Shifting gears: New drivers of potential market expansion

Don’t miss our next webcast premiering on June 23 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Expert panelists will share ideas that can help you prepare for potential opportunities and risks in the second half of 2026 and beyond.

Save the date

Financial Guidance to Help Reduce Tax Surprises, Simplify Cash Flow, and Invest with a Plan. I primarily focus on two groups: 1. NYC Big Law Attorneys and Partners 2. Pre-retirees and Retirees in Essex, Morris, and Union Counties

Jeremiah Hooker

Financial Advisor

51 John F Kennedy Pkwy

Floor 03

Short Hills NJ 07078

(973) 912.3025

Learn more about an advisor's background on

ProfileAbout MeInsightsAbout Merrill

Profile

I help two groups get organized and confident about their money: NYC Big Law attorneys and pre-retirees/retirees in Northern New Jersey (Essex, Morris, and Union Counties). The focus is simple: reduce tax surprises, simplify cash flow, and invest with a plan you can stick to. Whether you’re juggling Big Law compensation or planning the next 20–30 years of retirement, you don’t need more noise. You need a clear plan.

For Big Law

If you’re an associate, counsel, or partner in Big Law, cookie-cutter advice doesn’t fit. Bonuses, K-1s, capital accounts, and investment income can create messy cash flow and April tax shocks. I help Big Law attorneys build a simple, tax-aware financial plan so money feels organized and intentional all year. Personal note: My wife practices at an Am Law 100 firm, so I see firsthand how bonus timing, billable pressure, and tax surprises affect your finances. The most common pain points I see: unclear bonus allocations, ad‑hoc investing decisions, and missed retirement contributions that trigger avoidable taxes.

For Pre-retirees and Retirees in Northern New Jersey

If you’re five to ten years from retirement, or perhaps you're already there, you’re likely asking: Can I retire? Can I stay retired? How do I create a reliable paycheck from my savings? I help you turn those questions into a plan: map your retirement income, coordinate tax‑efficient withdrawals, optimize Social Security for your situation, and align investments with your withdrawal strategy. We’ll also evaluate Roth conversions with Medicare and IRMAA in mind to minimize lifetime taxes, and coordinate with your CPA/tax preparer to execute properly.

What Clients Can Expect

1. Clear communication: Replies within one business day and proactive check-ins.

2. Planning first: Written plans with action steps and accountability.

3. Fee transparency: Plain-English Explanations of costs before you hire us.

Credibility

-CFP® practitioner

-Serving NYC Big Law attorneys since 2022; 4+ years in practice

-Based in Short Hills, NJ; serving Essex, Morris, and Union Counties

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).

Click "Get in touch" to book a 15-Minute Clarity Call.

Prefer email? Contact me at jeremiah.hooker@ml.com or 973-912-3025.

About Me

What We Help Big Law Attorneys With

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

What We Help Pre-retirees and Retirees in New Jersey With

1. Retirement Income Plans: Map your monthly "paycheck" from pensions, Social Security, IRAs/Roths, and brokerage accounts including from what account and when. 2. Tax\-Aware Withdrawals: Sequencing from IRAs, Roths, and taxable accounts to help reduce lifetime tax liabilities and avoid April surprises. 3. Social Security Timing: File at the right time for your situation, not just a general rule of thumb. 4. Roth Conversions: Evaluating the benefits of converting traditional money to Roth, and recommendations for amounts and timing. 5. RMD Planning: Proactively lowering RMD amounts through planning early in retirement and aligning distributions to your spending and tax plan 6. Chartiable Giving: Helping evaluate what role giving plays in your legacy and implementing tax\-efficient strategies for giving 7. Investment Planning: Matching your risk tolerance to your withdrawal strategy, and asset location recommendations for which types of investments go in which accounts 8. Estate and Legacy Coordination: Align beneficiary designations and titling with your plan (in coordination with your attorney and CPA as appropriate).

How Our Process Works

1. Clarity Intro 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 Discovery 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 track your plan and investment strategy. We also coordinate with your CPA or tax preparer to keep them in the loop.

FAQs

###### 1. Do I have to move assets over to talk with you? * No. The intro and initial meetings are about fit and education. No obligations. ###### 2. What are your fees? * We charge a simple, tiered annual fee based on assets we manage as follows: * 1.50% annually on assets up to $499,999 * 1.25% annually on assets from $500,00 to $999,999 * 1.00% annually on assets above $1,000,000 * Fees are calculated and billed monthly and deducted directly from your managed account(s). ###### 3. Do you coordinate with my CPA/Attorneys? * Yes, especially around bonuses and when estimated tax payments are due. ###### 4. Are meetings in person or virtual? * That's your choice. I'm happy to meet in person or on Zoom ###### 5. How can I connect with you? * You can fill out the "Get in Touch" form at the top of this page. Alternatively, you can email me at jeremiah.hooker@ml.com or call me directly at 973\-912\-3025.

Insights

Market Decode: Focus on trendlines, not headlines

8 key retirement deadlines you won’t want to miss

three men having a split screen discussion

Let’s get physical: Artificial intelligence’s next frontier

two men sitting across from each other facing the camera

New market driver: Scarce supply, big demand

man and woman looking down reviewing papers

5 questions when drafting your trust

Will the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’ transform the Markets?

About Merrill

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.