Gabe Lapito
OWNER / FINANCIAL ADVISOR
MBA, CPA/PFS, CFP®, AIF®
Gabe began working with the Strategic Retirement Plans team in 2007 and then purchased the company in 2013. Since taking the reins, Gabe has guided the company into steady growth. Gabe and Strategic Retirement Plans have gained national recognition as an example of successful succession planning (astounding industry norms). SRP has since expanded into a beautiful Billings West End building. In addition, Gabe has been recognized annually in Forbes Magazine for both Best in State and Top Millennial Financial Advisor since 2017. Gabe sat on the LaVie board for seven years and now sits on the board of Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOA) board for five years and became the Chair in July 2023.
Ryan Gomendi
OWNER/FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Masters of Accountancy, AIF®, CFP®, CKA®
Local to Billings, Ryan played college basketball at Rocky Mountain College where he finished his undergraduate in Business Management and went on to receive his Masters of Accountancy. Following his formal education, Ryan planned to enter the financial world, but a strong pull in his heart led him into ministry. For almost a decade he led small groups as well as local and global service projects at Faith Chapel in Billings and is a part of Kingdom Advisors. His background in accounting combined with his love of guiding people, perfectly aligned Ryan for a shift into holistic financial planning. He is now an owner and financial advisor alongside Gabe Lapito. Together they meet with all current and prospective clients on a regular basis as well as conduct market research and stay up to date on the ever-changing landscape of retirement. Outside of SRP, Ryan serves on the IDEA board as Treasurer.
Kaelen Shay
Financial Advisor/CPA
Wyoming born and Montana raised, Billings is the place Kaelen calls home. Always fascinated with the world of business, Kaelen attended MSUB where he completed his bachelors of accounting and competed as a collegiate sprinter. For Kaelen, working with individuals on a very personal and intricate level is what drew him to financial planning. He considers it an incredible honor to help each client usher in their idea of retirement and in many cases see them pass that gift on to others.
Michael Costa
Chief Investment Officer
MBA, MA International Affairs, CFA, CFP®
Founder, NextStep Portfolios
NextStep and Commonwealth are separate and unrelated
Mike began working with Strategic Retirement Plans in 2022 to bolster the firm’s investment and portfolio management capabilities. Mike first cut his teeth in financial markets during the global financial crisis in 2008 after finishing his Master’s of Business Administration. He has a decade and a half of experience in financial research and portfolio management, incorporating a variety of assets, from stocks and bonds to real estate and alternative investments. Highly curious, analytical, and willing to think differently from the crowd, he’s a natural investment strategist. Mike works closely with Gabe, Ryan, and Kaelen to ensure that client portfolios always reflect the most current thinking on markets and strike the ideal balance between risk and reward.
Support Team
Hope Lich
Client Relationship Associate
hope@srpretirement.com
Amanda Obert
Client Relationship Associate
amanda@srpretirement.com
Amy Megorden
Director of First Impressions
amy@srpretirement.com
Commonwealth Research Team
Our partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network®, a leading Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer, provides us access to a team of investment research specialists who assist us in our efforts to provide you with the best possible service. Each of the professionals on this team brings a breadth of experience in the industry and within his or her own specialization.
BRAD MCMILLAN, CFA®, CAIA, MAI
- 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 Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder, holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation, and is a member of the Appraisal Institute
- Earned 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
BRIAN PRICE, CFA®
- Manages the Research team
- Oversees asset allocation, fund selection, and overall management of Commonwealth’s Preferred Portfolio Services® Select program
- Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder and holds the FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations
- Earned a BA from Georgetown University
- Has prior experience as a senior financial advisor associate at Bernstein Investment Research and Management
JIM MCALLISTER, CFA®
- 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 and Preferred Portfolio Services® Select ESG All Cap SMA models
- Responds to advisor inquiries on equity portfolio construction, individual equity research, and equity portfolio reviews
- Is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charterholder
- Earned a BS in finance from Lehigh University
- Has prior experience as a research analyst at Loomis, Sayles & Co. and State Street Global Advisors in the U.S. quantitative group
PETER ESSELE, CFA®, CAIA, CFP®
- Oversees asset allocation, fund selection, and overall management of Commonwealth’s discretionary platform, Preferred Portfolio Services® Select
- 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
- Holds the FINRA Series 7, 24, 31, 53, and 66 securities registrations
- Earned a BS in industrial economics from Union College
- Has prior experience in positions at Albany International and Kestner Engineers
CHAD LAFAUCI, CFA®, CAIA
- Analyzes, approves, and monitors all alternative investments products (e.g., private equity, private credit, hedge funds, real estate, infrastructure, and commodities)
- Manages the Alternative Investments team, which assists advisors with portfolio construction, as well as individual investment research and analysis
- 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
- Earned a BS in economics from Bates College
advanced legal and estate planning
Justin Duft, JD, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC
Vice President, Advanced Planning
- 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 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 the FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, and 63 securities registrations
- Earned 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
- Has prior experience in positions at Renaissance Insurance Group, John Hancock, and Ernst & Young
Heather Zack, JD, LLM, MSFP, CAP®
Manager, Advanced Planning
- Leads a team of consultants that serve as a resource for advisors on issues involving estate, charitable, tax, social security, and education planning
- Holds the Certified Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) certification as well as the FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, and 63 securities registrations
- Earned a bachelor’s degree from Endicott College, a JD from the University of San Diego, an LLM (Master of Laws) in taxation with a focus on estate planning from Boston University, and an MS in financial planning from Bentley University
- Has prior experience in positions at Bank of America Investment Services/Merrill Lynch and Investors Capital, as well as extensive operations experience at Commonwealth
Emeritus
Michelle
Controller
*Retired*
Mackenzie Walters
In Memoriam
Leo B. Lapito
Founder / Financial Advisor
*Retired*