Planning Team

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™ professinal certification
• Has prior experience working for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

David Haugtion 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

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

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

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

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

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