I help people from all walks of life, from the average American to the multi-billionaire, eliminate taxes, protect assets from creditors and predators, and ultimately pass on their financial wealth and non-financial wealth to their loved ones efficiently and effectively. Utilizing a holistic planning process that leverages cutting edge techniques, I deliver personalized strategies in an integrated, comprehensive plan that delivers optimum results.
More specifically, I deliver advanced income tax and business structuring strategies to business owners with significant income, asset protection strategies for people with assets to protect, and business succession strategies to transition businesses to the next generation.
EDUCATION
+ University of Denver Graduate Tax Program (LL.M. in Taxation)
+ William H. Bowen School of Law – University of Arkansas at Little Rock (J.D.)
+ University of Arkansas (B.S.B.A. in Finance)
+ Southern Methodist University
ATTORNEY LICENSES & ADMISSIONS
+ Arkansas
+ Colorado
+ United States Tax Court
+ United States Federal District Court, Western District of Arkansas
+ Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
+ American Bar Association
+ Arkansas Bar Association
+ WealthCounsel
+ Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
BUSINESS BACKGROUND
I began my entrepreneurial career at age 13 when I started a lawn care business. Had aspirations at earlier ages, but was too young to open the skateboard shop I dreamed of.
Before becoming an attorney, I began my career as a Financial Advisor and held Series 7 & 63 securities licenses as well as life and health insurance licenses.
Shortly after finishing law school, I founded Skokos Law Firm in 1997.
In 2001, I founded and was CEO of a thriving consulting and financial services firm in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
I’ve been an investor in a variety of private equity ventures.
My passion for golf led me to serving on the Board of Directors of The First Tee of Arkansas in the organization’s early years.
STARTUP BUSINESSES
+ Founder & CEO: Ethos Law
+ Founder & Fund Manager: MAIA Biotech Fund
+ Founder & CEO: TaxEliminationSystem.com
+ Founder & CEO: StoryBonds
+ Co-Founder & CEO: Clearwater Consulting Concepts
+ Co-Founder: Pink Gym
PERSONAL BIO
I was a multi-sport athlete as a kid, playing as a point guard on the basketball team, quarterback of the football team, pitcher and shortstop on the baseball team, and a golfer on the golf team. My “things” revolve around intellectual pursuits, sports, health, wealth & relationships.
I am a tax and estate planning attorney experienced in delivering sophisticated tax and estate planning that spans four decades. I am passionate about designing holistic, innovative and optimized plans that minimize taxes, protect wealth and carry out your wishes long after your death in positive, impactful ways. I believe in the power of a well-designed plan to make a positive impact in the lives of families for generations.
I believe that we are all born with a superpower and that mine is the ability to solve complex problems with uncommon solutions in an optimized manner. I do that in my legal career by utilizing creative combinations of sophisticated and innovative techniques to design holistic plans that deliver optimum results. I also believe that I have a knack for being able to explain sophisticated plans to my clients in simple, understandable terms without complicating it with technical details and legal jargon. I have acquired knowledge, skillsets, successes and connections over four decades that have established me as a leader across the United States amongst professional advisors, including attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors.
I love what I do. In addition to being a tax and estate planning lawyer, I have broad and diverse experience and business interests including having been a founder and owner of multiple businesses, an executive at a large publicly-traded corporation, a Series 7 and Series 63 licensed financial advisor, a licensed insurance agent, a creator of several websites, and more. My business interests include entrepreneurial ventures, private equity investments, technology, and philanthropy.
Some things about me on a slightly more personal level are that I became interested in business at a very young age. I pursued opening my own skateboard store at the age of 10, talked to various vendors about carrying their products and developed a basic financial model before the reality that I was too young stopped me. I became a successful entrepreneur at the young age of thirteen when I started a very successful lawncare business that I continued for several years before getting into the corporate world at age 18 while I was in college.
While I work a lot, I also attempt to maintain a healthy and enjoyable work-life balance. When I’m not working, you might find me spending quality time with my precious, smart and talented daughter Caitlin, lifting weights, playing golf, mountain biking, racing cars, flying airplanes or nerding out on technology.
As I have matured (translation: got older!), I discovered a need and a desire to help people deeply bond with loved ones and even themselves through a deeper understanding by re-connecting with their past to discover, curate, preserve and selectively share all of their meaningful life stories that they’ve never thought to tell. To try to share this powerful and important concept with the world, I have spent a great deal of time developing innovative techniques to unlock the powerful insights, wisdom, values and life lessons embedded in all of our personal stories to bring them to life and share them with loved ones in insightful and meaningful ways that make a powerfully positive and meaningful impact for generations of family. I then set out to develop an innovative digital platform that will enable everyone to be able to easily do this with their families and friends. That platform is currently in development. Stay tuned!
