Attorney Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA®: Wealth Management and Financial Planning in California

Welcome to the vibrant and diverse landscape of California, where innovation meets tradition, and where the Pacific Ocean kisses the golden shores. I am Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA®, a Senior Financial Advisor with over 15 years of experience in wealth management, estate planning, and financial planning. My journey began with a B.S. in Biology from Southeastern Louisiana University, followed by a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. My professional path has been enriched by my time at Merrill Lynch, where I earned my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, and later, the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation through the Yale School of Management.

California, with its bustling cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, is a hub of economic activity and cultural diversity. Here, the need for tailored financial advisory services is paramount, and I am honored to offer my expertise to meet these local market needs. My commitment is to build legacies for generations, ensuring that your financial strategies are as dynamic and resilient as the state itself.

As a fiduciary, I am legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interests, managing your wealth with the utmost care and diligence. My services extend nationwide, catering to clients with multiple residences and those who travel extensively, yet my focus remains deeply rooted in the unique financial landscape of California.

Our Services

Estate Planning
In the heart of California’s diverse legal environment, we collaborate with a team of professionals, including attorneys, trustees, and CPAs, to ensure your estate plan aligns with your financial goals and reflects your current wishes.

Wealth Management
Every investment recommendation is grounded in conservative financial planning, ensuring your portfolio aligns with your values and goals. Our approach is designed to earn its place in your financial strategy.

Settlement Planning
We emphasize the superiority of financial planning and traditional wealth management over structured settlements. The numbers speak for themselves, even after taxes, providing clarity and confidence for clients and attorneys alike.

Windfall Planning
Strategic tax planning, retirement planning, and alternative investments are key when managing sudden cash flow surges. We integrate these opportunities into your comprehensive financial plan for lasting prosperity.

Lottery Planning
Winning the lottery is a life-changing event. We offer the expertise to protect your newfound wealth, transforming it into a lasting legacy that benefits you and your family.

Tax Planning
Our tax planning services cover estate, gift, income, and capital gains taxes, as well as Roth conversions. We work closely with CPAs to implement optimal strategies, providing a clear, quantified picture of your financial future.

Retirement Planning
Whether you’re preparing for retirement or already enjoying it, we provide personalized guidance through all stages of life. Our experience ensures your financial security as you grow older and wiser.

Exit Planning
Transform your hard work into a lasting legacy with our comprehensive financial planning services. We help maximize your business’s value, minimize taxes, and preserve your legacy.

401(k) Optimization
Our services ensure your 401(k) aligns with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and retirement timeline. As a fiduciary CFP® professional, I provide holistic advice on your financial picture, even for assets I don’t manage.

Divorce Financial Planning
We offer expert guidance to help you make informed decisions during divorce, evaluating settlement options and creating a roadmap for financial independence.

Personal Divorce Strategist
As your dedicated advocate, I combine my legal and financial expertise to protect your interests during divorce. From asset valuation to wealth preservation, I ensure you make decisions based on facts, not emotions.

Inheritance Planning
In times of loss, we provide compassionate support to help you manage and administer estates effectively, assembling a team of reputable professionals to guide you through the process.

Our Firm’s Expertise

Specializing in portfolios over $1 million, we proudly serve clients across California and beyond. Our approach is rooted in personal attention and care, valuing the trust and opportunity given to us by our clients. We are affiliated with esteemed organizations such as the Houston Association of Women Attorneys, Houston Estate and Financial Forum, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.

While our office is based in Houston, Texas, we are just a call away for our California clients. Please reach out to us at contact@attorneyamycfp.com or (512) 537-2221 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you build a legacy that stands the test of time.

Pre-and-Post Divorce Financial Planning in California with Attorney Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA®

Navigating the complexities of divorce can be daunting, especially in a state as diverse and economically vibrant as California. With its unique blend of cultures, landscapes, and lifestyles, California presents both opportunities and challenges when it comes to financial planning during and after a divorce. Attorney Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA®, brings her extensive expertise to help you manage these challenges with precision and care.

Introducing Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA® to California

Amy Zamikovsky is a Senior Financial Advisor at Transform Wealth, with over 15 years of experience in wealth management, estate planning, and financial planning. Her educational background includes a B.S. in Biology from Southeastern Louisiana University and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. Amy’s professional journey includes earning her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation at Merrill Lynch and her Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation through the Yale School of Management. As a licensed attorney in Texas, she leverages her legal acumen to craft tailored financial strategies that effectively build, preserve, and transfer wealth. Her passion for education and financial protection extends to teaching a State Bar of Texas CLE course on ethics, fiduciary duty, and legal settlement planning.

Divorce Financial Planning

Divorce can be a transformative experience, and we understand the emotional and financial complexities involved. Our approach is rooted in empathy and expertise, ensuring that you receive the guidance necessary to navigate this significant life change.

Fact-Finding

In California, where community property laws dictate the division of assets, understanding your financial landscape is crucial. We dedicate time to understanding your unique situation, ensuring that every aspect of your financial picture is clear. Our comprehensive approach provides clarity and confidence, empowering you during financial negotiations. Your personalized financial plan will serve as a robust foundation for your future, reflecting the diverse economic landscape of California.

Planning

California’s dynamic economy offers numerous opportunities for financial growth and independence. We develop customized financial strategies that align with your immediate needs and long-term goals. By focusing on both short-term stability and long-term prosperity, we illuminate the possibilities that lie ahead in your new phase of life.

Implementation

The implementation phase is where your financial transformation takes shape. We collaborate with your trusted legal and financial professionals to streamline your financial life, ensuring that our strategies are executed seamlessly. As your fiduciary, we prioritize your best interests, providing recommendations that are tailored to your unique circumstances.

Our Commitment to California

While our office is based in Houston, Texas, we proudly represent clients from around the world, including those in California. Our commitment is to provide unparalleled financial planning services that respect the diverse cultural and economic landscape of California. We are here to support you through every step of your financial journey, offering expertise that transcends geographical boundaries.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us:

Office Address
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
820 Gessner Road
Houston, Texas 77024

Email: contact@attorneyamycfp.com
Phone: (512) 537-2221

By choosing Attorney Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA®, you are selecting a partner who understands the intricacies of California’s financial landscape and is dedicated to helping you achieve financial security and independence.

California Lottery Winners: Secure Your Dreams with Strategic Wealth Management from Attorney Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA®

Congratulations, California Lottery Winners!

You’ve just hit the jackpot in the Golden State, where dreams are as vast as the Pacific Ocean and as vibrant as the bustling streets of Los Angeles. Your life is about to transform in ways you’ve only imagined, but amidst the excitement and euphoria of sudden wealth, you face critical decisions that will impact your financial security for generations. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Certified Private Wealth Advisor® professional, and attorney with over 15 years of experience guiding high-net-worth individuals, I’m here to help you navigate this thrilling yet overwhelming time with confidence and clarity.

Preserve Your Winnings

In California, where the cost of living is as high as the towering redwoods, safeguarding your newfound wealth is paramount. Without proper legal structures and financial strategies, your millions could be vulnerable to taxes, lawsuits, scams, and mismanagement. As your trusted advisor, I’ll help you:

  • Create a trust and estate plan to protect assets and minimize taxes, taking into account California’s unique tax landscape
  • Assemble a team of vetted attorneys, CPAs, and bankers familiar with California’s financial environment
  • Maintain your privacy and security amidst the celebrity culture of California
  • Manage incoming donation and investment requests with a strategic approach

Plan for a Lifetime of Wealth

Your jackpot doesn’t have to be a one-time cash bonanza; with savvy planning, it can be the seed money for growing lifelong wealth. Drawing on my extensive experience as a CFP® professional and CPWA® professional, I’ll craft a personalized wealth management plan to help you:

  • Define your short and long-term lifestyle and legacy goals, whether it’s a Malibu beach house or a vineyard in Napa Valley
  • Invest for optimal growth, income, and capital preservation in California’s dynamic economy
  • Maximize tax efficiency through strategic accounts and asset allocation, mindful of California’s tax implications
  • Secure your retirement with income-generating investments tailored to your California lifestyle
  • Establish trusts and gifts for future generations, ensuring your legacy endures

Give with Confidence

If philanthropy is one of your priorities, it is my personal pleasure to guide you on turning one-time gifts into enduring charitable vehicles. With the right tools, like donor-advised funds and family foundations, you can translate your values into impact and establish a giving legacy that inspires your family for generations. California, with its rich tradition of philanthropy, offers numerous opportunities to make a difference.

Enjoy Your Winnings

Now is the time to reward yourself and your loved ones! I’ll show you how to prudently earmark funds for a dream home, travel, a college fund, or that sports car you’ve always had your eye on. With a balanced approach, you can savor the fruits of your blessings while staying on track for long-term financial health. Whether it’s a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway or a getaway to the Sierra Nevada, your dreams are within reach.

Why Trust Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA®?

Hitting the jackpot thrusts you into the complex world of sudden wealth, where one wrong move could mean losing millions. You need a financial quarterback who understands the unique challenges of navigating an overnight fortune and has a track record of success with high-net-worth clients.

As a CFP® professional and CPWA® professional with over 15 years of experience, I’ve helped countless individuals and families translate sudden windfalls into lasting wealth. My background as an attorney also allows me to craft ironclad legal strategies to protect your assets from potential threats.

From the moment you claim your prize, I’ll be by your side as your personal CFO, investment expert, and legal advocate. I’ll filter the noise, educate you on your options, and always place your interests first so you can relax and enjoy your spectacular windfall with total peace of mind.

Your Best Day Ever Could Be Today

If you’re holding a golden ticket, don’t wait to plan for this life-changing event. Contact me for a complimentary, confidential consultation to discuss how I can help you maximize your winnings, minimize your stress, and secure the carefree future you deserve. There’s no better time to start planning for tomorrow than today.

We’re here for you every step of the way.

This is my location. Remember that we are just introducing ourselves to California, not implying that we’re located there nor moving there, only that we represent clients around the world, including but not limited to California.

Office Address
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
820 Gessner Road
Houston, Texas 77024

Email: contact@attorneyamycfp.com

Phone: (512) 537-2221

California Structured Attorney Fees: Why Deferral Costs Millions, Even After Taxes

You’ve just won a landmark case in California, securing a $1 million contingency fee. A structured settlement broker might suggest deferring your fee into a “tax-advantaged” annuity. It sounds appealing, but is it truly the best financial decision? For most attorneys, even those in the highest tax bracket, the answer is a resounding no. Here’s why savvy trial lawyers partner with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional to analyze the numbers before making a decision.

The True Cost of Deferral

Imagine you’re in the top federal tax bracket of 37%. On a $1 million fee, that translates to a $370,000 tax bill if you take it as a lump sum. Painful, right? But let’s compare investing the remaining $630,000 versus deferring the full $1 million over 20 years:

Scenario 1: Invest $630K Lump Sum

  • 6% annual return: $2.0 million in 20 years
  • 8% annual return: $2.9 million in 20 years

Scenario 2: Defer $1M as $50K/Year for 20 Years

  • Total payments: $1 million
  • Net result after 20 years: $1 million

The difference is striking. Even after paying $370,000 in taxes, you end up with $1 to $1.9 million more by taking the lump sum and investing it! And the benefits only increase over time. Over 30 years at 8%, the lump sum grows to $6.4 million after tax, compared to just $1.5 million with deferral.

Lost Opportunity and Liquidity

Beyond the substantial wealth gap, a lump sum provides invaluable liquidity and leverage. Need funds for a lucrative investment or unexpected expense? You can access a securities-based loan. Banks typically won’t lend against deferred fees. Want to adjust your investments or estate plan? Unfortunately, your money is locked up with deferral.

More Tax-Efficient Growth

What about the “tax-free growth” that structured settlement companies often promote? With strategic planning, you can significantly outperform deferral after taxes:

  • Maximize contributions to pre-tax retirement plans for tax-deferred growth
  • Contribute after-tax dollars to a Roth IRA for tax-free growth
  • Allocate assets tax-efficiently across different account types
  • Harvest tax losses to offset gains
  • Take advantage of the lower long-term capital gains rate

A skilled CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, especially a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® professional, can help you craft a far more tax-smart strategy than the blunt deferral method.

The Hidden Fees

Another pitfall of deferral is hidden commissions. Structured settlement brokers often take 4% or more off the top. On a $1 million fee, that’s $40,000 of your money gone—an amount that could grow to $452,593 over 30 years at 8%! In contrast, you can invest your lump sum in low-cost index funds for a fraction of the fees.

Don’t Defer Without Professional Analysis

Before considering a structured settlement proposal, consult with an experienced CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional to model your unique scenario. Chances are, you’ll find that the compounding effect of investing your after-tax lump sum far outweighs any perceived benefits of deferral—even in the highest tax bracket.

If you’d like a personalized professional assessment of an upcoming fee decision, contact us today to see how we can help you maximize your hard-earned wealth.

This is My Location

Remember, we are introducing ourselves to California, not implying that we’re located there or moving there, only that we represent clients around the world, including but not limited to California.

Office Address

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
820 Gessner Road
Houston, Texas 77024

Email: contact@attorneyamycfp.com
Phone: (512) 537-2221

Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA® is a Senior Financial Advisor at Transform Wealth with over 15 years of combined experience in wealth management, estate planning, and financial planning. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Southeastern Louisiana University and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. While working at Merrill Lynch, Amy earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation and went on to earn her Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation through the Yale School of Management. As an experienced Attorney and Counselor at Law in the State of Texas, Amy uses her legal expertise to build customized financial strategies that efficiently build, preserve, and transfer wealth. Amy is passionate about educating and financially protecting the public. She developed and teaches a State Bar of Texas CLE course to attorneys interested in learning more about ethics, fiduciary duty, and legal settlement planning.

Moving Forward with Attorney Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA®: Wealth Management and Financial Planning in California! We’re Here for You!

Welcome to the vibrant and diverse state of California, where innovation meets opportunity. As you navigate the complexities of financial planning and wealth management, we are here to guide you with expertise tailored to the unique landscape of the Golden State. California, known for its dynamic economy and cultural richness, offers a wealth of opportunities for those seeking to optimize their financial future.

Why Choose Tax-Planned Financial Planning in California?

In California, where the cost of living and taxation can be significant, strategic tax-planned financial planning is not just beneficial—it’s essential. By focusing on tax efficiency, we help you maximize your wealth while minimizing liabilities. Unlike structured settlements, which may offer limited flexibility, our approach is grounded in the numbers. We let the math guide us, ensuring that every decision is data-driven and aligned with your financial goals.

Introducing Amy Zamikovsky, JD, CFP®, CPWA® to California

Amy Zamikovsky, a Senior Financial Advisor at Transform Wealth, brings over 15 years of experience in wealth management, estate planning, and financial planning. With a B.S. in Biology from Southeastern Louisiana University and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, Amy’s journey is marked by a commitment to excellence. Her credentials as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and Certified Private Wealth Advisor® professional, earned through the Yale School of Management, reflect her dedication to providing top-tier financial advice.

While Amy’s legal expertise is rooted in Texas, her financial acumen extends nationwide, including California. Her passion for educating and financially protecting the public is evident in her development of a State Bar of Texas CLE course focused on ethics, fiduciary duty, and legal settlement planning.

Our Specialty Services in California

Estate Planning

In California, where property values and estate taxes can significantly impact your legacy, we collaborate with your team of professionals—attorneys, trustees, administrators, and CPAs—to ensure your estate plan is robust and reflective of your wishes.

Wealth Management

Our investment recommendations are grounded in conservative financial planning principles. We ensure your portfolio aligns with your goals and values, providing peace of mind in the ever-evolving California market.

Settlement Planning

Even in the face of California’s complex legal landscape, our financial planning and traditional wealth management strategies often surpass the benefits of structured products. We let the math speak for itself, ensuring you make informed decisions.

Windfall and Lottery Planning

California’s vibrant economy can lead to unexpected financial windfalls. Whether through inheritance, business success, or lottery winnings, we provide strategic planning to integrate these surges into your financial framework, ensuring lasting prosperity.

Tax Planning

Navigating California’s tax landscape requires expertise. From estate taxes to capital gains, our tax planning strategies offer a clear, quantified path forward, working in tandem with CPAs for optimal implementation.

Retirement and Exit Planning

Whether you’re preparing for retirement or planning an exit strategy from your business, our comprehensive services help you maximize value and preserve your legacy in California’s competitive environment.

401(k) Optimization

Our 401(k) optimization services ensure your retirement accounts are aligned with your broader financial goals, taking into account California’s unique economic conditions.

Divorce Financial Planning and Personal Divorce Strategist

Divorce can be particularly complex in California, where community property laws prevail. As your Personal Divorce Strategist, Amy combines her legal and financial expertise to protect your interests, providing unbiased advocacy and strategic planning.

Inheritance Planning

In the wake of a loved one’s passing, we offer compassionate guidance to help you navigate the complexities of estate administration in California, ensuring your loved one’s wishes are honored.

Our Firm’s Expertise: Specializing in >$1M+ Portfolios

We cater to high-net-worth families, business owners, medical professionals, estate executors, and more. Our services are designed to meet the needs of those with significant assets, providing tailored strategies that reflect California’s unique financial landscape.

Nationwide Service with a California Focus

While our expertise spans the nation, we are proud to serve clients in California, offering insights and strategies that resonate with the state’s diverse and dynamic economy. Whether you’re a high-earning professional, a corporate executive, or a retiree, we are here to support your financial journey.

For personalized financial planning and wealth management services in California, contact us at:

Office Address
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
820 Gessner Road
Houston, Texas 77024

Email: contact@attorneyamycfp.com
Phone: (512) 537-2221

Let us help you build and sustain your financial legacy in California, where opportunity and innovation thrive.