William F. Muller, CFP®, AIF®, CDFA®
Chief Executive Officer
Early Life & Family Memories
Having grown up as one of seven children in Philadelphia, many of my favorite memories revolve around family and friends. I remember standing on the sidewalk watching my dad march with the Knights of Columbus down Manayunk Avenue during the annual 4th of July parade. Afterward, we’d head to the Saint Mary’s picnic for soda, food, and games.
Summer meant family day trips to Atlantic City—long before the casinos—and Phillies games at Veterans Stadium. I always brought my glove, hoping a foul ball might come my way (though it never did). At Christmas, we gathered around the tree to open presents before dressing up for Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary, or “IHM” as we called it.
My Family Today
These days, I spend much of my time with my own family. My daughter is currently attending college in California, where she is studying biology and plans to move on to dental school. My son is in high school and is looking forward to going to college and pursuing a career in business. I enjoy every moment I get to spend with them.
Personal Interests
Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, golfing, and biking - these activities help me recharge and stay active.
Career Journey
My journey into finance began in college. While studying business at LaSalle University, I found myself uninspired by accounting and management, and only mildly interested in marketing. But when I took Finance 101, everything changed—I was captivated by the world of stocks, bonds, and money markets.
After graduation, I joined Vanguard, where I deepened my understanding of investing, retirement planning, and insurance. I also earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification and later completed a master’s degree in financial services at Saint Joseph’s University.
Current Professional Focus
Recently, I’ve focused my practice on helping individuals develop financial plans after divorce. I hold the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) designation and find great fulfillment in helping people put the pieces of their financial puzzle together. It’s a privilege to support others in navigating financial transitions with clarity and confidence.
Matthew S. Ellis, CFP®, CIMA®, AIF®
President/Chief Compliance Officer
Let’s climb Mt. Everest together! Funding college plans, securing a retirement, or even planning a vacation can feel like climbing a mountain. You’d bring a guide along to Mt. Everest and I can guide you up and down financial mountains. As an undergrad at Rollins College, I worked full-time financing swimming pools. This gave me my first glimpse into personal finance and I became hooked on helping people organize and build strong personal finances.
September 2008 was a wild time to do anything in finance, so naturally, I started my next job at the Vanguard group. The education and experience I gained were invaluable during these years. I earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional certification, enabling me to work with individuals across all aspects of financial planning. The next step was to dive deeper into investments through the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation. With this knowledge, I was able to focus on building optimal portfolios for investors' specific risk tolerance. Between designations, I earned my MBA from Penn State University. After my 7-year education at Vanguard, I had lost touch with working directly with individuals.
To get back to my passion for helping people, I joined Common Cents Planning as a financial advisor. Today, I get to sit down with people every day and listen to their goals and ideas. Together, we collaborate to turn today’s goals into tomorrow’s realities. My favorite moment at Common Cents Planning was sitting in on a review where we showed a client how his assets would last through retirement and he could stop working. I want to share this message with as many people as possible.
When I am not thinking about financial planning, I keep plenty busy. I live in West Chester with my wife, Kim, and our kids Emma and Ryan. The kids keep us busy on the weekends as they explore new sports and activities. Kim and I try to run at least one road race a year together and are active at ACAC in West Chester. It’s amazing how much the kids have redirected our lives. I also serve on the board of the Downingtown Food Pantry, which has been a rewarding way to stay connected to the community and support families in need.
I look forward to climbing mountains together.
Matt was selected as a Five Star℠ Wealth Manager* by Philadelphia Magazine in 2020.
*2020 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional. Presented in 11/2020 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. 4148 Philadelphia-area advisors were considered, 366 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.
Victoria R. Provost, CFP®, AIF®
Financial Advisor
Life has a funny way of leading us down unexpected paths. I was fortunate to pursue my passions for Music and French at the University of Richmond. This unique combination of studies allowed me to develop a distinctive blend of creativity and analytical thinking, which has served me well in my professional career. I became a member of the team at Common Cents Planning shortly after finishing school and have since furthered my education by achieving my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification and Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation.
My husband Kyle and I live in Haverford with our two cats, Mez and Tiki, who bring us endless joy and laughter. In our free time, we enjoy exploring new restaurants (whether we stay local or take the train into Philadelphia), traveling to destinations near and abroad, and spending valuable time with family and friends.
My family is a constant source of inspiration and support, and I believe that strong relationships, both personal and professional, are the foundation of success. I bring this philosophy to my work as a financial advisor, striving to build lasting connections with my clients and help them plan for short- and long-term goals while preparing for the unexpected. It’s essential to have a financial plan that is both adaptable and resilient, and I am committed to guiding my clients toward financial success, no matter where life’s journey takes them.
Kevin P. Lake, Jr., CFP®, AIF®
Financial Advisor
“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”
– Booker T. Washington
I grew up locally as part of a large extended family that focused on the importance of spending time with each other, having fun, and most of all helping those who need it. The first two usually went hand in hand, and yet the third is where a lot of my fondest memories come from. Since I can remember, my family would have and attend charity fundraisers and races to support different causes, and oftentimes get together for that purpose. Growing up with a focus on helping out the community has molded me into the person I am today.
In 2008, I graduated from Penn State with a degree in accounting. After a few years, I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to focus on. I soon found myself drawn to financial services, and in 2013, I joined Lincoln Financial helping educate advisors on the importance of long-term care. By 2016, I finally found my true calling: helping people. I joined New York Life, where I was able to find people who needed help navigating to achieve their financial goals. Over the next 4 years, I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience while helping my clients secure the proper protection for themselves and their families, as well as helping them get set up for financial success.
I bring a unique perspective to Common Cents Planning with a focus on building a foundation of protection for our clients whether it be someone with a young family who is just getting started, or planning to protect them from a long-term care event. I am currently pairing that perspective with the knowledge I’m gaining while helping our clients each and every day. In 2022, I earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional certification and have transitioned into a financial planner for our firm.
On a personal note, I’m a resident of Newtown Square, where I live with my wife, Kelly; our two sons, James and Liam; and our daughter Alice. My free time these days is spent chasing around and entertaining my children, coaching and carpooling to various youth sports teams, vacations down in Sea Isle, as well as spending time with my in-laws on their lake in upstate New York. I’ve also continued following my upbringing of helping others, outside of my regular day-to-day with clients. I’m a current member of the Rotary Club of Bryn Mawr as well as past vice president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, an organization that focuses on raising money to contribute to worthy charitable and religious organizations and causes.
I look forward to helping you in the future!
Michele Troutman
Business Operations Director
They say a bad day makes a good story. On a particularly challenging day, my CCP story began when I took a drive to clear my head. As fate would have it, I passed the notorious sign out front that indicated a job opening. I applied, proved valuable to the team, and secured the position. Fast forward fifteen years, and I now play a pivotal role in selecting the weekly sign quotes.
My roots run deep within the five-mile radius where I was born, raised, and currently reside. In 1991, I married my husband John, and together we have raised two children. Our son, Jack, is a proud U.S. Marine veteran who recently completed his studies at Penn State University World Campus and now lives in South Carolina with his wife and children, who call me BGE (best grandmom ever). Our daughter, Mackenzie, is also a Penn State graduate and enjoys spending time with our rescue dog, Emma.
When I’m not driving up and down I-95 on visits to South Carolina, I’m rooting for Philadelphia sports teams. I relish the opportunity to travel with friends and family to away games, exploring new cities while enthusiastically cheering on our teams.
Caitlyn Dunbar
Client Relationship Specialist
As my final semester at Millersville University approached, I wasn’t entirely sure which career path I wanted to follow. I graduated with degrees in Public Relations and Studio Art, still uncertain about where I would land—until I discovered Common Cents Planning. The timing couldn’t have been better, and I joined the team in June 2022 as an Administrative Assistant.
Since then, I’ve grown into my role as a Client Relationship Specialist. I enjoy being one of the first points of contact for our clients, whether I’m welcoming them into the office or assisting them over the phone. I also support day-to-day office operations and manage our marketing efforts, including updating our website and social media platforms.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my friends, family, and my golden retriever Maverick —named after Top Gun, and fully committed to conducting high-speed ‘missions’ around the house. When I’m not supervising his operations, you can usually find me at a concert, planning my next getaway, or trying out a new restaurant.
