Our Team

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Andrea Burckhard

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Grant F. Burckhard

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Matt Harper

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Judy Cunningham

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Lisa Smith

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Terry Burckhard

Andrea Burckhard

Andrea V. Burckhard, LUTCF®, CAP®, CLTC®, Agent with New York Life Insurance Company, has operated her own practice since 2007, in Cookeville, TN and services the Middle Tennessee and surrounding area. Andrea V. Burckhard earned the LUTCF®, CAP®, and CLTC® designations through the American College in a short period of time and is a NAIFA member. Andrea has been in the business world for thirty years, living and working in Brussels Belgium from 1986 through 1999. Andrea began her career in sales and marketing throughout Europe in the office equipment and supplies industry and set up successful distribution channels in thirty five countries. Andrea returned to the United States in 1999, taking a short sabbatical at her parents’ home and decided that she wanted to begin a new chapter in her life as the Executive Director of the Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce, specializing in regional tourism, economic development and relationship building. In 2000, Andrea got married to husband Terry and in 2001, gave birth to her twin boys, Grant and Blake. In July 2007, Andrea decided to make another change in her life and joined the Knoxville General Office of New York Life Insurance Company , opening an office in Byrdstown, TN. In late 2011 she decided to move her business practice and family to Cookeville, TN. where she has an office in downtown Cookeville, on the historic square.

Andrea brings forth with her, acquired creditability based on her unique and diverse experiences that have proved invaluable to her small business clients, high net worth professionals, business executives, and families. Combining the use of a macro-financial process with Lifetime Wealth Strategies model (which blends investment and insurance decisions together), Andrea’s clients benefit from more efficient and cost effective techniques to achieve their identified goals. Andrea believes that, “the greatest challenge people face in today’s financial environment is trying to realize all of their financial objectives with finite resources. So in essence, we look for strategic positioning and movement of money to accomplish a client’s objectives.” Andrea’s mission is to help her clients, Organize. Plan. Protect...their Future by envisioning,creating and implementing strategies that can help achieve benefits in the areas of wealth accumulation, tax savings**, legacy and estate planning, and improved protection strategies for a more enjoyable financial life.

Andrea maintains her insurance and securities license and is a Qualified Member of the Million Dollar Round Table2011-2019,(MDRT - MDRT is recognized throughout the industry as the standard of excellence in life insurance sales performance.). Andrea is also a member of the Board of Directors of WIFS, 2013-2019, (Women in Financial Services) NYC Chapter, TTU Friends of the Library, IMPACT, CRMC Foundation and is a member of the Rotary Club. Ms Burckhard was awarded the “Rotarian of the Year” in 2013, along with numerous other awards she has received over the years.

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Terry Burckhard

Terry Burckhard, took his New York Life retirement contract on January 1, 2020. Prior to that he was an integral part of the Burckhard Financial Group team specializing in worksite benefits. Terry had been working with families, professionals and business owners in the Cookeville and Upper Cumberland Region.

After a stroke in May 2019, Terry’s focus has been on his rehabilitation and regaining his mobility.

Before he joined New York Life, Terry worked in the automotive industry for thirty years in purchasing, materials management and capital equipment for Hutchinson FTS of North America. Owned and operated Dale Hollow Marketing Group, a publishing company for five years, which was sold in 2011 to a local Cookeville businessman.

Terry graduated with a BA in History from Minot University, from his hometown of Minot, North Dakota.

Terry is married to his wife and partner, Andrea, and they have twin boys Grant and Blake. Blake attends MTSU University and majors in digital production and business. Grant is a senior at Cookeville High School. Terry also has three older sons, with five beautiful grandchildren. Terry was an avid tennis and pickle ball player and loves travel and spending time with his family.

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Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith is our newest employee. She grew up a navy brat and spent most of her time in Mississippi and Alabama, with a few short stints out of the country. As you can imagine growing up in a military family, she moved around often. In 2013 Lisa took a leap of faith… she moved from Georgia to Cookeville Tn. to take care of her sister. For the last 8 years she worked for Lowes helping customers replumb and remodel their homes. Prior to working at Lowes, she was an insurance agent. She also worked as a substitute teacher and owned her own retail business. She considers herself a Jane of all trades and comes by that naturally as her mother always had a project or 2 going at their house.

Lisa now lives in a cabin in Byrdstown surrounded by beautiful Tennessee woods and water. What more could a country girl ask for?

She is very excited to join the Burckhard family, and looks forward to learning and meeting all of you who put your trust into Andrea, Terry, and Grant.

Grant F. Burckhard

Grant Fabian Burckhard is a talented young entrepreneur. He has grown up surrounded by the family insurance business, seeing firsthand how insurance professionals conduct proper business. Insurance is not just a word to Grant. He has witnessed the benefit of long-term care insurance within his own family when a debilitating stroke struck his father, Terry when Grant was just 18 years old. He saw the caring extended care plan that the family had in place which allowed for care givers during the day so his mom, Andrea could continue to work.

Prior to becoming an agent with New York Life, Grant attended Tennessee Technological University and operated his own businesses including, small engine repair, property management maintenance and fish taxidermy. Always interested in helping others, he has also volunteered at Hanna Manna’s a therapeutic horse-riding program for special needs children.

Grant loves the outdoors and enjoys boating, fishing, and hanging out with his twin brother, Blake. His talents also extend to the kitchen, where he took 2nd place in a statewide culinary cook-off with his Cookeville High School culinary arts team!

Hardworking and dedicated, Grant is proud to continue the family legacy as he joins the multigenerational New York Life team.

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Matt Harper

Lifelong Knoxville resident, Matt Harper, earned his Certified Financial Planner designation and has been wtih Eagle Strategies LLC and New York Life since 2002. He knows how to assemble a winning team of professionals, resources, and financial instruments to help manage your future.

Teamwork is something very familiar to Matt. He played baseball for Farragut High School, and then in college for Carson Newman University while majoring in Finance. After graduating he realized his lifelong dream of playing Major League Baseball when he was selected by the Anaheim Angels in 1999. Because of his sports background Matt knows the importance of teamwork, planning, and action.

He began his career in financial services with The Horace Mann Company and soon joined Eagle Strategies LLC, where he remains today. Matt works with a diverse client base. He counts among his many clients, school teachers, small business owners, and retirees. Protective and hard working, Matt keeps his client's best interests and goals in mind when financial planning. His office is conveniently located in Franklin Square in West Knoxville.

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Judy Cunningham

Judy joined Matt Harper as his Marketing & Operations Manager in 2017. She holds a BBA in Marketing and is a former music industry executive and owned and operated her own music promotion company in the mid 90's. She also has a broad range of business experience, having worked in sales and marketing within the restaurant, financial services, and retail industries. She admires Andrea’s exceptional commitment to client service and is thrilled be a part of this team.

Judy and her family reside in Knoxville, TN.

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Kansas Redmon

Kansas is a junior Marketing Major at Tennessee Technological University and joined Andrea’s staff in September 2020. While in school, she created her own business venture, an online thrift clothing website. In joining Andrea’s team, she is eager to learn more about business and to gain practical experience in the real work environment.