Amy Szostak

Office Location

United States

Short Biography

Amy has over 30 years of experience helping global multigenerational families navigate successful wealth transfers. By helping them articulate a collective vision of success, she empowers them to engage across generations, open communication channels, sharpen joint decision-making skills, and develop a common purpose to serve their families long into the future. Previously, she served as the Chief Fiduciary Officer for Northern Trust’s Global Family Office Group collaborating with the firm’s largest clients and overseeing their fiduciary practices in the U.S., Guernsey, and Cayman. Amy was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1997 and is a frequent writer and speaker. Her articles have appeared in Trusts & Estates, STEP Journal and Investment Wealth Monitor, and she has been quoted in publications such as Bloomberg, WSJ, and Kiplinger. In 2023 she received the Investments & Wealth Institute Governance Insight Award and is delighted to be speaking at Heckerling Institute in January 2024.

What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?

Momotaro Chicago

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Don't tell me what you can't do, tell me what you can do.

What was your first job?

I was a runner on the grain floor at the Chicago Board of Trade.

What is the book you recommend to everyone?

Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett

What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?

I am seeing a major shift in how multigenerational wealth clients are making decisions. Top-down decision making based on solely financial criteria is shifting to consensus decisions infused with shared values, purpose and meaning. Advisors will need to hone their “soft skills” to continue to excel in their practices.