We work from two offices and are united in our practice and principles. Every member of our team has dedicated their career to guiding people like you to financial independence, and it’s this commitment that has earned us trust with our clients and communities. Together, our principal advisors have over 100 years of experience and have over half a billion dollars in assets under advisement (as of February 2, 2024).
Managing Partner, Financial Advisor
Worcester Office
(508) 749-1111
With more than 25 years of experience as a financial advisor, Drew is known for educating, guiding, and supporting clients by developing strategic investment plans based on their goals and comfort levels. He has been providing comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, and retirement services since 1994.
Drew believes the same diligence and preparation he needed as a professional baseball player transfer well into the financial advisory industry. He was an All-American player at Quabbin Regional High School, went on to Princeton University, and played baseball in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan with the U.S. National Collegiate team. He was also in the Oakland Athletics’ farm system for three years after being drafted in 1986. One of his favorite sayings is, “Prior preparation prevents poor performance.” His diligence prevents his clients from becoming distracted and helps keep them on track. “Sometimes I’m a catalyst, sometimes I’m a psychologist—but I’m always focused on keeping my clients on the path to achieve their goals.”
Drew earned a degree in economics from Princeton in 1987, and his first job was with IBM. “Some of my customers were big Wall Street firms and I was able to go to the trading floor. I was intrigued by the excitement of the transactional side of the business.” A brother-in-law introduced him to financial planning, and Drew found that side of the business even more interesting: “Helping people make better financial decisions through disciplined and thoughtful financial plans; this was a perfect fit.”
Drew advises more than $250 million in assets (as of February 2, 2024) and has seen hundreds of his clients retire with confidence and financial security. “All my years of experience and training have a direct influence on the outcome of people’s lives. The invitations to graduations, weddings, and other life events and seeing how successful my clients are—that gives me a great deal of happiness and satisfaction.”
Even though he is a managing partner at Larson, Potter, Stratton & Cote Financial, Drew is very hands-on: “Typically, in a practice of our size, you wouldn’t be dealing with a principal. If you work with my firm, you’ll work with me. I drive the plan and rebalance the portfolio. You get my knowledge and years of experience.”
Drew and his wife, Stephanie, live in Paxton, where they raised three sons: Sam, Pete, and Charlie. He coached all three in the Paxton Little League and AAU baseball. Drew and his family are all scuba diver certified. “Grand Cayman is the best diving spot, but we also love the Outer Banks and Cape Cod.”
Drew K. Stratton is proud to have been recognized as a Leaders Level advisor for 2023—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 6 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the broker/dealer–RIA that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Leaders Level advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Leaders Level advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.
2020 Forbes Best In State Wealth Advisors, created by SHOOK Research. Presented in February 2020 based on data gathered from June 2018 to June 2019. 32,000 advisors were considered; approximately 4,000 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. Click here for more award information.
2018–2020 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional. The 2020 award was presented in February 2020 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. 3,580 advisors were considered; 463 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com
Managing Partner, Financial Advisor
Worcester Office
Since 1994, Steven, a managing partner at Larson, Potter, Stratton & Cote Financial, has specialized in crafting retirement, estate, and protection planning strategies tailored to each client’s situation and goals.
Steven made a career change to financial services 26 years ago when he recognized he needed financial advice on planning for his family’s future. “I realized that other people were in my situation: needing education and guidance at the start of their careers and financial lives,” he said. “It was a great opportunity for me to make a meaningful contribution.” Since then, Steven has advised more than 300 clients and advises more than $110 million in assets (as of February 2, 2024).
Caring for his clients’ well-being is important to Steven. “I compare my job to that of a physician—I’m a financial physician,” he said. “Creating a financial plan is like an annual physical. You determine the state of your client’s financial health, diagnose problems, recommend a treatment plan, and encourage clients to continue to live a healthy financial lifestyle.”
Steven credits his professional success to having empathy and being able to connect with clients on a personal level. “My first wife died 24 years ago, and that unplanned, unexpected tragedy made me a much better advisor,” he says. “I’ve had a lot of widows and women who are in the midst of a divorce referred to me, and it’s so important to listen and hear what they want to accomplish or protect themselves from.”
Steven feels so strongly about supporting clients during difficult marital transitions that he developed a divorce advisory practice incorporating specialized planning software and guidance on separating marital assets. For more information about safeguarding yourself during a divorce, visit his practice at www.strategicfinancialdivorce.com.
In addition to his passion for helping people safeguard their financial future, Steven is a professionally trained chef and aims to be a musician in his next life because he enjoys playing the guitar. As a child, however, Steven wasn’t always so focused. “I was the class clown—comedy is a big part of my life,” he says. “In elementary school, I was the kid who had to have his desk next to the teacher’s.”
Steven is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC®) charterholder, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ (CDFA®). He also holds the FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations and numerous state securities and insurance licenses. He earned an AS from Johnson & Wales University. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) and the Massachusetts Bar and Worcester County Bar associations.
Steven lives in Charlton, Massachusetts, with his wife, Sara, and their children, Shane, Camille, and Norah. He enjoys playing golf, downhill skiing, and spending summers with his family on Cape Cod.
Steven R. Larson is proud to have been recognized as a Vista Club advisor for 2023—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 25 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the broker/dealer–RIA that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Vista Club advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Vista Club advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.
Managing Partner, Financial Advisor
Worcester Office
John has been helping clients reach their financial goals since 1994 by providing comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, and retirement services. As a managing partner at Larson, Potter, Stratton & Cote Financial, John currently advises more than $140 million in assets (as of February 2, 2024).
John loves helping people and feels fortunate to have found his calling early in his career. “I was good at math, so my high school guidance counselor suggested I pursue a degree in computer science. I became a senior software engineer, but I wasn’t happy. I took some aptitude tests and financial planner kept coming up.”
After more than 25 years of guiding clients to a more secure future, John is still passionate about his work. “I’m grateful I found my true life’s calling. I just get to help people, and I love my job. There is nothing else I would rather do.”
His approach to financial planning is to always put his clients first. “Some clients want a very personal approach; others prefer to have a more business-like relationship,” he says. “Some clients want me to understand their life’s goals and the role of money in achieving those goals. In all cases, my clients receive a custom-designed financial plan with an optimized mix of products that will work for them at every stage of their life.”
John recharges by exercising and spending time with family and friends. “Every year, I take my kids on a family road trip. Driving for hours in a car, just you and them—it’s the best way to find out what’s going on in their lives and what they’re thinking,” he says. Additionally, “My college roommates and I have gone on the same camping trip every year since we graduated.”
John is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and earned an MBA from Clark University and a BA from the State University of New York at Potsdam. He and his wife and cherished life partner, Mary-Ellen, live in Holden, Massachusetts. Between them, they have five children: Julia, Jack, Ben, Bridget, and Brooke. John is active in his church as a CCD teacher and co-chair of a diocesan-wide fundraising campaign. He is also a past chairman of the town of Sterling’s finance and capital committee.
John Potter is proud to have been recognized as a Summit Club advisor for 2019—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 19 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.®
Each year, Commonwealth, the Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Summit Club advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Summit Club advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.
Managing Partner, Financial Advisor
Whitinsville Office
Armand, a managing partner at Larson, Potter, Stratton & Cote Financial, has been providing financial advice and wealth management services to clients across the country since 1996. Analytical by nature, Armand uses his problem-solving skills to build financial solutions customized for each client.
Clients have come to rely on Armand’s ability to listen to their concerns and educate them on their options in an easy-to-understand manner. “I love numbers and being able to explain their importance within comprehensive financial planning,” he said. From an early age, Armand recognized that financial literacy is a key driver of economic wellness.
Armand’s career began as a result of his own quest for financial security and was fueled by his desire to empower others with financial wisdom. “I want my clients to feel that they have control over their financial lives and that proper planning and education are the keys to making good decisions,” he says. “We enjoy and celebrate our clients’ successes.”
As a small business owner, being approachable is very important to Armand. “We are a large firm with a boutique feel and on-demand, personal service that is flexible and accessible. " Also, the firm’s family feel is no act. Armand has worked with family members throughout his career.
Armand is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC®), a Chartered SRI CounselorSM (CSRIC®), and holds the FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations. As a Chartered SRI CounselorSM, Armand incorporates fiduciary responsibilities and best practices for sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investments in his portfolio construction. He also holds numerous state securities and insurance licenses. He earned a BA with honors from Assumption College in management and a minor in French. He is a member of the Financial Services Institute (FSI), which works to ensure client access to competent and affordable financial advice through a network of independent financial advisors.
Outside of work, Armand enjoys playing basketball, fishing, and hiking. He’s a member of the Harmony Club, a nonprofit organization that supports charitable causes and offers scholarships to those in need. He is an active supporter of various charitable causes throughout central Massachusetts and the Blackstone Valley. He lives in Upton, Massachusetts, with his wife, Susan, and their children, Armand IV “AJ" and Michelle.
Armand Cote III is proud to have been recognized as a Vista Club advisor for 2023—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 25 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the broker/dealer–RIA that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Vista Club advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Vista Club advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.
Registered Paraplanner
Worcester Office
Sara is a registered paraplanner at Larson, Potter, Stratton, & Cote Financial. She began her career in 1999 as a financial advisor for American Express Financial Advisors. She then joined practices with her husband, Steven, before transitioning to a supporting role after the birth of her children.
Sara graduated with a degree in finance and economics from Worcester State University. “In college, I worked as a bank teller and customer service representative, and I just loved the idea of money,” she said with a laugh. “I loved depositing money in an account and watching it multiply.”
Now, Sara loves the personal connections she has with clients. “When I call to confirm appointments, I have to plan an appropriate amount of time because I know those are not quick calls,” Sara says. “It’s like calling friends because we talk about kids and baking or what have you.”
Sara holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network® and maintains her Massachusetts securities and insurance licenses so that she can assist the advisors with their fixed insurance business.
Sara grew up in Central Massachusetts and lives in Charlton with her husband, Steven Larson, and three children: Shane, Camille, and Norah. Sara played soccer in college and now stays active by running and gardening. She also coaches and runs the ski club at her daughter’s school.
Registered Paraplanner
Worcester Office
Martha (Marty) joined the practice in 1998. Marty is responsible for providing all aspects of outstanding client service. She is responsible for day-to-day office operations, including maintaining and updating client record processing applications, solving administrative problems for our clients, and providing smooth and effortless service. She is adept at responding to our clients’ inquiries with a high level of promptness and attention.
She has a bachelor’s degree from the Westfield State University of Massachusetts. She holds the FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network® and holds state securities and insurance licenses for Massachusetts so that she can assist the advisors with their fixed insurance business.
She is a lifelong resident of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. She is a dedicated mother to her children and enjoys spending time with her large extended family.
Administrative Assistant
Worcester Office
Sophia (Sophie) joined Drew’s practice in 1997. She is responsible for the majority of Drew’s client administration. Sophie maintains Drew’s calendar, processes new business, and is the first voice clients hear when calling the office. Sophie is an outstanding problem solver and her attention to detail is second to none.
Sophie received her associate’s degree in business administration from Becker College.
Office Manager
Whitinsville Office
As Armand’s office manager, Jodi provides prompt and courteous service from the Whitinsville office. She smoothly facilitates day-to-day office operations including scheduling, maintenance of client records, and preparation of applications. She is adept at responding to our clients’ inquiries with a high level of professionalism.
Jodi received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Framingham State College.
