How will my interaction with Vahanian & Associates change?

To be clear, you are, have been, and continue to be clients of Vahanian & Associates. While we are changing Broker Dealers from Osaic to Commonwealth, your contact with our office remains the same.  In other words, business as usual! 

Who is Commonwealth Financial Network “CFN”?

Commonwealth is an RIA–broker/dealer. Through our due diligence, we have experienced their dedication to supporting advisors and their clients, in order to ensure that we have everything our office needs to help serve you. In fact, J.D. Power ranks Commonwealth “#1 in Independent Advisor Satisfaction Among Financial Investment Firms, 12 Times in a Row. *” Commonwealth partners with more than 2,100 independent financial advisors and oversees more than $296.3 billion in assets nationwide. We pride ourselves on excellence and we believe that moving forward, they will be our best partners as we serve you. 

Your Vahanian & Associates team will remain your direct contact, as we have always been. However, we will now be Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs) of CFN’s Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) and Registered Representatives of CFN’s Broker Dealer, on your new accounts.

Where will my accounts be held?

Currently, if you are a managed client, your accounts are being custodied at Pershing – the clearing firm for Osaic. When your accounts move to Commonwealth, they will remain under our management but custodied at Fidelity – the clearing firm for Commonwealth. At this time, you will also receive new account numbers.

Why are you making this change and why did you pick Commonwealth?

There are many reasons, but to highlight a few:

  • In most cases, CFN has lower trading costs and administrative fees. This is a direct benefit to you – our client.
  • We believe that their technology and specialized resources will strengthen our ability to serve you and help our team continuously improve upon the level of guidance and high touch service you have come to expect from our office.
  • In our opinion, Commonwealth is committed to independence and highly personalized service – a philosophy that matches our long-standing approach to serving you.
  • We believe that their reputation in the industry, for integrity and sound business practice, speaks volumes. We feel that their personalized culture perfectly matches ours.

What do I need to do?

You will be receiving a series of electronic documents or paper documents (based on your current preference) that require your signatures. These signatures will provide authorization for us register your accounts with our office at Commonwealth. In order to ensure our continuity of service on your behalf, we need these documents signed and returned as quickly as possible. 

Do I have a choice?

You have always had a choice. In order to stay with our firm under our guidance you will need to sign the authorizations to confirm the transfers.

What can I expect regarding tax reporting?

At tax time, you will receive two tax statements for your advisory and brokerage accounts held with our office: One from Osaic/Pershing and one for your new accounts at Commonwealth/Fidelity. You will need to use both when filing your taxes. As we always have, we will help follow up here. 

When will I have online access to my accounts at Commonwealth?

Once your assets are transferred, a member of our team will provide you with a username and password to access Commonwealth’s online portal – Investor360® – along with resources on how to navigate the new technology.

What if I need something from you or a distribution from my account during this transition?

We are committed to a smooth transition and your experience is paramount. Please call our office with any questions and/or email us directly. Our email addresses will remain the same.

*Commonwealth received the highest score among independent advisors in the J.D. Power 2010, 2012–2014, and 2018‒2025 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Studies. Presented on July 16, 2025, for December 2024 to April of 2025, it is based on responses from 3,698 advisors employed by or affiliated with the firms included in the study. Not indicative of the firm’s future performance. Your experience may vary. Study is independently conducted, and the participating firms do not pay to participate. Use of study results in promotional materials is subject to a license fee. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.