Jeremiah Hooker
If you are an associate or partner in Big Law, your finances likely don't fit in with cookie-cutter advice. Compensation plans with bonuses, K-1s, capital accounts, and investment income can create messy cash flow and April surprises. I help NYC Big Law attorneys and Partners build a simple, tax-aware financial plan so money feels organized and intentional all year.
My wife practices at an Am Law 100 firm, so I see firsthand how bonus timing, billable pressure, and tax surprises affect your finances. Over the years, I've noticed the same paint points: unclear bonus allocations, ad-hoc investing decisions, and lack of retirement contributions creating tax surprises in April.
How Our Process Works
1. Clarity Call (15 minutes): We confirm fit and your top money concerns. I'll outline how we help you make an informed decision about working with a financial advisor - no pressure.
2. Initial meeting (1 hour): Nothing to buy and no documents to sign. You'll ask questions and I'll learn more about your goals and current setup. If there's still a fit, you can choose to have us prepare a free, no-obligation analysis for you.
3. Recommendations Meeting (1 Hour): Before you pay a dollar in fees or move assets, we want to show you exactly what we'd do and why. You'll see clear, prioritized recommendations.
4. Ongoing Coordination: Semi-annual meetings, plus quarterly touchpoints, to monitor your plan and investment strategy. We also coordinate with your CPA or tax preparer to keep them in the loop.
What Clients Can Expect
1. Fewer tax surprises: Proactive set-asides tied to your actual income pattern
2. Cleaner Cash Flow: Automatic transfers to Tax, Reserves, and Goals buckets as appropriate
3. Retirement, your way: Scenarios for partnership track, in-house moves, or relocation
Credibility
-CFP® practitioner
-Serving NYC Big Law attorneys and partners since 2022; 4+ years in practice
When I'm not helping my clients, you'll find me playing golf or spending time with my church community. I live in Short Hills, and cheer for Detroit sports teams (I grew up in East Grand Rapids, Michigan).
Get in touch to book a 15-Minute Big Law Clarity Call.
Prefer email? Contact me at jeremiah.hooker@ml.com or 973-912-3025.
- How to allocate bonus payments and coordinating with CPAs to cover estimated taxes
- Backdoor Roths and 401(k) strategies
- Asset Location and tax-aware investing with a mind toward after-tax returns
- Student loan repayment strategies
- Avoiding the trap of lifestyle creep that can cause you to feel stuck in your high income job
- Preparing financially for what's next, whether it's a partner track, in-house move, or relocation
- Identifying investment strategies that will help you grow your net worth in your early years
- Simplifying and streamlining the financial decisions that help you grow your net worth and avoid tax surprises
- For Partners, implement a cash flow system to provide liquidty for tax payments and capital contributions
Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life
The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.
