OUR TEAM

  • James M. Bolton

    Senior Partner, CFP®, CLTC®

  • Denise Bolton

    Director of Operations

  • Samuel Bolton

    Planning Analyst

Through our partnership with Commonwealth Financial Group, we have access to the following specialists and resources.

  • Dan Murphy

    Head of Wealth Strategy

  • Sarah Hayes

    Director of Design Center

  • Noah Klar

    Design Center Analyst

  • Chelsea Brochu

    Estate Planning Strategist

  • Andrew Gordon

    Advanced Planning Strategist

  • Todd Seresky

    Investment Planning Strategist

  • Jessica Cahill

    Director of Insurance New Business

  • Patricia Clarke

    Planning Experience Team Lead

James M. Bolton CFP®, CLTC®

Senior Partner

jbolton@financialguide.com

Jim has a genuine passion for planning, investing, and wealth accumulation. He and his team collaborate closely with clients, enhancing their financial standing through sound, progressive investment strategies and prudent risk management. This approach instills greater confidence in their clients.

Jim and his team's primary areas of practice include comprehensive financial planning for individuals and families, as well as business continuation planning for corporations and closely held businesses.

Jim graduated from Stonehill College in 1996 with a B.S. in International Studies and Business. He furthered his education at Boston University, completing their program for financial planners. In 2006, he became a Partner at Commonwealth Financial Group. Jim serves on the board of directors for several organizations and is a passionate supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Jim divides his time between his "Mountain Office" in the stunning Vail Valley of Colorado and his "Ocean Office" in the historic and beautiful city of Boston, MA. He, his wife Denise, and their two children, Sam and Kate, enjoy skiing and hiking together in the mountains of Colorado and New England.


Denise Bolton

Director of Operations

dbolton@financialguide.com

Denise is the heartbeat of Commonwealth Financial Group, wearing many hats with grace and dedication. As the team’s primary client liaison, she ensures every client experiences true concierge-level service and attention.

Denise holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, and has a background as a clinical instructor at the Forsyth Institute in Boston. She thrives on collaborating with both clients and the team to deliver unparalleled financial confidence. Outside of work, Denise enjoys spending quality time with her family, and indulging in hiking, skiing, and fishing in the picturesque landscapes of Colorado and New England.


Samuel Bolton

Planning Analyst

sbolton@financialguide.com

Samuel Bolton, Planning Analyst, joined CFG in 2024 after graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in economics. Sam plays an integral role supporting our Design Center and overseeing comprehensive financial planning services for our clients. Sam began his career in financial services during college, serving as an intern with Capstone Colorado, a financial planning and wealth management firm in Denver, Colorado.

Prior to college, Sam attended the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy and was a competitive FIS level alpine racer with Ski Club Vail. Outside of work, Sam enjoys mountain biking, skiing, camping, and everything outdoors. He is actively involved in the community, participating in youth coaching opportunities. Sam is a true New England sports fan despite growing up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and cherishes time spent with family and friends.


Dan Murphy

Head of Wealth Strategy

danielmurphy@financialguide.com

Dan oversees the firm’s Wealth Strategy team at Commonwealth Financial Group, ensuring that advisors have access to specialists to help deliver the highest level of service in advanced planning, estate planning, and investment strategies. Dan’s leadership ensures both advisors and clients benefit from an active process designed with ongoing experiences and support. 

With over 10 years of experience, Dan has created more than 10,000 financial plans and dedicated over 10,000 hours to research and learning, making him a subject matter expert in the field. His journey in financial planning began after graduating from Bentley University in 2012, driven by a passion for helping others. Actively engaged in the Financial Planning Association (FPA), Dan holds prestigious designations such as CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®). His credentials also include Series 7, 66, 24, and various state LAH licenses. 


Sarah Hayes

Director of Design Center

sarahhayes@financialguide.com

Sarah oversees Commonwealth Financial Group’s internal financial planning team and works with all advisors to deliver the best possible advice to their clients through a comprehensive team-based approach.   

She holds her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation, Series 7, Series 66, and various state LAH licenses. She graduated from Roger Williams University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in business management.  


Noah Klar

Design Center Analyst

nklar@financialguide.com

Noah plays a crucial role in supporting financial advisors by providing comprehensive financial planning, estate planning, and insurance advice to their clients. In this capacity, Noah meticulously analyzes client and prospective client information, identifying and recommending insurance, investment, and estate planning opportunities to enhance their financial well-being. Noah’s expertise in producing detailed financial plans and personalized presentation materials enables financial advisors to effectively communicate these opportunities to their clients. 

Noah graduated from the University of Miami Herbert Business School, earning a bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in accounting.   


Chelsea Brochu

Estate Planning Strategist

cbrochu@financialguide.com

As an Estate Planning Strategist at Commonwealth Financial Group, Chelsea focuses on meeting the needs of affluent families in the private banking and wealth management space. Previously, she served as a Senior Client Experience Manager at Key Private Bank in Connecticut, where she was responsible for the overall delivery of plans for high-net-worth clients across a team of investment, fiduciary, and planning strategists. Chelsea’s holistic approach centers on the client, ensuring efficiency both during and after the client’s lifetime, with a special focus on preserving peaceful familial relationships throughout the process. 

She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and the Western New England University School of Law. 


Andrew Gordon

Advanced Planning Strategist

andrewgordon@financialguide.com

As Advanced Planning Strategist at Commonwealth Financial Group, Andrew works directly with advisors on the pre-sale analysis and design of Advanced Planning cases in the Business High Net-Worth, Estate Planning, and Personal High Net-Worth Markets. Andrew brings a creative thought process to opportunities, helping clients and advisors acknowledge and address various planning opportunities. His approach focuses on pairing timely concepts and unique funding ideas to specific client situations with an emphasis on future flexibility. 

Before joining Commonwealth Financial Group, Andrew spent 10 years at First American Insurance Underwriters, a full-service Brokerage General Agency in the Boston Area. As a Senior Case Design Specialist, he worked with top national insurance producers from a multi-carrier design standpoint. 


Todd Seresky

Investment Planning Strategist

tseresky@financialguide.com

As an Investment Planning Strategist at Commonwealth Financial Group, Todd works with clients to help them achieve their financial goals while supporting advisors in understanding the investment landscape and identifying potential solutions. 

Prior to his current role, Todd worked at Bank of New York Mellon as an Associate Wealth Manager, overseeing more than $1 billion in assets under management. He also worked at Fidelity Investments as an Internal Wholesaler, selling Fidelity’s mutual funds, 529 plans, and retirement products to financial advisors, generating over $300 million in mutual fund sales. Todd received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Lehigh University in 2012 and his MBA from Babson College in 2022. He holds Series 7, Series 63, and Massachusetts Life and Health licenses. 


Jessica Cahill

Director of Insurance New Business & Service 

jessicacahill@financialguide.com

As the Director of Insurance New Business & Service, Jessica streamlines the implementation process. She is an integral part of the planning experience team and provides concierge-level service to top-tier advisors. 

Jessica has previous experience as the Private Client Group Liaison at Joyal Capital Management, LLC assisting in the estate, financial, and business analysis process for new and existing clients. She graduated from Curry College with a degree in communication. 


Pat Clarke

Planning Experience Team Lead

pclarke@financialguide.com

Pat is directly involved in creating a seamless and efficient experience during client onboarding. In addition, she is responsible for leading a team of Client Account Administrators in supporting advisors in establishing client insurance, investment, and annuity accounts from the application phase to its completion. 
 
Pat supported financial advisors in their practices for over 20 years as a Client Relations Manager, providing servicing and new account support for advisors and their clients. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business and office administration and a master’s in education counseling.