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Commonwealth Adds Innovative TeamCommonwealth Adds Innovative Team

Innovative Financial Solutions manages clients that include faculty and administrators at Indiana University.

Samuel Steinberger, Senior Technology Editor

August 20, 2018

1 Min Read
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Copyright Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

Commonwealth Financial Network announced the addition of Innovative Financial Solutions, whose clients include faculty and administrators at Indiana University, to its nationwide team of financial planners and investment managers. Innovative Financial Solutions manages more than $400 million in assets and operates out of Bloomington, Ind. and Palm Coast, Fla.

Partners William Verhagen, Christopher Harmon and Ian Essling, along with financial advisor Mark Kraus and the team, will be leaving MML Investors Services following an extended period of research into their new partnership. “After a two-and-a-half-year due diligence process, the Innovative Financial Solutions team was eager to affiliate with an independent RIA–broker/dealer that is committed to helping us provide the highest level of service to the families we serve,” said Essling. “Our home office visit validated that Commonwealth was the best move for us.”

The addition of Innovative follows a mid-summer personnel announcement, with president and COO Rich Hunter turning over his responsibilities to CFO Trap Kloman by year-end. Commonwealth had also been active in acquiring new teams from National Planning Holdings following its purchase by LPL, including a Wisconsin-based team with $186 million in AUM. LPL had struggled to meet their retainment goals.

Commonwealth supports some 1,800 independent financial advisors across the country.

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About the Author

Samuel Steinberger

Senior Technology Editor, WealthManagement.com

Samuel Steinberger is Senior Technology Editor for Informa Connect’s WealthManagement.com. In his role, Mr. Steinberger provides the publication’s wealth and financial technology coverage. 

Mr. Steinberger’s editorial insight and familiarity with technology accelerates Informa’s growth within the financial advisor and wealth management communities, providing in-depth news for advisors and financial professionals. 

Before joining Informa Connect, Mr. Steinberger produced documentaries with former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien at Soledad O’Brien Productions (formerly Starfish Media Group). He specialized in research, shooting and editing, as well as finding distinct voices to explain topics like mental health, poverty and racial divide. 

Prior to joining Soledad O’Brien Productions, Mr. Steinberger managed multi-departmental technology projects for global legal technology leader Transperfect Legal Solutions. After obtaining his graduate degree in journalism from Columbia University, he completed his transition from technology management to media. 

Mr. Steinberger is an award-winning journalist, author and researcher who has written, edited and reported for a number of publications, including The New York Times, Financial PlanningAmerican Banker and PBS. He is founder of beverages publication Give Me Weird Drinks

Mr. Steinberger’s technology analysis and insight has been featured in several books on virtual and augmented reality. Mr. Steinberger has received awards and recognition for his reporting and research, including the American Business Media's prestigious Jesse H. Neal Award for editorial excellence.

Follow on Twitter: @slsteinberger