Hi, I’m Patrick Sanders, and I am co-owner with my wife Stephanie and financial advisor with CommonWealth Financial. I have the greatest job in the world, I have the best co-workers and work with the best clients. I love helping people understand their finances and build wealth.
I was raised on a family dairy farm in Peterborough County, and grew up playing baseball in the summers, competing in plowing matches in the fall, played pond hockey in the winter with my cousins and sang in the church choir. I attended the University of Guelph and graduated as Valedictorian of the Ontario Agricultural College, Class of 2007, Majoring in Animal Science.
After that I moved west to the Strathroy area where I met my wife Stephanie... at a plowing match. We were married in 2010, bought our first farm in 2013 and have farmed as a hobby ever since. Some people like to golf in their spare time; I drive green tractors and grow green plants.
We have two beautiful children, Brooklyn and Jackson, who stay busy with Baseball, Hockey and Figure Skating.
We spend a lot of time together as a family. In the summer months, I can regularly be found announcing Tractor Pulls all over Southern Ontario and competing in Plowing Matches. Competitive Plowing has been in my family’s DNA for 100 years. In 2022 at the International Plowing Match I won the Ontario Conventional Plowing Championship. We travel as a family to all of these events and love our time together. While still young, both of our kids are eager to try their hand at competitive plowing, and Stephanie and I could not be more proud!
Hi, I’m Stephanie Sanders. I joined CommonWealth Financial in October 2013 and am now a proud co-owner of this business. I have my Mutual Funds Licence and Life Insurance Licence.
I grew up just outside of Strathroy in Napier on an organic cash crop farm with my parents, older sister, and younger brother. In my mid teens I joined the Middlesex Plowmen’s Association and started competing at plowing matches—this is where I met my husband, Patrick. Patrick is still actively competing at matches while I have taken on the role of assisting to coach the next generation of plower’s in our family. A week trip to the International Plowing Match has become our family tradition.
Patrick & I have 2 wonderful children Brooklyn & Jackson. Our children attend school at Pillar Academy just outside of Strathroy. They are both enrolled in piano lessons through the school and enjoy performing their songs for an audience.
During the fall/winter if I’m not at the office you will likely find me at an arena. Brooklyn figure skates competing in both singles and synchro. Jackson plays hockey for the East Lambton Eagles. While spending hours each week at the arena if I’m not actively watching them on the ice, I enjoy reading and crocheting.
During the spring/summer we find more free time to enjoy the outdoors. Both kids play baseball for the Alvinston Riverhawks. Weekends are where things get loud and dirty. Plowing matches during the day and tractor pulling at night. Our kids would love for us to buy a pulling truck or tractor—instead, we go to work as the announcer and scorekeeper.
Hi, I’m Paula Ondrasek. I have been the Insurance Specialist at CommonWealth Financial since 2011. I received my Honors Bachelor of Arts at The University of Western Ontario and began working in the insurance industry at State Farm. I hold both Chartered Life Underwriter and Qualified Associate Financial Planner™ designations. I am originally from Orangeville, Ontario.
My family moved to the London area when my parents started a business back in the early 1980’s. I have been married to my partner, John, since 1992. John and I enjoy travelling, golfing, and music. John is a bass player and I play drums. John has always been a musician and I started playing drums a few years ago when John’s band needed someone to fill in on percussion and I have been banging away at the kit ever since. We have two cats, no kids and live outside Mount Brydges.
Hello! My name is Jenny. I live on my small family farm right by the shores of Lake Huron. You will find me out for a walk or run enjoying nature, or snuggled up on the couch reading a book. I play two-pitch baseball in Watford and soccer at taxandria on the adults house league team. Last year I’ve started exploring Canada with my family and we visited Nova Scotia and PEI. This year we plan to travel to Alberta for a family wedding and to visit the mountains.
I am married to my high school sweetheart Phil and we have three energetic kids: Danielle, Jack & Anna. They play ringette, hockey and soccer in the summer. You can find me at the arena or soccer field depending on the season. We like to go camping in the summer months, and spend plenty of time at the beach.
I have one sister, five brothers-in-law’s and ten nieces and nephews. I grew up in Bright’s Grove and St. Mary’s. I attended Kings College at the University of Western, in London. I started my career in the investment industry in Ridgetown in 2008. It was there that I recognized that I enjoy helping people learn about their money. What their goals are and what do they need to do to get there. I have my Mutual Funds Licence and Life Insurance Licence. I became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional in 2016 and started my career with CommonWealth Financial in 2017.
Hello, my name is Elaine.
I grew up living on Falconbridge in Mt Brydges with my parent Luke and Wendy Hansmann.
I have 1 brother and 2 sisters.
My husband Bill and I grew up knowing each other he lived the next side road over and was a good friend of my brother. We got married in 1992 and have 2 children. Our son Luke is a electrician and he recently moved to his own home in Watford. Our daughter Celeste is currently still living at home working on her future career goals.
In my spare time you will find me working at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church as Secretary and Treasurer and attending Worship service every Sunday. Bill and I are always working on home renovations for I can always come up with new ideas for updates much to Bill’s dismay.
I like to read books watch a good Hallmark or action film and cuddling with my cats and dogs.
At CommonWealth you can find me greeting you either on the phone or at the door. I scan all document in the office and I also assist Paula where needed with my Life Insurance licence.
My name is Kelly Boxer, and I am the Mutual Fund Administrator here at CommonWealth Financial. I grew up in Lucan, Ontario before moving to Strathroy to be closer to work. I am an avid reader and painter, and a diploma collector. I have my BA from Brescia University, my paralegal diploma, and on my way to getting my Chartered Professional Accountant certificate. I have been in the financial industry for over 10 years, and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon!
I am the youngest of three siblings, with three nieces and two nephews that I love to no end. We are a family who loves to do Halloween up right! I am also an animal lover who talks about my dog Hank, and my two cats: Mia and Michonne. I started with CommonWealth in July of 2022, and look forward to a long and rewarding career with amazing co-workers!