Meet Your Team

Founder Richard La Voie

Richard La Voie, CFP®
founder

Rich was born and raised in Geneva, NY, a small town that is part of the Finger Lakes Region. In his senior year of High School Rich found his calling in his Economics Class. After winning a stock picking competition, he began thinking about a career in finance. After being accepted to SUNY Oswego, Rich picked up a double major in Finances and Economics and soon graduated Magna Cum Laude.

After graduation Rich started his career with AXA Advisors in Syracuse, New York, where he helped public school employees establish retirement plans. As the years progressed, Rich expanded his knowledge base through many professional enrichment programs. Rich studied Modern Portfolio Theory at the Harvard Faculty Club in Cambridge Massachusetts and obtained a Retirement Planning Specialist certification from Wharton School of Business. His proudest professional achievement is completing the curriculum and passing the exams for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional certification. Rich believes this is the highest credentials a Financial Advisor can earn and shows his commitment to the profession as a lifelong endeavor. 

In 2014, Rich and his partners founded his first business: CenterBridge Planning Group with Commonwealth Financial Network® as their RIA-Broker/Dealer, whom Stillwater Planning Group still partners with today.

Rich lives in Geneva, NY with his wife, Audra, and daughter, Darla. They are active participants in their local community. He is a member of many organizations in the area and in his free time enjoys golfing, traveling, softball and the lake life the Finger Lakes affords. 

  • Investment Selection

    Investment Analysis

  • SUNY Oswego, BA

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional 

    Wharton Certified Retirement Planning Specialist

    Richard is proud to have been recognized as a Summit Club advisor for 2023—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 18 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.

EMAIL RICHARD
Brandy Avedisian

Brandy Avedisian
executive assistant

Brandy Avedisian is an accomplished professional who brings extensive experience in insurance, client relations, and operations management to her role at Stillwater Planning Group. As Office Manager and Executive Assistant, she plays an integral role in ensuring that both clients and advisor experience a seamless and personalized financial planning process.

Before joining Stillwater Planning Group, Brandy built a successful career in the insurance industry, where she developed a deep appreciation for helping individuals and families protect what matters most. Throughout her career, she consistently achieved annual sales goals, earned customer service certifications, and maintained her Property & Casualty License. She also served as an insurance trainer for new hires, mentoring others to develop strong technical skills and a client-focused approach.

After years of professional growth, Brandy chose to take time away from her career to focus on raising her two sons. Those years as a stay-at-home mother gave her invaluable perspective on balance, patience, and the importance of long-term planning—values that continue to shape her professional outlook today. Both of her sons are now grown and reside in Geneva, New York.

Brandy has been married to her husband, Scott, for 21 years. Together, they share a love of boating, hiking, traveling, and staying active. Whether on the water, exploring a new trail, or enjoying a weekend getaway, Brandy values experiences that bring energy, balance, and joy to life—principles she carries into her work every day.

Her professionalism, empathy, and dedication to client success make her a valued member of the Stillwater Planning Group team and a trusted partner to the clients she serves.

EMAIL BRANDY

Commonwealth Advance Planning Team

Meet the colleagues with whom we partner to help you carefully and responsibly plan for your needs and those of your family. 

Charitable planning, trusts, estates, and social security are just some of the areas we’re able to provide you with guidance through our partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network®, our Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer. This highly specialized team of Advanced Planning professionals is available to us as we serve your comprehensive financial planning needs.

  • 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, 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

  • Martin Baker, CFP®

    Supervisor, Paraplanning & Advanced Planning Consultant

    Serves as a resource on issues involving estate, trust, charitable, education, business, and social security planning strategies

    Oversees a team providing financial planning support through assisting with plan creation, analysis, and recommendations for advisors' clients.

    Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification and the FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations

    Earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bentley University

    Previously held several positions at Fidelity and UBS

  • David Haughton, JD

    Team Lead, Advanced Planning

    Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning

    Earned 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 a practicing estate planning attorney

  • Krista Teegarden, CLU®, ChFC®, CSLP®, NSSA®

    Senior Advanced Planning Consultant

    Serves as a resource for advisors on issues involving estate, trust, charitable, education, business, deferred compensation and social security planning strategies.

    Is a National Social Security Advisor Certificate Holder (NSSA®), holds the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), and Certified Student Loan Professional (CSLP) designations, as well as the FINRA Series 7 and 24 securities registrations and California life, accident, and health insurance licenses

    Earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from Biola University

    Has prior experience conducting research and analysis and implementing advanced estate and business strategies with independent advisors

  • 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

    Holds the FINRA Series 7, as well as the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations

    Earned an MBA from Plymouth State University

    Has prior experience as an assistant vice president of advanced sales and sales development at Lincoln Financial Group; has also worked at Western and Southern Financial Group, Lafayette Life Insurance Company, and Jefferson Pilot Insurance Company

  • Aric Jacobson, JD, LLM, CFP®

    Advanced Planning Consultant

    Serves as a resource on issues involving estate, charitable, tax and education planning

    Earned a BBA, an MBA, and a JD from the University of Michigan

    Has prior experience as an estate planning attorney and personal trust advisor

  • Elizabeth Meyer, JD

    Advanced Planning Consultant

    Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning

    Earned a bachelor’s degree from the Merrimack College and a JD from Suffolk Law School

    Is admitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bar

    Was a practicing estate and elder law attorney

  • Rafael Bernard, CFP®, MSFP

    Advanced Planning Consultant

    Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning

    Earned a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College, a master's degree in financial planning from the McCallum Graduate School of Business at Bentley University and a financial therapy certificate from Kansas State University

    Holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification.Was previously a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment and a subject matter expert for In Good Company, a MassMutual learning initiative

     

  • Anne Fontanet, BCL, LLM

    Advanced Planning Consultant

    Serves as a resource for advisors on financial planning issues, including trust, estate, business, education, social security, and charitable planning

    Spent two years at the University College Dublin in Ireland and the Université Paris Panthéon-Assas in France pursuing a double degree in comparative law and international law, earning the French and Irish equivalent of an American JD. She then earned an LLM in U.S. and international law from the Chicago-Kent College of Law

    Has prior experience as an associate at an estate planning firm

SEE THE FULL TEAM