Steven P. McCormick has developed a career that combines law, finance, and disciplined study. His office in Simi Valley reflects this dual focus. One wall displays his law degree from St. Thomas University. Another holds a Master’s diploma in Piano Performance from Boise State University, where he concentrated on the works of composers such as Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Bach, and Debussy. His background shows a steady commitment to learning and careful preparation.
Steven P McCormick was born in Miami, Florida. In 1992, he earned his English degree from the University of Florida. He then attended law school and received his Juris Doctor. By 1995, he opened his own legal practice. His early work centered on bankruptcy law, wills, trusts, and estate planning. For seven years, he advised clients facing financial pressure and seeking practical legal guidance. During that same period, he continued serious music study and completed his graduate degree in piano performance.
In 2003, Steven moved into commercial litigation in Costa Mesa. He represented Newport Beach clients in business and investment disputes. Through this work, he noticed that many conflicts stemmed from weak financial planning. He began to see that early structure and prevention could reduce costly legal battles. This insight shaped the next stage of his career.
In 2005, McCormick became a financial advisor at Citicorp Investment Services in San Mateo. His experience as an estate planning attorney allowed him to work comfortably with wealth transfer trusts, special needs trusts, and probate law. Many Silicon Valley clients, especially those with concentrated technology stock positions, needed guidance that addressed both financial and legal concerns. By 2006, his partnership ranked as the firm's top-performing.
From 2007 to 2009, Steven worked at JP Morgan Chase & Co. in Burbank. He earned a place on the firm’s Top Producer Committee for two consecutive years. There, he served media professionals and small business owners with widely varying incomes. His method was straightforward. He first focused on understanding the client, then on building a retirement planning and investment strategy suited to their situation.
Between 2010 and 2016, McCormick worked at Wescom Credit Union in Sherman Oaks, serving telecom employees. During that time, he became the top-producing credit union advisor nationally in total revenue. He also returned to practicing estate planning law on a part-time basis in 2010. This rare combination allowed him to provide retirement planning, draft estate documents, and guide clients through Social Security timing, Medicare enrollment, and IRMAA planning.
In 2013, Steven partnered with two petroleum engineers to form Applied Gas Lift, LLC in Metairie, Louisiana. The company focused on restoring abandoned oil and gas wells to production, and he oversaw operations until 2017.
In 2016, he became an independent financial advisor with Advisor Group, specializing in retirement planning, Social Security optimization, and estate planning. He later began offering free public seminars through the Foundation for Financial Independence on Social Security and income planning. In January 2025, he launched McCormick Capital in Simi Valley. Steven P McCormick continues to serve clients with a focus on retirement planning, estate planning, and long-term financial clarity, built on decades of legal and advisory experience.
