Our Team
We work for you
At Senior Planning Advisors, our team of professionals helps identify your needs while accounting for your dreams. Then, we get to work to build a plan that fits your unique lifestyle. While we offer our professional guidance, you’re in control every step of the way.
Kirk Cassidy, IAR
CEO
Kirk Cassidy is the president of Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors. He is a fiduciary who holds a Series 65 securities license, as well as a life insurance license in Michigan and many other states. In addition, Kirk is an advisory board member for a $6.5 billion institutional money management firm.
Over the years, Kirk has helped thousands of people all over the country retire with a comprehensive retirement plan that best fits their needs. He believes that proper tax planning can help increase asset performance and reduce the chances of outliving their money in retirement without taking on greater risk. As a result, he developed an asset allocation model that provides clients with a roadmap to help preserve and distribute financial assets, while also helping to increase their wealth.
This model, which integrates guaranteed* income planning, wealth management, tax-minimization strategies, long-term-care planning and legacy planning, makes Kirk a retirement income planning specialist, sought after by high net worth individuals looking for a retirement plan and by other advisors, money managers and licensed agents around the country. A nationally recognized speaker and educator, Kirk also has written a quarterly article for Kiplinger and teaches classes that are held regularly at the University of Michigan, Eastern University, Michigan State University, and Oakland University.
Kirk has extensive experience in charitable planning and helping clients utilize charitable strategies that allow them to fulfill their philanthropic goals while more effectively managing tax liabilities in retirement. He has been actively involved in a number of charitable organizations, including serving on the boards of directors for the Don Ferrarese Charitable Foundation and the advisory board at United Charitable. In addition, Kirk co-founded the Brent G. Cassidy Family Foundation and has developed and managed a national planned giving program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Kirk and his wife, Jessica, have two children and live in Northville, Michigan.
*Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the insurance carrier.
Kirk Cassidy, IAR
President & CEO
Kirk Cassidy is the President and CEO of Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors. He is a fiduciary who holds a Series 65 securities license, as well as a life insurance license in Michigan and many other states. In addition, Kirk is an advisory board member for a $6.5 billion institutional money management firm.
Over the years, Kirk has helped thousands of people all over the country retire with a comprehensive retirement plan that best fits their needs. He believes that proper tax planning can help increase asset performance and reduce the chances of outliving their money in retirement without taking on greater risk. As a result, he developed an asset allocation model that provides clients with a roadmap to help preserve and distribute financial assets, while also helping to increase their wealth.
This model, which integrates guaranteed* income planning, wealth management, tax-minimization strategies, long-term-care planning and legacy planning, makes Kirk a retirement income planning specialist, sought after by high net worth individuals looking for a retirement plan and by other advisors, money managers and licensed agents around the country. A nationally recognized speaker and educator, Kirk also has written a quarterly article for Kiplinger and teaches classes that are held regularly at the University of Michigan, Eastern University, Michigan State University, and Oakland University.
Kirk has extensive experience in charitable planning and helping clients utilize charitable strategies that allow them to fulfill their philanthropic goals while more effectively managing tax liabilities in retirement. He has been actively involved in a number of charitable organizations, including serving on the boards of directors for the Don Ferrarese Charitable Foundation and the advisory board at United Charitable. In addition, Kirk co-founded the Brent G. Cassidy Family Foundation and has developed and managed a national planned giving program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Kirk and his wife, Jessica, have two children and live in Northville, Michigan.
*Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the insurance carrier.
Paul Metler, Psy.D., MBA
Paul Metler is the financial advisor of Senior Planning Advisors – Ann Arbor and is an Investment Adviser Representative for Strategic Investment Advisors. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and has 20 years of experience in clinical, academic, administrative and executive leadership positions in public and private health care systems. Paul has developed and managed several businesses in both the private and public sector, serves as adjunct faculty at Western Michigan University and has been a guest speaker and presenter on several topics related to aging within hospital, clinical, governmental and business settings. Paul completed his doctoral training in clinical psychology and completed a postdoctoral psychology fellowship at Northwestern Memorial University Hospital, specializing in older adults. Paul is a fiduciary who has passed the Series 65 securities exam and holds a life insurance license in Michigan.
Paul has extensive experience working with retirees and their families, helping them cope with the financial challenges that come with aging and the retirement process. He is well-versed in the issues that arise in the aging process, including decisions regarding health care and end-of-life care. He understands and appreciates the financial, physical, psychological and developmental challenges that often occur during the stage of life when an individual transitions from the working years to retirement. For Paul, helping his clients manage the apprehension that may result from this transition into and during retirement is extremely important and is a critical part of working with individuals planning for retirement.
Josh Jackson
Josh Jackson is an advisor at Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors and manages our Columbia, Missouri office. He has worked in the financial services industry since 2011. Josh is a Fiduciary who has passed the Series 65 securities exam and holds a life and health insurance license in Michigan. He also holds the RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional®) designation from the American College of Financial Services.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance from Washburn University, Josh began working on the case design team for a national firm, using a wide variety of strategies to help build income plans for independent financial advisors across the United States. He has assisted in building thousands of retirement income plans that work for each client's unique situation and eventually became the director of the case design team. With his RICP® designation and expertise he's gained throughout his career; Josh creates custom plans for his clients that help them to accomplish the many different goals they have for their retirement. For Josh, using his extensive experience to help his clients achieve the best retirement possible is his number one goal. Josh and his wife, Kelsey, have two children and live in Ashland, Missouri.
Michael Masserant, APMA
Michael is an advisor and planner at Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors and operates primarily out of our Livonia office. He is a member of the Financial Planning team and assists the Investment Committee with economic and market research. He also co-hosts The Run Down with Kirk with the goal of providing in-depth retirement education to their viewers. Michael is a fiduciary who holds a Series 65 securities, life and health insurance licenses in Michigan, as well as an APMA (Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor) designation.
After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a specialization in finance from the University of Michigan – Dearborn, Michael immediately entered the financial planning industry. He enjoys helping clients find peace of mind in preparing for and achieving retirement and guiding them past any obstacles they may face along the way. He is passionate about providing clients with the best possible holistic plan to meet their financial goals and provide a sense of freedom in retirement.
Outside of the office, Michael and his wife Courtney are avid sports fans and enjoy working on home improvement projects together in their new home.
Brian Atherton
Brian is a planner and advisor at Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors in our Livonia office. He has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Xavier University with a minor in economics. Brian is a fiduciary who holds a Series 66 securities license, as well as life and health insurance in Michigan.
He has worked as a financial advisor in the financial services industry since 1994. Brian has extensive financial planning experience working with individuals, families and business owners as they prepare for retirement. His passion is helping clients as they navigate the journey to achieve their goals in retirement.
Brian and his wife, Erika, have two daughters, Hannah and Hailey. They live in Rochester Hills with their three rescue dogs, Jax, Otto and Cooper. Erika is a nature photographer. They enjoy spending their free time outdoors exploring the state.
Jake Zagor
Jake is an advisor and financial planner at Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors. He works as a fiduciary and member of the Financial Planning team, creating new retirement plans and auditing existing plans. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and accounting from Eastern Michigan University. Jake holds a Series 65 securities license and is also licensed in Life and Health insurance in Michigan. Jake’s background began in financial services and tax accounting through multiple internships until becoming an intern with Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors during his senior year at EMU. Here he found a firm that finally combined the pieces necessary to create a truly holistic financial plan. He now enjoys designing unique plans to meet the individual goals of each client. His priority is to provide clients the ability to confidently enjoy retirement. Jake likes to spend his free time with his friends and family golfing, traveling, and being outdoors.
Jessica Cassidy
Jessica has worked alongside her husband, Kirk Cassidy, since 2005. In addition to serving as COO of Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors, Jessica stays busy raising the couple’s two children, Samarra and Trae. She holds a life insurance license in Michigan and is also a Certified Interior Decorator.
Jessica has raised millions of dollars for many charitable foundations but has focused much of her time on raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, as well as raising awareness of blood cancers and providing patient advocacy.
Furthermore, Jessica co-founded the Brent G. Cassidy Family Foundation and was honored in Forbes Magazine for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Executive Challenge in 2015 and 2016. She and Kirk also named an LLS research grant after her late father-in-law to advance immunotherapy research with Dr. Carl June at the University of Pennsylvania.
Heather Lyon
Heather Lyon is the Chief Compliance Officer of Strategic Investment Advisors and has over 27 years of experience in the financial services industry, in all facets of the business. Prior to joining our team, Heather was the CCO/CCO and CFO for two other full-service firms and previous to that held leadership roles at a national insurance company, Broker Dealer and Investment Adviser Firms where she drove change in business process, launched client and representative support models that helped to dramatically increase satisfaction levels with the services delivered.
Heather is passionate about delivering financial services that clients need, wrapped in a high-quality service delivery model. As our CCO, Heather will be an integral part of our leadership team while helping drive business growth with a forward-looking way of helping clients in their financial journey.
Heather resides in Commerce Township, MI and has three grown children Scott, Meghan and Ally. Heather has the Series 7, 14, 24, 27, 63, 66, 99TO and SIE licenses.
Rachel Tuel
As Vice President of Financial Planning for both Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors, Rachel assists clients in the planning process. She has a Bachelor's degree in accounting from Minnesota State university - Moorhead and has many years of experience in the accounting field as an internal auditor, business manager, and accountant.
Rachel and her husband, Pat, have two boys, Matthew and Lucas. In her free time, Rachel enjoys cooking and gardening.
Krystal Rampersad
Krystal began her career in the property and casualty insurance business and holds P&C licenses. She then spent the last decade on the securities side of the financial industry, running an operations team for a large Registered Investment Advisory firm supporting over 450 offices. This experience helped Krystal acquire vast knowledge of operational efficiencies and clients service protocol.
Krystal and her husband, Moses, have two children, Sienna and Leo, who keep them busy outside of work. In her free time, you will find Krystal and her family on the water or the golf course.
Brittany Henson
Brittany manages our Financial Planning department and works in the Livonia office. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Michigan – Dearborn and over 7 years of experience in the financial services industry. Brittany works closely with the operations team to continuously enhance our operational processes. She is passionate about finding new ways to create efficiencies internally, so that we can provide the best possible service and product for our clients.
In her free time, Brittany and her husband, Austin, can be found golfing, trying out new local restaurants, or playing with their two German Shepherd/Husky mixes – Wyatt & Charlie.
Jessica Meyers
Jessica is a Financial Planner and the team lead. She graduated from Florida State University with her bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and minored in physics. Jessica has many years of experience in the finance industry, as well as working as an internal auditor.
Jessica and her husband, Chase, have two sons, Hudson and Harrison. Together they love to travel, spend time outside in the sun, and visit with their friends and family.
Jason MacLean
Jason is a financial planner at Senior Planning Advisors and Strategic Investment Advisors in our Livonia office. He has a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies of Leadership in financial management from Grand Valley State University.
Jason is a fiduciary who holds a Series 65 securities license. Jason began his career in financial services out of college, working at Turnkey Asset Management Platforms with up to $93B in assets under management.
Jason enjoys working with clients to achieve their retirement dreams. In his free time, Jason and his wife, Megan, enjoy spending their time traveling, being outdoors, and being on the lake with friends and family.
Matthew Andreoli
Matt is a financial planner for Senior Planning Advisors. He has been involved in the financial services industry for more than 14 years, serving in a variety of roles, including home and auto insurance specialist, compliance specialist and financial advisor. In his position with Senior Planning Advisors, Matthew focuses on helping clients achieve their goals by developing a well-thought-out financial strategy.
Matthew is a financial professional who can provide investment and insurance products and services. He has passed the Series 7, 24, 63 and 65 securities exams and holds life, accident, health, variable annuities, and property and casualty insurance licenses. He has made his home in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, for more than eight years.
Shawn Srivastava
Shawn recently graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's in finance and minoring in financial planning and wealth management. Shawn started in the firm as an Administrative Coordinator, moved into a Client Service role, and is now part of the Financial Planning Team.
Shawn is a fiduciary who holds a Series 65 securities license and is also licensed in Life and Health insurance in Michigan, as well as an APMA (Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor) designation.
Shawn loves to spend his free time at the gym, playing basketball and lifting weights. He also enjoys hanging out with friends, traveling, and watching basketball and football.
Joan Alexander
Joan comes from a background in banking and has 30 years of experience in management, leadership, and customer service roles. Joan is excited to be a part of the Senior Planning Advisors team and enjoys assisting our clients in achieving their retirement goals while building lasting client relationships.
In her spare time, Joan enjoys working in the garden, going for walks, spending time with her family, and enjoying the sunshine and natural beauty of the farming community where she lives.
Amy Fischer
Amy has been in the financial industry since 2018, working on the customer service side. She is a transplant from west Michigan and loves exploring everything that Detroit has to offer, from food to the arts. Her daughter, Emily, is generally exploring with her. During the summer, Amy enjoys cycling and spending time outside with friends
Jared Lee
Jared is part of the Client Services Associate team at Senior Planning Advisors. He recently graduated from the University of Michigan - Dearborn, with a Bachelor’s in Economics as well as minors in Applied Statistics and Psychology. He is excited to have found a role which immerses him in economics, finance, and analytical methods through a holistic lens.
In his free time, Jared enjoys lifting weights at the gym, playing hockey, and spending time with his girlfriend. He has two cats, Napoleon and Theo, who spend most of their time following him around the house. He also has a nephew and two nieces with whom he loves to play with, and that he enjoys watching learn and grow. When the Michigan weather allows it, Jared loves to ride motorcycles, and hopes to start a collection like his dad’s one day.
Rebecca Barskiy
Rebecca started in Medical Billing and Coding field. She then moved her focus onto Surety Insurance, which then led to her working within the financial services industry.
Rebecca lives in Novi with her husband, Ilya, their two young children, and their dog, Jemma. She enjoys spending time with her family, being outside as much as possible, and traveling.
Imari Williams
Imari is an administrator for Senior Planning Advisors. She recently earned a bachelor's degree in individualized studies with a concentration in business management from Eastern Michigan University.
Imari is very excited to be a part of the team. In her free time, she enjoys film, photography, movie critiques and spending time with her family.
Megan Seaton
Megan is an Administrative Coordinator in our Columbia office. She recently graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor's in both Anthropology and Psychological Sciences.
Megan loves to spend her free time playing board games with friends, enjoying Columbia's many hiking trails, and traveling with her fiancé, Forrest.
Chris Hooper
Chris is a creative marketing and product leader with a proven record of driving brand awareness through intelligent use of social media, advertising and design. Throughout his 20+ years of experience in strategic marketing and communications, he has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, InsuranceNewsNet, Medium, FitSmall Business, Authority Magazine, PlanAdvisor and ThinkAdvisor.
Chris studied communications and public relations and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and his master's degree from Wayne State University. Chris, his wife, Jennifer and their son Cole live in Northville.
Tiffany Wong
Tiffany is the Marketing Manager for Senior Planning Advisors. She originally started out in hospitality and has 20 years of experience in customer service. Prior to joining the marketing team, she was in the insurance industry, focusing on Property & Casualty.
Tiffany received her Bachelor's in Communication Studies at Western Michigan University, where she met her husband, Brandon. All of her free time is spent with their son, Monroe.
Brandon Yoder
As the media production manager, Brandon oversees all digital media. He has over eight years of video production experience, including television commercials, live shows, and film post-production, which comes in handy when creating our biweekly show, The Run Down.
Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife, Tiffany, and their son, Monroe. In his spare time, he has been teaching himself how to play guitar.