and friendships motivate me to do my best work.”

In his free time, Rob enjoys spending time with family and friends and participating in various outdoor activities.

Brian Price, Managing Principal, Investment Management and Research, and Co-Chief Investment Officer

Brian started at Commonwealth in 2003. As managing principal in the Investment Management and Research department, Brian oversees all of Commonwealth's research efforts and is primarily responsible for management of the PPS Select platform. He manages the process that determines Commonwealth model portfolio allocations as well as key advisor resources, such as the Mutual Fund Recommended List, the ETF Resource Guide, and the Commonwealth Research Package. He has been quoted in several media publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, CNBC, and Bloomberg.

Brian believes that Commonwealth's secret sauce is the culture that permeates our home office as well as our advisors' offices. "Attending a Commonwealth event is like going to a high school or family reunion. The feelings of camaraderie and care are pervasive throughout, and it’s impossible to ignore the strong sense of community."

Matthew Sugden, Broker/Dealer Chief Compliance Officer

Matt has been with Commonwealth since April 2004. As the chief compliance officer of Commonwealth’s broker/dealer, he oversees the firm’s comprehensive compliance program, ensuring full adherence to all applicable securities laws and regulations, and works closely with senior leadership to foster a robust culture of compliance.

“The home office community at Commonwealth is filled with hardworking, genuine people who have a common interest in providing the greatest experience to our advisors,” says Matt. “It’s rewarding to work with some of the best advisors in the country and help them navigate a complicated regulatory framework so they can help their clients meet their goals.”

Brian Sullivan, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer

Leading at Commonwealth since 2018, Brian Sullivan oversees the Marketing and Business Development teams. Brian delivers success in this essential dual role, driving new advisor growth through the advisor recruitment and due diligence process and steering the development of the overall corporate brand strategy and the advancement of effective, data-driven marketing initiatives.

Brian considers Commonwealth's people to be truly extraordinary. "Loyalty and tradition here run deep," he says. "I have witnessed firsthand a group that doesn't take no for an answer in its mission to deliver unparalleled service for our advisors and a hunger to always do better."