Andrew eventually left teaching full-time as he began realizing his true calling was helping other teachers understand and utilize their benefits. He made this career change after working part-time for his father, Michael Kerper, who has 40 years of experience in the financial services industry and is CEO of Federal Prep, a financial advisory firm specializing in federal benefits. There Andrew saw firsthand how those working in the public sector could retire advantageously by planning early and choosing their benefits wisely. He says, “Teacher Prep is a firm based around the principle of educating our hard-working teachers about their employment benefits while they’re working, as well as how their benefits work out of employment during retirement. We specialize in catering to the specific needs of teacher to create custom financial plans that are comprehensive, yet understandable. We know our teachers work hard, well beyond the call of duty, and barely have enough time to create lesson plans of their own, so we lift the burden of creating lesson plans towards their financial futures.”

Andrew stresses that Teacher Prep is committed to each client’s success by catering to individual client needs, and what he most enjoys about working with teachers is feeling like he’s back in the classroom himself.

“At Teacher Prep, we tell people that our main objective is to educate, educate, and educate. We also explain that helping teachers includes helping them understand their benefits in and out of service. Our approach is different because we are not here to push anything on anyone, or twist arms. We are fiduciaries, and we are here to help, plain and simple. We aren’t here to make you do business with us. We only recommend what is in your best interests,” Andrew says. “My goal as a financial advisor is to ensure the trust and establish the type of relationship that resembles the teacher to student relationship. A plan comes together when we work together. Each client is different, and each person has their own goals and needs. I speak teacher!”

Andrew was born and raised in Long Island, New York. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education and his Master of Music Education (MMEd) from George Mason University.

In his free time, Andrew coaches varsity golf at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas and he serves as a clinician for local choirs. He enjoys golfing, making music, and travel.