The team at Coghill Investment Strategies is committed to an organizational priority of personalizing service and nurturing a culture of responsibility and responsiveness. Our associates are genuinely committed to the pursuit of individualized investment strategies for each of our valued clients.
Our Team
Carrie Coghill,
CFP®, AIF®
President/CEO
Michael Cooley,
CFP®, AIF®
Vice President
Financial Advisor
Shana Bielich,
CFP®
Vice President, Financial Advisor
Director of Wealth Management
Kristen Hemmings,
CFP®
Senior Wealth
Management Analyst
Amanda McKenna
CFP®, CIMA®
Senior Wealth
Management Analyst
Christian Miller,
FPQP®
Wealth Management
Assistant
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Kelli Coghill
Communications
Specialist
Maria Chaghouri
Client Service
Associate
Our Extended Team
At Coghill Investment Strategies, our wealth management team includes the research and broker/dealer resources of Commonwealth Financial Network®, which expands the breadth and depth of what we offer our clients. Its team complements ours with trusted investment research specialists and advanced planning specialists who assist us in providing clients with the best possible service.
Get to Know Us
Carrie Coghill, CFP®
President/CEO
With a concentration on independent investment research and customized wealth management solutions, Carrie is continually recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on financial advising.
She has built an advisor team to execute global macro investing for clients, a process that serves as the hallmark of Coghill Investment Strategies. This process involves filtering global industry, economic, and academic research into a propriety system designed to analyze the impact on capital markets to identify increasing risks and new opportunities.
Through her personal focus on research and thought leadership around global macro investing, Carrie helps her team deliver highly personalized wealth management solutions. Coghill Investment Strategies provides a concierge-style service model that includes collaborative work with clients’ tax and legal advisors to deliver intelligent, centralized management of their total financial universe. This holistic approach is intuitive for Carrie’s leadership team and drives the culture of the firm’s overall service approach.
Before starting Coghill Investment Strategies, Carrie began her career in 1986 with Shearson Lehman Brothers and co-founded D.B. Root & Company, a family wealth management firm in Pittsburgh. She has been honored as a top professional in her field, has authored two books, and is a regular contributor on local and national programs. Carrie has served on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FIRNA) Registered Financial Professional Working Group Committee. A seat at this table granted her voice and influence over how the industry is regulated to protect investors and provide investment professionals with an affiliation designed to enhance their business.
Carrie has brought invaluable perspective to her client work through diverse community commitments such as serving on the Board of Trustees for Robert Morris University as Vice-chair and on the Board of Trustees for the Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation where she served in the Chair position for 7 years. Additionally, Carrie is also a trustee for The Andy Warhol Museum and past Board of Trustee member for the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. In 2015, Carrie brought the 2020 Women on Boards initiative to Pittsburgh, a national organization dedicated to increasing the percentage of female talent on Fortune 1000 corporate boards.
Regular panelist on “Around the Table with Stacy Smith", airing on CBS-Pittsburgh streaming.
Regular appearances on CNBC, WPXI News, PCNC's "Night Talk" and other local and national television programs
Co-hosted the consumer education television show “Financial Planning,” on Pittsburgh's NBC affiliate, WPXI-TV
Frequent public speaking engagements for thought leadership presentations regarding the wealth management industry, education, and community investment
A regular contributor to the Pittsburgh Business Times, Pittsburgh’s source for local business news
Featured in The Wall Street Journal, Investor's Business Daily, USA Today, BusinessWeek, Money Magazine, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dow Jones, Forbes.com, Pittsburgh Magazine, Woman's Day, and Working Mother.
Community Service and Professional Memberships
Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation - Board of Directors. Served as Chair of the Board for 7 years
The Andy Warhol Museum – Board Member
Past member of the Robert Morris University – Board of Trustees. Served for 13 years, 6 years as Vice-Chair
Co-Founder of Robert Morris University’s Women’s Leadership and Mentorship Program
Past -Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh – Trustee
United Way Women’s Leadership Council
2020 Women on Boards, now 50/50 Women on Boards
International Women’s Forum – Member
Education/Industry Certifications
Bachelor's degree from Robert Morris University, majoring in organizational studies and finance
For her distinguished record of service and accomplishment, Robert Morris University honored Carrie with their 2009 Heritage Award
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM Practitioner
Authored Books
What's Your Investing IQ?
The Newlyweds' Guide to Investing & Personal Finance
Michael Cooley, CFP®
Partner, Vice President & Financial Advisor
Michael’s approach to providing holistic wealth management services includes active portfolio management and extends to comprehensive wealth management. "Our team is focused on building better lives for our clients and their families," Michael explains. "Proper wealth planning and coordination is one piece of the equation. The other is to provide customized, tax-efficient investment strategies that can ultimately enable our clients to meet their goals."
Michael began his career with Federated Investors and went on to serve at D.B. Root & Company as a Financial Advisor. He graduated from Robert Morris University with a finance degree before completing the Financial Planning Certificate program at Duquesne University. For the past several years, Michael has been recognized as a Five Star “Best in Client Satisfaction” Wealth Manager byPittsburgh Magazine.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ PROFESSIONAL, Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network® (member FINRA/SIPC, A Registered Investment Adviser), and licensed insurance agent, Michael brings over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry to CIS clients.
Read what matters most to me and how it enriches my work for our clients.
Bachelor's degree from Robert Morris University, majoring in finance
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner
FINRA Series 7 and 66
Financial Planning Certification from Duquesne University
Shana Bielich, CFP®
Partner, Vice President, Financial Advisor, & Director of Wealth Management
Shana provides holistic wealth management services to clients that includes active, personalized portfolio management. "Working together as a team at CIS, we focus on building better lives for our clients and their families," Shana explains. "Proper planning is one piece of the equation. The other is to provide customized investment strategies that can ultimately enable our clients to meet their goals."
In addition to having earned the distinguished CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, and Five Star Professional status, she holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations with Commonwealth Financial Network®. Diverse experience on esteemed community and industry boards provides invaluable education and perspective that Shana brings to her work with clients seeking guidance around comprehensive life and wealth management priorities.
After receiving a business communications degree from Carlow University, Shana spent more than 10 years with Federated Investors. During her time at Federated, she was exposed to a diverse mix of the financial services industry. Serving as a Product Marketing Team Leader, she was then promoted to a Senior Marketing Specialist and Marketing Manager, gaining a vast knowledge of investment management products and the capital markets. In 2010, Shana joined the CIS team where she has put her knowledge to work directly with clients for highly personalized service.
Shana is a frequent guest on the financial television program, “Around the Table with Stacy Smith” courtesy of KDKA-TV, streaming on CBS-Pittsburgh. She is also a go-to financial expert for many media outlets.
Read what matters most to me and how it enriches my work for our clients.
Financial Planning Certificate from Duquesne University
Bachelor’s degree from Carlow University majoring in business communications
Community Service
Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association, Pittsburgh Chapter. Shana recently finished a five-year term as President.
Member of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Women’s Leadership Council.
Former Board member and Treasurer of the Center for Theater Arts, Mt. Lebanon, PA
Former Committee member of Women’s Leadership and Mentorship Program, Robert Morris University
Kristen Hemmings, CFP®
Senior Wealth Management Analyst
As a Senior Wealth Management Analyst at Coghill Investment Strategies, Kristen plays a vital role in conjunction with the firm’s advisory team. She assists with the creation of financial plans, retirement and college projections, tax and insurance planning, and other wealth management deliverables that help to meet client goals and objectives. Kristen’s operational expertise is often a benefit to the firm as well. She has her FINRA Series 7, 63, and 24 registrations with Commonwealth Financial Network and has a B.A. in Public Relations from Capital University. She is also aCERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and member of the Financial Planning Association of Pittsburgh.
Prior to joining Coghill Investment Strategies, Kristen worked for The Bank of New York Mellon in their Wealth Management group. As a Regional Supervisor, she supervised the securities licenses of Registered Representatives all over the country and ensured they were compliant with all securities regulations. Before BNY Mellon, Kristen worked at the Pittsburgh-based firm, Allegheny Financial Group, where she managed the operations staff and worked with a team of over 50 advisors.
For four years, Kristen served as the Pittsburgh Event Chair for the National Conversation on Board Diversity, an event of 2020 Women on Boards, a national organization dedicated to increasing the percentage of female talent on Fortune 1000 and Russell 3000 corporate boards. Kristen is active with the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way and serves on the C.A.R.E. committee. At Hello Neighbor, a nonprofit who welcomes and resettles refugees to Pittsburgh, she serves on the board of directors and is the Chair of the Young Professional Board. Kristen lives in the north hills of Pittsburgh with her husband, Brad, and their sons, Oliver, Ellis, and Niko.
Read what matters most to me and how it enriches my work for our clients.
Securities offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC.
Amanda McKenna, CFP®, CIMA®
Senior Wealth Management Analyst
Amanda joined CIS in 2023 as a key addition to assist in managing the individualized needs of our clients. As a Senior Wealth Management Analyst, she works closely with the firm’s partners to assess and address client priorities, planning and ongoing communication.
Prior to joining the team, Amanda served as Investment Advisor, AVP for PNC Private Banking where she was responsible for investment management and compliance for 45 client relationships. She brings a strong skillset of team dynamics, having collaborated at PNC with Wealth Strategists, Fiduciary Advisors, and Banking Advisors on each relationship to ensure all aspects of the client’s financial picture are aligned with their goals and objectives.
While at PNC for her five-year tenure, Amanda was active in PREP - PNC Recognizing Emerging Professionals, acting as Outreach Committee Chair. Through her commitment to maximizing young professional career potential, she designed panel and networking events with local universities to introduce college students to PNC and employment opportunities. Such extra effort sparked Amanda’s interest in continued networking and learning opportunities. She is currently Board Member and NexGen Committee Chair for the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Pittsburgh.
Amanda completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration, majoring in Finance and recognized with magma cum lade honors. She received her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) through the College for Financial Planning and recently obtained the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) through Yale School of Management.
Outside of work, Amanda enjoys living in Mt. Lebanon, PA and exercises her passion for the advancement of women in the financial planning industry as Engagement Chair for AMG ForWARD (Asset Management Group for Women’s Advancement, Recognition and Development).
Read what matters most to me and how it enriches my work with our clients.
Christian Miller, FPQP®
Wealth Management Assistant
Christian joined the company in January of 2019 and serves as a Wealth Management Assistant. In this role, he works in conjunction with the firm's advisory team assisting with financial projections, goal plans, and reporting as well as interacting with clients and helping to meet their needs. In addition, Christian is responsible for much of the analysis and tracking of the firm’s portfolio models as well as monitoring the performance of individual client accounts.
Before joining Coghill Investment Strategies, Christian studied at the University of Pittsburgh where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He received majors in accounting, finance, and business information systems and earned 150 credits to qualify to sit for the Pennsylvania CPA examination. While he was in school, Christian also passed his Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional® examination. In addition to his studies, Christian gained experience from working in various industries during his time at Pitt. He worked for two years at the University of Pittsburgh’s Small Business Development Center where he consulted for business owners in the greater Pittsburgh area. In addition to his consulting work, Christian spent a year as the only intern at Avison Young’s Pittsburgh office where he performed market research for an established company that was new to the Pittsburgh region. During his senior year, he worked part-time at BPU Investment Management where he worked closely with their advisors and realized his passion for the industry.
Outside of work, Christian enjoys giving back to the community through the Boys and Girls Club of America and various service-oriented opportunities through his church.
Read what matters most to me and how it enriches my work for our clients.
Kelli Coghill
Communications Specialist
Kelli provides operational support for the financial advisors at Coghill Investment Strategies. She interfaces with clients, ensuring every client experience is a positive one and is responsible the firm’s marketing, public relations, and communications strategies. She also manages all client requests for money movement in and out of the firm.
Prior to joining Coghill Investment Strategies, Kelli worked at the Savvy Group, a Pittsburgh marketing agency, as an assistant account manager. In that role, Kelli partnered with clients on special events, project management, media relations, community outreach program development and execution, video production, and design.
Kelli is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College and has had her research published in the college textbook “Negotiating Group Identity in the Research Process.”
Maria Chaghouri
Client Service Associate
Maria has been working with Coghill Investment Strategies since June 2021. In her role, she provides support functions such as preparing and submitting documents, opening new accounts, managing CRM data, preparing reports, and scheduling. Maria earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in women and gender studies from Merrimack College. Outside of work, Maria enjoys reading, cooking, spending time in nature, and bonding with her loved ones.
