Stephen Michael Waltar

BACKGROUND: Steve was born on March 15, 1962, in Boston, Massachusetts. His true roots, however, are firmly planted in the Pacific Northwest. Steve grew up in Richland, Washington, and moved to Seattle in 1980 to attend college (Seattle Pacific University, B.A., cum laude, 1984). He lived in Princeton, New Jersey, for three years during graduate school (Princeton Theological Seminary, M.Div., 1988). Steve returned to Puget Sound to attend law school in Tacoma (University of Puget Sound School of Law—converted to Seattle University School of Law, J.D., 1993). He was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1994. Steve is also admitted to practice in United States District Court, Western District of Washington. EXPERIENCE: Since 1996, Mr. Waltar has limited his law practice to areas associated with estate planning, including trusts, estate tax law, wills, probate, asset protection planning, business succession planning and disability planning. In 2006 Steve joined the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, a premier national organization promoting excellence in estate planning by providing its exclusive membership of attorneys with up-to-date research, educational materials, and other vital practice management techniques. Steve is a popular and entertaining speaker at estate planning seminars, and has taught both professionals and lay people estate planning and charitable giving. Steve has given over 100 seminars and talks. He has taught various college courses and is an adjunct professor at Seattle University. He has spoken to private and public employees as well as to numerous community, civic and religious groups. Steve has been a co-host and guest on various radio programs. In 2009 he authored his first book, Smart Estate Planning in Washington—What You Really Need to Know; and his second book, Legacy Wealth Planning—Looking Beyond the Financial to Provide Your Family With True Generational Wealth, was published in 2012.