Steven Brown
N/A
Licensed for 42 years
Law Degree
Awards
Primary Practice Area
Business
Language
English
About
At Brown & Vogel, Steven W. Brown is the president and co-founder of the firm. Backed by over 35 years of experience, he is intimately familiar with all aspects of Kansas estate law. He primarily focuses his efforts on business succession planning and estate planning. Steve loves the challenge of helping his clients solve complicated problems, and he can help you solve yours, too. One of his most useful talents is explaining complex concepts to his clients in easy-to-understand language. He graduated from University of Kansas, earning both his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate there. Steve has given countless presentations to other attorneys, professionals, and financial advisors. He is also a contributing author to two books. You can trust Steve to provide you with the effective legal services you need and deserve. As a skilled estate planning attorney in Salina, he can help you with all your needs. EDUCATION Junction City High School, 1972; University of Kansas, 1976, B.S. Accounting/Business Administration with distinction; University of Kansas, 1979, Juris Doctorate. PROFESSIONAL 2000 to present - President of Brown & Vogel, LLC, Salina, Kansas;1996 to 1999 - President of Steven W. Brown, Chartered, Salina, Kansas; 1991 to 1995 - Shareholder in law firm of Clark, Mize & Linville, Chartered, Salina, Kansas; 1982-90 - Shareholder in law firm of King, Adrian, King & Brown, Chartered, Salina, Kansas;1981-82 - Arthur Young & Company, Dallas, Texas; 1979-81 - Associate, Hoover, Schermerhorn, Edwards & Pinaire, Junction City, Kansas. Member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, Incorporated, 1997 to 2002; Member of Welath Counsel 2002 to present; Chartered member of Lifespan Legal Services™; Graduate of Master’s Program in Wealth Strategies Planning® through the Esperti Peterson Institute, as accredited by the Estate and Wealth Strategies Institute at Michigan State University; Contributory author to Strictly Business, Planning Strategies for Privately Owned Businesses, published in 2002 by Quantum Press; Contributory author to Love, Money, Control: Reinventing Estate Planning, a book that provides answers to questions about transferring wisdom along with wealth, published in 2004 by Quantum Press. Martindale-Hubbel rating - “AV” Listed in 1995-1996 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Bar Associations: American Bar Association; Kansas Bar Association; Northwest Kansas Bar Association; Saline-Ottawa County Bar Association. Bar Committees: Kansas Bar Association: Chairperson of Kansas Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee (1995-1997); President of Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section of KansasBar Association (1989-1993); Kansas Bar Association Real Estate,Probate and Trust Law Section CLE Liaison (1990-1997); Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (1989-1993); Saline County Civil Process Committee and Trustee of Saline County Law Library. Kansas Bar Association Activities: Author and speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar “Living Trust Drafting” – 1991; Author and speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar “How to Draft a Revocable Living Trust” – 1988; Speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar “Protecting Assets from Creditors and Post-Death Implications” – 1989; 1992 - Speaker, Nebraska Bar Association, A Medical and Legal Perspective on the Durable Power of Attorney; 1992 - Speaker, Kansas Bar Association satellite “Elder Law Seminar” 1994 - Speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar “Estate Administration”; Speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar on Estate Planning for Disability and Tax Issues; Speaker, The Western Kansas Council on Estate Planning & Gifting seminar “Health Care Directives” - 1995; Fellow of the Kansas Bar Foundation; Continuing Legal Education Seminar Coordinator for several programs, including Plaza Lights Institute, Best of Continuing Legal Education and other probate and trust related seminars; Speaker, National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys seminar “The Truth About Estate Planning”; Outstanding Service Award, Kansas Bar Association as chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee, - 1998; Instructor of the Estate Planning Practicum, an intensive week long training course for members of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, Incorporated; Speaker for Kansas Land Improvement Contractors Association Convention; Speaker for Kansas Accountants Tax Conference; Speaker for Kansas Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.CIVIC Member of Board of Directors of the Information Network of Kansas, Inc.(2000-02); President (1992) and member of Board of Directors of Salina Chamber of Commerce, 1989-92; Treasurer, The Saint Francis Academy (1992); Board of Trustees of Salina Public Library; Treasurer of Salina Public Library, 1988; President (1990-91) and member of Board of Directors of Salina Art Center, Inc., 1986-92; Campaign Chairman of Salina United Way Campaign, 1989; President of Salina Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, 1987-88; Member of Board of Directors of Salina Downtown Lions Club, 1985-88; President of Salina Country Club, 2008, and member of Board of Directors of Salina Country Club, 1993-95 and 2005-2009. Member of Board of Directors of Kansas Wildscape. CHURCH Roman Catholic. Founder and member of Board of Directors of St. Mary’s Grade School Endowment Fund, 1988; Member of St. Mary’s Grade School Council, 1985-89; Member of Finance Council of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish; Member of the The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina Finance Council, Member of Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities (2002 – 2008).
Practices Areas
Estate Planning
Business
Language
English
Contact
Reviews
We were very pleased with our estate planning process. We are very comfortable with this office handling our affairs.
Knowledgeable about what is needed to start a trust. As we are new to this, we pretty much rely on Steve to guide us through the process. So far thing seem to be going fine.
Steve Brown and his employees guided my Wife and I through the process of our estate planning with ease. Because we are relatively young forty somethings we were unsure of the need to do estate/trust planning but after our initial consultation we decided to move forward. Steve and his staff made the entire process enjoyable and they were open to approaching certain parts of the planning process quickly for us when asked since we are not as concerned about certain areas because of our age. The follow up by JoVonna and her hard work even made some of the not so enjoyable parts of procuring documents from our estate feel like small victories each time we checked off another item. Overall we are very happy we chose to use Steve and his team of professionals.
Steve and his staff have made the entire estate planning process understandable and useful - which can get convoluted with children ('his-mine-ours') and ex-spouses. He presents topics and issues in a clear, logical manner with a sense of humor that keeps you interested in what he has to say.
Well informed in Estate planning and keeping us current with "todays" laws.
We watched the LifeSpan program execute as advertised when a dear friend died of cancer several years back. Her grieving husband was well-advised by Steve's firm, the trust executed as planned, and everything went just as Steve had been telling us it would. Our friend has now remarried, and remains a member of the LifeSpan family, executed by Brown and Vogel. What better testament than that to tout a program's effectiveness? Love the "mandatories". Steve makes sure we do OUR part, so that when the time comes, HE can do his part to protect our assets and loved ones.
Outstanding. Steve is always available; always makes your concerns his top priority. He stays totally up to date on the latest laws and what State and Federal government trends are. Great at explaining legalese in plain english and there is never any doubt that he has your best interests in mind. Steve is also always available to discuss unusual circumstances and special cases. His reviews are top notch and timely.
For years we have worked with and trusted a financial planning organization. They recommended that we should establish trusts to assure that the benefits of our financial plan will go to our beneficiaries in an efficient and cost effective manner. The trust making program advocated by Steve's firm has been very thorough. It is regularly updated to adhere to the stipulations in the "law" which affect the trust. Great emphasis has been placed on not only establishing a trust, but also in understanding the process. However, the program has sought to assure that not only will we have a financial legacy, but we will also leave a legacy of our beliefs, our lives, and our aspirations which we hope will benefit our children and their children. While no religious affiliation is espoused by the firm, a Christian essence can be perceived. In a small way, we hope that through this program, at least one family (ours) can carry on a tradition of love and respect for each other, a devotion to principles, and, thereby, avoid the trend to dissolution of the "traditional" family unit. The effectiveness of our trust making will only be realized upon our deaths, but while we are still kicking, we are comforted by our confidence that Steve, as a lawyer and as a person, has our best interests at heart. As an aside, with respect to the question: "When did you last hire this attorney?" This has been an ongoing relationship for almost 10 years. There has not been a "single" episode of litigation for which he was "hired".
Simply an outstanding asset to anyone concerned with succession planning. Thoroughly understands the legal requirements and the interpersonal relationships which affect estate planning and management. A complete professional at explaining the why's and wherefore's of an estate. Employs a professional staff that works constantly for their clients. I have complete trust in this firm and I specifically have the utmost respect and trust for Steve Brown. Mike
Steve and his staff are very efficient, courteous, and great to work with. We really like the workshops and Lifespan annual reviews. He is very knowledgeable and kind.
We were very pleased with our estate planning process. We are very comfortable with this office handling our affairs.
Knowledgeable about what is needed to start a trust. As we are new to this, we pretty much rely on Steve to guide us through the process. So far thing seem to be going fine.
Steve Brown and his employees guided my Wife and I through the process of our estate planning with ease. Because we are relatively young forty somethings we were unsure of the need to do estate/trust planning but after our initial consultation we decided to move forward. Steve and his staff made the entire process enjoyable and they were open to approaching certain parts of the planning process quickly for us when asked since we are not as concerned about certain areas because of our age. The follow up by JoVonna and her hard work even made some of the not so enjoyable parts of procuring documents from our estate feel like small victories each time we checked off another item. Overall we are very happy we chose to use Steve and his team of professionals.
Steve and his staff have made the entire estate planning process understandable and useful - which can get convoluted with children ('his-mine-ours') and ex-spouses. He presents topics and issues in a clear, logical manner with a sense of humor that keeps you interested in what he has to say.
Well informed in Estate planning and keeping us current with "todays" laws.
We watched the LifeSpan program execute as advertised when a dear friend died of cancer several years back. Her grieving husband was well-advised by Steve's firm, the trust executed as planned, and everything went just as Steve had been telling us it would. Our friend has now remarried, and remains a member of the LifeSpan family, executed by Brown and Vogel. What better testament than that to tout a program's effectiveness? Love the "mandatories". Steve makes sure we do OUR part, so that when the time comes, HE can do his part to protect our assets and loved ones.
Outstanding. Steve is always available; always makes your concerns his top priority. He stays totally up to date on the latest laws and what State and Federal government trends are. Great at explaining legalese in plain english and there is never any doubt that he has your best interests in mind. Steve is also always available to discuss unusual circumstances and special cases. His reviews are top notch and timely.
For years we have worked with and trusted a financial planning organization. They recommended that we should establish trusts to assure that the benefits of our financial plan will go to our beneficiaries in an efficient and cost effective manner. The trust making program advocated by Steve's firm has been very thorough. It is regularly updated to adhere to the stipulations in the "law" which affect the trust. Great emphasis has been placed on not only establishing a trust, but also in understanding the process. However, the program has sought to assure that not only will we have a financial legacy, but we will also leave a legacy of our beliefs, our lives, and our aspirations which we hope will benefit our children and their children. While no religious affiliation is espoused by the firm, a Christian essence can be perceived. In a small way, we hope that through this program, at least one family (ours) can carry on a tradition of love and respect for each other, a devotion to principles, and, thereby, avoid the trend to dissolution of the "traditional" family unit. The effectiveness of our trust making will only be realized upon our deaths, but while we are still kicking, we are comforted by our confidence that Steve, as a lawyer and as a person, has our best interests at heart. As an aside, with respect to the question: "When did you last hire this attorney?" This has been an ongoing relationship for almost 10 years. There has not been a "single" episode of litigation for which he was "hired".
Simply an outstanding asset to anyone concerned with succession planning. Thoroughly understands the legal requirements and the interpersonal relationships which affect estate planning and management. A complete professional at explaining the why's and wherefore's of an estate. Employs a professional staff that works constantly for their clients. I have complete trust in this firm and I specifically have the utmost respect and trust for Steve Brown. Mike
Steve and his staff are very efficient, courteous, and great to work with. We really like the workshops and Lifespan annual reviews. He is very knowledgeable and kind.
We were very pleased with our estate planning process. We are very comfortable with this office handling our affairs.
Knowledgeable about what is needed to start a trust. As we are new to this, we pretty much rely on Steve to guide us through the process. So far thing seem to be going fine.
Steve Brown and his employees guided my Wife and I through the process of our estate planning with ease. Because we are relatively young forty somethings we were unsure of the need to do estate/trust planning but after our initial consultation we decided to move forward. Steve and his staff made the entire process enjoyable and they were open to approaching certain parts of the planning process quickly for us when asked since we are not as concerned about certain areas because of our age. The follow up by JoVonna and her hard work even made some of the not so enjoyable parts of procuring documents from our estate feel like small victories each time we checked off another item. Overall we are very happy we chose to use Steve and his team of professionals.
Steve and his staff have made the entire estate planning process understandable and useful - which can get convoluted with children ('his-mine-ours') and ex-spouses. He presents topics and issues in a clear, logical manner with a sense of humor that keeps you interested in what he has to say.
Well informed in Estate planning and keeping us current with "todays" laws.
We watched the LifeSpan program execute as advertised when a dear friend died of cancer several years back. Her grieving husband was well-advised by Steve's firm, the trust executed as planned, and everything went just as Steve had been telling us it would. Our friend has now remarried, and remains a member of the LifeSpan family, executed by Brown and Vogel. What better testament than that to tout a program's effectiveness? Love the "mandatories". Steve makes sure we do OUR part, so that when the time comes, HE can do his part to protect our assets and loved ones.
Outstanding. Steve is always available; always makes your concerns his top priority. He stays totally up to date on the latest laws and what State and Federal government trends are. Great at explaining legalese in plain english and there is never any doubt that he has your best interests in mind. Steve is also always available to discuss unusual circumstances and special cases. His reviews are top notch and timely.
For years we have worked with and trusted a financial planning organization. They recommended that we should establish trusts to assure that the benefits of our financial plan will go to our beneficiaries in an efficient and cost effective manner. The trust making program advocated by Steve's firm has been very thorough. It is regularly updated to adhere to the stipulations in the "law" which affect the trust. Great emphasis has been placed on not only establishing a trust, but also in understanding the process. However, the program has sought to assure that not only will we have a financial legacy, but we will also leave a legacy of our beliefs, our lives, and our aspirations which we hope will benefit our children and their children. While no religious affiliation is espoused by the firm, a Christian essence can be perceived. In a small way, we hope that through this program, at least one family (ours) can carry on a tradition of love and respect for each other, a devotion to principles, and, thereby, avoid the trend to dissolution of the "traditional" family unit. The effectiveness of our trust making will only be realized upon our deaths, but while we are still kicking, we are comforted by our confidence that Steve, as a lawyer and as a person, has our best interests at heart. As an aside, with respect to the question: "When did you last hire this attorney?" This has been an ongoing relationship for almost 10 years. There has not been a "single" episode of litigation for which he was "hired".
Simply an outstanding asset to anyone concerned with succession planning. Thoroughly understands the legal requirements and the interpersonal relationships which affect estate planning and management. A complete professional at explaining the why's and wherefore's of an estate. Employs a professional staff that works constantly for their clients. I have complete trust in this firm and I specifically have the utmost respect and trust for Steve Brown. Mike
Steve and his staff are very efficient, courteous, and great to work with. We really like the workshops and Lifespan annual reviews. He is very knowledgeable and kind.