OUR FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES TEAM

Andrew is the Founder of Planning Across the Spectrum and specializes in helping any self-advocating client or family with autism and intellectual disabilities.

Andrew is a passionate advocate for autism awareness in his community and for his work as a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP™) Certified Neurodiversity Professional (CNP®). He has always worked toward helping his clients gain financial security now and for their future. Putting both of these interests together, Andrew was inspired to launch Planning Across the Spectrum.

Andrew understands the difficulty and stigma that many individuals with special needs face. Having received his Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis as an adult, many questions about the struggles he had growing up, and as a young adult, were answered. Through this experience, Andrew knew that he wanted to do something to work with the special needs community to provide answers and security in the financial world. He took time to educate himself in everything he could to help this underserved community and now dedicates himself to it.

Andrew provides a unique planning perspective for those with special needs, their caregivers, and their families because he has “walked in their shoes.” He has experienced the medical, social, educational, legal, vocational, and relational issues that come with being a member of the autism community. Due to this, he can provide specialized aid to his clients, and most importantly, he understands that every situation is unique.

Planning Across the Spectrum is a company designed for more than just financial planning. Andrew created a resource to provide expert guidance and valuable resources for life decisions that are either unknown, not easily accessible or can be complicated to pilot for someone with special needs.

Andrew is currently serving on the board for the PATH of CT as well as Autism Career Pathways. He has previously sat on boards for Autism Services and Resources Connecticut and The American College. He was appointed by the Connecticut house of representatives to their Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Council and frequently advocates for those with Autism and other Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Andrew is a frequent guest speaker on his own experiences or on various financial and insurance planning topics.

Andrew earned a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) and has achieved the distinction of being a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP™) and a 2020 ABLE NRC Ambassador. He has certifications as a Behavioral Financial Advisor(BFA™), Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC®), and an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) among his other designations. As a business owner, husband, and father Andrew does not get much spare time, but when he does, he enjoys tinkering with electronics, travel, and bike rides. He resides in the Farmington Valley with his wife, two daughters, and his dogs Bentley & Sylvie.

Liz is a Certified Financial Planning Professional and is serving our clients as the Director of Financial Planning. Liz joined Planning Across the Spectrum in February 2021 after working with two traditional financial planning firms. She will work mostly remotely from Maryland, where she lives with her husband, son, puppy and backyard chickens. She is excited to move beyond traditional into the specialized world supporting families with I/DD and ASD.

Liz found the path to financial planning while attending national disability conferences held in the DC area when she was a live-in care giver and member of L’Arche home. Each conference, parents and siblings had the questions of how to keep lifeline benefits in-tact. At each conference, she met very few people who did not have a family member with a diagnosis. She grew frustrated that not enough people were doing the work to educate families and lift the earning potential of ready to work people who receive government benefits.

Liz grew up along shoreline Connecticut, where her family still resides.

Kerry joins Planning Across the Spectrum as a Financial Planner. She graduated with a degree in Animal Science from UMass-Amherst in 2010. After a variety of experiences ranging from emergency veterinary clinics to hospitality management and insurance, she combined her desire to help people with a passion for numbers which ultimately led her to the world of financial planning.

Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Kerry utilizes her intense focus to identify common barriers to financial success and combines a passion for planning with an understanding of people and their goals to create holistic plans for special needs families.

When not working at Planning Across the Spectrum, Kerry enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her dog, Bodhi. Recently returning to Massachusetts after spending six years in the mountains of northern Utah, she considers both states home.

Robert Dillard has been involved in the insurance industry since 2007. Robert chose to focus on property and casualty insurance before discovering a passion for advanced planning through life insurance.

Because of his own struggles with dyslexia and his son’s autism spectrum diagnosis, Robert has realized a great need for knowledgeable professionals to help neurodivergent individuals and their families navigate the complex and often frustrating world of insurance.

Robert continuously strives to fill this need and ensure that those he serves are taken care of no matter the situation. In his free time Robert is usually with his wife, son, and two dogs, Abby and Daisy. They enjoy spending time outdoors, swimming, visiting aquariums, and hiking.

Katie joined Planning Across the Spectrum as the Direct of Client Services. With her associates degree and five years of working with individuals with disabilities, she is excited to expand her horizons with Planning Across The Spectrum.

Since 2003, Katie, along with her family have taken in and cared for countless foster children. This is where she realized that she wanted to be able to make a difference in the world. She learned everything she could about caring and advocating for people and took that with her into the professional world. Starting in an assisted living home working with the elderly, Katie then moved to working in group homes. The last five years have been spent caring for, assisting, and advocating for the individuals in her care.

When not working, Katie enjoys traveling with her husband; Arizona is her favorite. She also enjoys taking her two dogs, Phoenix and Scout, on long walks.

Shannon Caissie (she/her or they/them) is a credit counselor in Barkhamsted, Connecticut, certified by the NACCC to educate others on the workings of credit scoring and reporting, as well as basic money management.

Her special interest in the credit scoring system and financial literacy in general is partly inspired by growing up watching her mother navigate feeding a family of 7 on a single low income. Today, she recognizes how little most people know about finances even years after entering the world of loans, mortgages, and credit scoring. Her goal is to change that, one family at a time.

Diagnosed with autism as an adult, she has experience with the difficulties of moving through school, life, and a career in retail without proper support, but now wishes to help others in similar situations reach stability. In her free time, Shannon enjoys watching Star Trek with her partner Evan and talking about chicken behaviorism to anyone who will listen.

Jillian Noyes is a Connecticut-based filmmaker, writer, designer, and advocate for mental health and autism related issues. Her passion lies in crafting stories about oft-marginalized communities—in particular, the disabled community. To that end, she writes candidly about her own experiences as an autistic woman for our blog and serves as its editor. She also designs graphics for our social media and compiles resources for our monthly newsletter.

Jillian holds a B.A. in Film Studies and Philosophy from Connecticut College. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, singing, playing board games with friends, and spending time with her two dogs.