“My clients depend on me to minimize taxes on their wealth transfers and corporate transactions. They want to be financially secure and adequately protected and to transfer their wealth efficiently, without paying unnecessary taxes or creating needless complications for their heirs. And that’s what I do: I give them peace of mind that those goals will be met.”
Steve turns his client’s trust and estate planning goals into successful legacies. He works with high-net-worth individuals to plan for the future, structure trusts for safeguarding wealth – like qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, and charitable remainder unitrusts. Steve also advises on charitable lead annuity trusts and net income with makeup charitable remainder unitrusts – and strategically solves problems involving the transfer of wealth while minimizing gift taxes.
He regularly advises real estate entities, international companies, closely-held corporations, and limited and general partnerships. He also helps limited liability companies on a broad range of issues, including business formations, acquisitions, mergers, sales, and liquidations. He has particular strengths in helping them achieve tax compliance through the tax-efficient mergers, dispositions, and structuring of business entities.
“I want every client to feel that he or she is my most important client and the services provided are of the highest quality.”
Clients look to Steve to guide them through the complexities of transferring their wealth and assets from generation to generation. They trust his insight and perspective when considering their options and count on him to successfully structure and administer their estate plans and business transactions. And they know that he is committed to helping them achieve their objectives as efficiently as possible.
After graduating with an accounting degree, Steve went to law school, where earning his JD and an LLM in taxation. He began his career as an accountant and has also worked as a partner in several public accounting firms.
Steve serves as the Managing Partner of Lassar & Cowhey, which he founded in 1971. He is a former Chair of the Estate Planning Committee for the New York State Society of CPAs. In his spare time, Steve enjoys golf and spending time with his wife, two children and three grandchildren.
Articles, Seminars & Presentations
- Defined Value under Wandry – Seminar (January 2015)
- The New Estate and Gift Tax Legislation – Webinar
- “Trust-Owned Life Insurance: Policy Review and Funding Techniques,” CPA Journal (February 2007)
- “Wealth Preservation: Five Strategies,” CPA Journal (September 2002)
- “Income in Respect of a Descendent,” CPA Journal (September 1997)