Leadership Team
Cheryl Robertson, JD – President and Founder
Cheryl graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She received her J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law, where she was proud to have served as Managing Editor of the Roger Williams University Law Review and was pleased to have been selected as a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Upon graduation, Cheryl began her legal career as an Associate with a labor and employment firm in Boston, Massachusetts and subsequently opened a private practice in Providence, Rhode Island. Cheryl stepped away from the practice of law upon the birth of her first child and stayed home for the next 10 years raising what grew to be her delightful family of five children.
Upon returning to the workforce, Cheryl took the steps necessary to become a licensed financial services professional and quickly realized the vast majority of current and prospective retirees did not have access to the advice and resources required to make an educated decision on, what in most cases, will prove to be one of the most critical financial decisions they’ll ever make; when and how to claim Social Security retirement benefits. To that end, she utilized her finely honed legal skills to research, design and author an educational platform to do just that: provide advisors with the information, tools, skills and ongoing support they need to become experts in building retirement income plans founded on the guarantees of Social Security. In 2013, the Corporation for Social Security Claiming Strategies was formed and one year later, A Comprehensive Guide to Social Security Retirement Benefits and Social Security Claiming Strategies was launched endeavoring to provide advisors with the knowledge necessary to advise clients on the intricacies of the Social Security system and teach them to utilize that information as the foundation for retirement income plans sustainable throughout their client’s lifetime and beyond.
In addition to being a Bar admitted attorney, Cheryl holds her MA life and health insurance licenses. In her spare time Cheryl enjoys spending time with her family and cheering on her beloved New England Patriots.
Andrew Robertson – Head of Business Development and Training
As our Head of Business Development and Training, Andy spends his days working with coaching and training some of the most accomplished, independent, retirement planning professionals in the country. Together, they introduce retiring Americans to the true power of one of the greatest retirement programs in existence today, Social Security. His complete understanding of Social Security’s unique ability to combat the erosive effects longevity, inflation and taxes have on one’s retirement capital is the key to teaching retirement advisors how to build fortified retirement income plans that minimize the likelihood their clients will run out of money during their lifetime. With the vast majority of American households likely to fall short of their retirement savings goals, Andy recognizes successful retirement income planners must utilize their knowledge, training and tools to embrace the complexity of Social Security planning and leverage its ability to salvage middle America’s retirement dreams.
In addition to his work at CSSCS, Andy is the creator and architect of Social Security Optimization, a cutting-edge approach to Social Security planning, Founder and President of Capital Indemnity Group and Red Zone Wealth Management and the author of numerous pieces on retirement income planning and the importance of avoiding asset evaporation.
Andy is a 1990 graduate of Northeastern University where, as a student athlete, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics while excelling on the gridiron. In his spare time, Andy is an avid sports fan and has enjoyed great success as a coach for his hometown Pop Warner Football program which has won several regional championships and competed for the National Championship at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Most of all, Andy enjoys spending time with his wife Cheryl and their five children.
Stephanie Burkland – Lead Social Security Expert
Stephanie Burkland has worked in the Social Security claims arena for over 35 years. Her first 25 years were spent as an award winning Social Security Administration claims representative earning sixteen “Recognition of Contribution” awards, four “Superior Performance” awards, one “Special Act of Service” award and regularly recognized by her superiors as, “a motivating influence to other Social Security Administration employees!”
After her distinguished career with the Social Security Administration, Stephanie worked as a Social Security benefits advocate for numerous private sector firms. Once again, Stephanie’s performance was exceptional as evidenced by the numerous awards and recognition she received from her corporate and individual clients. These awards include the prestigious “Extra Mile” award given by the Mental Health Association of Westchester, New York.
In addition to the recognition she received for her advocacy work by her clients and even while working in the private section, Stephanie was also recognized by the Social Security Administration for her efforts to expose a systemic flaw in the claims paying procedures for certain beneficiaries. Her work resulted in a NATIONWIDE refresher training of all Social Security Administration payment center benefit analysts.
As an award winning, front line, hands-on, Social Security expert, Stephanie is uniquely qualified to lead our in-house team of experts in their efforts to meet the ongoing needs of our membership.