Teacher Benefit Strategies, LLC

the teacher guy, Jim

Partner and co-founder, James Collier Jr., taught in the Pennsylvania school system for 14 years before making the career change to focus on helping educators navigate through their benefits and plan for their future. While teaching, he became very involved in his local association serving as Lead Negotiator, Grievance Chairperson and Vice President. As his time became increasingly consumed with resolving teacher issues, Jim discovered his true passion lay in working with, and for, his fellow teachers. In 2007 he "retired" from teaching and later co-founded Teacher Benefit Strategies, LLC. Jim earned his undergraduate degree from Penn State University and in 2012, earned a Certificate in Retirement Planning from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His wife, Jami, is certified as an ESL teacher at the Lancaster County CTC and together they live in Lititz, PA with their two children.

Jim holds the FINRA Series 7 (General Securities) and Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law) securities licenses.

You may verify his licenses and credentials on FINRA's BrokerCheck website. 

the planner guy, greg

Partner and co-founder, Gregory Knisely CFP®, is also a life-long Lancastrian and Penn State graduate. Studying Economics, Business, and International Studies, he earned his undergraduate degree in 2009. Greg was recruited to work at a large investment and insurance company where he met and soon began working jointly with Jim. Over the course of a year, they came up with a business plan, and in late 2011 they formally organized “Teacher Benefit Strategies, LLC.” Three years later, Greg completed his financial planning studies through the Dalton Education program at New York University, which ranged on subjects from income tax strategy and estate planning to investments, insurance, and qualified retirement plans. In the summer of 2014, Greg was invited to attend an educational event hosted by the Harvard Faculty Club in Cambridge, Massachusetts to gain a deeper understanding of asset allocation, wealth advisory strategies, portfolio management and the development of effective client relationships.

Greg has attained the designation of Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner after passing the rigorous 10-hour comprehensive exam as administered by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. He also holds the FINRA Series 7 (General Securities) and Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law) securities licenses.

You may verify his licenses and credentials on FINRA's BrokerCheck website. 

operations, jordan

Sr. Financial Operations Manager, Jordan Draude CFP®, is another lifelong Lancaster County resident. He attended Manheim Township School District and earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Arcadia University. Jordan was an avid baseball player throughout his education and served as the captain of the University team for his sophomore through senior years.

He holds the FINRA Series 7 license which allows him to buy and sell mutual funds, as well as stocks, bonds & ETFs, making it more convenient for our clients to contribute and distribute funds from their investment accounts and to rebalance portfolios as needed. In 2022, he completed the financial education program through the University of Texas at Austin and passed the comprehensive exam to attain the Certified Financial Planner™ designation.

You may verify his licenses and credentials on FINRA's BrokerCheck website. 

paraplanner, todd

office assistant, AMBER

Amber Cavins is an Office Assistant for Teacher Benefit Strategies. Her role is to provide clerical support to our team and clients. A native Lancastrian and graduate of Ephrata High School, Amber has acquired her skillset through her diverse vocational experience in promotional modeling, manufacturing engineering, and school transportation. Additionally, she has been trained and certified as a Personal Development Coach from Achieve Today Coaching.

Amber currently resides in Lancaster and enjoys a variety of interests including art and music. She is also passionate about serving others, and she looks forward to serving you here at TBS!

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, TRUDY

Trudy Doolittle is an Administrative Assistant for the Teacher Benefit Strategies team.  She received her B.A. from West Virginia University and has spent the last several years in various capacities for a local school district in Lancaster County.

 Her favorite and most important job, however, is wife to Don and mother to her two, now-grown children.  She looks forward to meeting and serving the clientele of TBS!