Steven P. McCormick has built his career on a foundation of law, retirement planning, and disciplined study. His office in Simi Valley reflects both sides of his professional path. His law degree from St. Thomas University is displayed next to his Master’s diploma in Piano Performance from Boise State University. During his graduate training, he studied the works of classical composers such as Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Bach, and Debussy. These experiences shaped his belief that preparation and patience are essential in both music and financial planning.
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 had opened his own law practice, focusing on bankruptcy, wills, trusts, and estate planning. For seven years, he guided individuals and families through financial hardship and legal uncertainty. He worked to provide structure and clarity during difficult times. At the same time, he continued advanced piano study and completed his Master’s degree in Piano Performance.
In 2003, Steven transitioned into commercial litigation in Costa Mesa. He represented clients from Newport Beach in business and investment disputes. As he handled these matters, he recognized that many legal conflicts developed from limited financial planning. He concluded that proactive retirement planning and careful financial organization could prevent many disputes before they reached court. This realization led him to expand his focus into financial advisory services.
In 2005, McCormick became a financial advisor at Citicorp Investment Services in San Mateo. His estate planning background gave him direct experience with probate law, wealth-transfer trusts, and special-needs trusts. Many Silicon Valley clients held concentrated technology stock positions and needed advice that addressed both financial growth and legal protection. By 2006, his partnership ranked as the top-performing at the firm.
From 2007 to 2009, Steven worked at JP Morgan Chase & Co. in Burbank. He earned recognition on the Top Producer Committee for two consecutive years. He advised media professionals and small business owners whose income often fluctuated. His approach remained consistent. He first sought to understand each client’s full financial picture, then developed a retirement planning strategy aligned with long-term goals.
Between 2010 and 2016, McCormick served as a telecom employee at Wescom Credit Union in Sherman Oaks. During those six years, he became the top-producing credit union advisor nationally in total revenue. In 2010, he also returned to practicing estate planning law on a part-time basis. This rare combination allowed him to draft estate documents while guiding clients through Social Security timing, Medicare enrollment, IRMAA planning, and retirement income planning.
In 2013, Steven partnered with two petroleum engineers to establish Applied Gas Lift, LLC in Metairie, Louisiana. The company focused on restoring abandoned oil and gas wells to active 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 strategies. In January 2025, he launched McCormick Capital in Simi Valley. Steven P McCormick continues to provide retirement planning and estate planning services grounded in decades of legal and financial experience.
