“We believe you can choose your legacy.”
— John S. Erwin, Senior Partner
For over 40 years, John has specialized in building individualized trust and estate plans for his clients that are designed to protect their assets, minimize unnecessary transfer taxes, and maximize the wealth they are able to give to those they care about.
What John has come to realize that he truly provides his clients, however, is freedom. Namely, the sense of freedom that comes from having choices.
One of the core aspects of John’s work that he has always been drawn to is the process of putting the pieces of his clients’ financial puzzle and personal goals together in a way that helps them protect and maximize the wealth they have worked to build.
Once he has fully assessed all of the pieces of the puzzle, the most valuable result is the variety of choices that he is able to present to his clients- giving them the freedom to have a say in the legacy of their wealth.
The Call to Freedom
John has always felt called to create and live a life based on freedom.
He can recall early in his childhood having a strong distaste for nursery school, as he quite disliked it when his teachers told him he had no choice but to participate in the group activities they had outlined.
John also recalls how the quest for freedom runs deep within his lineage.
John’s father was born in the Czech Republic and became a lawyer in Prague. While he was away visiting his sister in London, the German invasion of the Czech Republic occurred. John’s father was suddenly left with a decision- return to his now-highly-dangerous home country or find a way to recreate his life altogether.
He chose to seek a life of freedom and opportunity. Although he was left with no home, no license to continue practicing law, and no clear path to recreate his career, he made a bold choice to go to the United States, where he obtained a master’s degree from Columbia University and rebuilt his career as a businessman, and where he eventually fell in love and began a family with John’s mother.
John grew up seeing his father succeed in his career, paving the way for a life of freedom and opportunity for his family. He also saw this quest for freedom within his mother but in a different way.
John’s mother grew up in a small town in upstate New York. She yearned to leave her hometown and create a life of freedom, which, for her, meant a life of more adventure. Her quest took her to Columbia University where she obtained a master’s degree in journalism, and also where she fell in love with an intriguing man from the Czech Republic.
John’s mother loved to travel, relished new experiences, and appreciated learning new cultures. Her zest for life rounded out John’s experience of what a life of freedom felt like. His father and grandfather showed him the financial freedom that comes from hard work and perseverance, and his mother showed him the freedom that comes from a life lived to the fullest.
A Legacy of Meaningful Experiences
The legacy of both John’s father and maternal grandfather as lawyers influenced John to take the same path.
After graduating from law school, John saw in his own life how the power of a financial legacy creates new possibilities.
His grandfather had left him a small inheritance in his Will. Though John could have gone into his career immediately after law school, his grandfather’s gift made an opportunity for adventure possible.
John used some of his inheritance to create the experience of a lifetime- he and a law school friend spent 6 months traveling through Europe in a Volkswagen camper van he purchased. It is a time in his life he will never forget, and which greatly influenced his understanding that an inheritance can be a beautiful gift that provides the freedom to create rich, meaningful experiences.
A Guide to Choosing your Legacy
What drew John to the practice of Wills, Trusts, and Estates Law is how much he enjoys being a guide for his clients in helping them solve their estate-planning challenges and providing them with choices for building their legacy, thus enabling them to positively impact their families and create freedom for generations to come.
An important part of the process is helping his clients provide a framework for their descendants to live productive lives within the freedom provided and maintain the values of his clients.
One of the great joys of John’s work is eliminating the confusion of the estate planning process and allowing his clients to realize a sense of freedom through the choices they are able to make.
Seeing the peace of mind that this sense of freedom provides is the deep purpose of John’s work and the inspiration that runs through his life.
While building trust and estate plans for his clients is what John does, helping them create a legacy of freedom and choice for generations to come is who he is.
Professional Credentials
John received a Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College and a Juris Doctor from Union University, Albany School of Law. John is a member of the New York State Bar Association NYSBA Trusts and Estate Law Section.
Associations
John is a consultant on estate planning for the Peconic Land Trust of Southampton, New York, where he joins their mission to conserve and protect Long Island’s working farms and open spaces and to leverage funds available from the public and private sector for continued land protection. John also serves on the board of directors for the Southfork Land Foundation.