Steven H. Lewis
Financial Advisor
slewis@orba.com
P 312.670.7444 | F 312.670.8301
Industries
Overview
Steve Lewis joined the firm in February 2006. He has been a registered investment advisor since 1988. Steve specializes in serving high income and high net worth individuals, including physicians, attorneys, professional athletes, consultants and other entrepreneurs.
As a registered investment advisor, Steve helps his clients find the answers they need to successfully reach their personal financial milestones, including proactive tax planning advice in order to minimize taxes, creating financial plans that maximize savings and retirement planning that ensures easier living in the future. His expertise as an investment advisor also allows him to be directly involved with investment and asset allocation planning.
Industries
Overview
Steve Lewis joined the firm in February 2006. He has been a registered investment advisor since 1988. Steve specializes in serving high income and high net worth individuals, including physicians, attorneys, professional athletes, consultants and other entrepreneurs.
As a registered investment advisor, Steve helps his clients find the answers they need to successfully reach their personal financial milestones, including proactive tax planning advice in order to minimize taxes, creating financial plans that maximize savings and retirement planning that ensures easier living in the future. His expertise as an investment advisor also allows him to be directly involved with investment and asset allocation planning.
Proactive
Steve prides himself on getting involved in all facets of a client’s financial life, offering lifelong guidance from their financial beginnings to retirement and beyond. Through one-on-one sessions, he works with his clients to understand and realize their short- and long-term goals. Steve also offers strategic wealth and investment planning services designed to accomplish these goals. Depending on their needs, he will even help clients stay on top of their financial obligations by managing their expenses and paying bills.
Steve was named a FIVE STAR Certified Public Accountant by Chicago magazine in 2014 and in 2015.
Outside of the Office
Away from the office, Steve plays golf and tennis as often as possible. He is also a loyal Bulls fan and a regular at the United Center. He is a voracious reader who prefers reading non-fiction and biographies on his Kindle.
Civic Activities
- Former Board Member, Cancer Wellness Center
- Former Board Member, ACLU
- Former Board Member, Chicago Commons
- Former Board Chairman, Opportunity, Inc.
Seminars & Events
- Becoming Your Parents’ Parent, Chicago, IL, February 15, 2017
- Important Financial Issues as You Age, ORBA, Chicago, IL, October 27, 2015
Honors & Awards
- Five Star Investment Professional 2014-2019
Education
- B.S., Business Administration, University of Wisconsin
Blogs
How to Make Market Volatility Your Friend
Recent market gyrations have made even strong-stomached investors a little queasy. In general, maintaining your positions in a well-diversified portfolio is the best response to such volatility. But there may be something else you can do: Use falling prices as an investment opportunity. Think long term Although overall stock prices have historically risen over time, […]
Using the 4% Rule to Make Retirement Fund Withdrawals
Determining how much of your retirement nest egg to withdraw each year can be stressful. You want to take out enough to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, yet the idea of running out of money is frightening. The 4% rule can help you determine your retirement fund withdrawal.
Beyond Benchmarks: Alternative Methods of Measuring Your Portfolio’s Results
This article looks at several ways to measure investment portfolio performance. The traditional method is to compare results with those of a relevant market index. However, some investors may be better off considering risk-adjusted results or even follow a goals-based approach.
Your Retirement Income Strategy: Conventional Wisdom on Withdrawals Is Not Always Right
For many retirement savers, developing an income strategy in retirement is an afterthought — putting them at risk of losing a significant chunk of their savings to taxes. This article explains why conventional wisdom regarding retirement withdrawals is not always correct and suggests alternative strategies that reflect individual needs. A Sidebar talks about maximizing the wealth that will be transferred to heirs.
Five Ways to Improve Client Relationships
For most lawyers, building and strengthening relationships with clients is an ongoing activity. Even the most personable and conscientious attorney experiences the occasional misunderstanding with a client — or even loses one for good. But there are several simple things attorneys can do immediately to build trust and promote client satisfaction.
Floating-Rate Bond Funds Offer an Alternative Yield Source
When interest rates rise, bond funds can suffer. Certain fixed-income investment strategies may help investors manage the risk. Floating-rate bond funds — also known as bank loan funds or senior loan funds — are one option to consider. This blog examines the benefits and the trade-offs.
Paralegals May Hold the Key to Profitability
Although the roles and responsibilities of paralegals (or legal assistants) can differ widely by firm, these employees ideally spend minimal time performing administrative work. By the same token, firms must be careful not to give their paralegals work that should be handled by lawyers. This article explains how to get this balance right.
Hybrid Securities Behave Like Bonds, Trade Like Equities
While discussions about stocks typically refer to common stocks, there’s also a second, less widely understood type of stock that straddles both the equity and bond world: preferred stocks. For equity investors motivated primarily by consistent, relatively high income payments, they may be worth a look.
How to Benchmark NPPs in Your Practice
Using nonphysician providers (NPPs) can be an effective way for practices to prepare for the expected influx of 30 million new patients receiving health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s new Health Insurance Marketplaces and expanded Medicaid programs.
Asset Valuations and Your Estate Plan Go Hand in Hand
If an estate plan calls for making noncash gifts in trust or outright to beneficiaries, it’s important to know the values of those gifts and disclose them to the IRS on a gift tax return. For substantial gifts of noncash assets other than marketable securities, it’s best to have a qualified appraiser value the gifts at the time of the transfer. If the IRS deems a valuation to be “insufficient,” it can revalue the property and assess additional taxes and interest.
Your Credit Score Counts! Achieving and Maintaining a Solid One
A credit score is a reflection of one’s creditworthiness. With a high credit score, it’s possible to realize lower interest rates on mortgage or auto loans and credit cards. This article explains what constitutes a good score, how to obtain a free credit report, and how to boost a score — or, for those with no credit history, how to build one.
Newsletters
Wealth Management Group Newsletter – Winter 2018
ORBA’s Wealth Management Group’s Winter Newsletter discusses catch-up contributions for your retirement plan, as well as life circumstances that may affect your investment portfolio
Wealth Management Group Newsletter – Spring 2017
ORBA’s Wealth Management Group Newsletter is a quarterly publication focused on effective wealth management. The Spring 2017 issue includes two articles: “Portfolio Diversification: Too Much of a Good Thing?” and “Short-Term Needs vs. Long-Term Retirement Savings.”
Wealth Management Group Newsletter – Fall 2015
ORBA’s Wealth Management Group Newsletter is a quarterly publication focused on effective wealth management. The Fall 2015 issue includes two articles, “Currency Movements and Your Portfolio” and “Making the Most of Dividend Income.”
Law Firm Group Newsletter – Fall 2014
The ORBA Law Firm Group Newsletter is a quarterly publication focused on effective practice management. The Fall 2014 issue includes two articles: Beyond Revenues: A Better Way to Compensate Partners and Cross-Selling Phobia? Turn Your Attorneys into Successful Marketers.
Wealth Management Group Newsletter – Fall 2014
The Fall 2014 Wealth Management Group Newsletter includes two articles, Revise Your Estate Plan to Cover Health Care Directions and A Primer on the Timing of RMDs.
Law Firm Group Newsletter – Summer 2014
The Summer 2014 Law Firm Group Newsletter includes two articles: Putting a Price on Your Law Firm and Two-Track Mind: Multiple Partnership Models & Their Benefits to Firms and Lawyers Alike.
Wealth Management Group Newsletter – Summer 2014
The Summer 2014 Wealth Management Group Newsletter includes two articles: Making the Best of a Capital Loss and Make Your Portfolio an Emotion-Free Zone.
Law Firm Group Newsletter – Winter 2014
Whether billing rates are hourly, flat or contingent, ideally they are competitive and enable firms to remain liquid and profitable. What is less than ideal is the fact that the typical firm realizes only about 85% of the work it performs. This article offer tips for realizing a rate of greater than 90%.
Wealth Management Group Newsletter – Summer 2013
A Newsletter Focused on Your Financial Needs: May 2013 Issue
Do Your Portfolio Returns Measure Up?
Till Death Do Us Part, Settling Up a Spouse’s Financial Affairs
Editor, Steve Lewis
Wealth Management Group Newsletter – Spring 2013
A Newsletter Focused on Your Financial Needs: March 2013 Issue
Wealth Management Group Newsletter – Fall 2012
A Newsletter Focused on Your Financial Needs. August 2012 Issue:
The Changes to Federal Estate and Gift Tax Law Around the Corner by Steve Lewis and Alan Witt; and It’s Time for Your Financial Review by Steve Lewis and Jeff Newman
Client Alerts
Financial Checkup for February 2014
As you pull together your tax information for the preparation of your 2013 income tax returns, keep these things in mind.
News
ORBA Director Named Five Star Professional for Sixth Consecutive Year
Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is proud to announce that Steven H. Lewis, a Director at the firm, has been named a 2019 Five Star Investment Professional by Five Star Professional. Steven has been named a Five Star Professional every year since 2014.
Various Media – ORBA Launches ORBA Wealth Advisors
ORBA was mentioned in the media for its announcement of the launch of ORBA Wealth Advisors, LLC. Reporting media include Wealth Adviser, Verdict, Yahoo! Finance, the Daily Herald and Merril Edge. View the official press release.
ORBA Announces the Launch of Wealth Advisory Subsidiary, ORBA Wealth Advisors, LLC
CHICAGO — Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is pleased to announce the opening of its new wealth advisory subsidiary, ORBA Wealth Advisors, LLC, an Independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).
ORBA Director Named Five Star Professional for Fifth Consecutive Year
Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is proud to announce that Steven H. Lewis, a Director at the firm, has been named a 2018 Five Star Investment Professional by Five Star Professional. Steven has been named a Five Star Professional every year since 2014.
ORBA’s Steven Lewis has been mentioned in the media for being named a 2017 Five Star Certified Public Accountant by Five Star Professional. Reporting media include the Chicago Business Journal, the Daily Herald, the Pittsburgh Business Times, the Business Journal of Greater Milwaukee and Yahoo! Finance, among others.
ORBA Director Steven H. Lewis, CPA was mentioned in the media as having been named a 2015 Five Star Certified Public Accountant by Five Star Professional for the second consecutive year for this prestigious award. Reporting media include Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch and TheStreet.com, among others.
ORBA Director Steven L. Lewis was mentioned in the media as being named one of the top CPAs by Five Star Professional. Reporting media included Chicago Magazine, Reuters, St. Louis Business Journal, Tampa Bay Business Journal, New York Business Journal, StreetInsider.com and Wall Street Select, to name a few.
ORBA Director Named Among Top CPAs by Five Star Professional for Fourth Consecutive Year
CHICAGO – Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is proud to announce that Steven H. Lewis, CPA, a Director at the firm, has been named a 2017 Five Star Certified Public Accountant by Five Star Professional.
ORBA Director Steven H. Lewis Named a Five Star Professional for Second Consecutive Year
CHICAGO – ORBA Director Steven H. Lewis, CPA has been named a 2015 Five Star Certified Public Accountant by Five Star Professional
ORBA Director Named Among Top CPAs by Five Star Professional
CHICAGO – Steven H. Lewis, CPA, has been named a 2014 Five Star Certified Public Accountant by Five Star Professional. Mr. Lewis is among an elite group of award winners who are featured in the November issue of Chicago magazine.