Chris Morris, Principal, assists clients in all financial matters but specializes in estate and trust work. In that capacity, Chris prepares estate tax returns, gift tax returns, and reviews most all of the trust income tax returns in the office. He also assists clients with coordinating estate and gift planning with their attorneys.
A member of the firm since 1981, Chris has seen his responsibilities increase over the years. “I was the tax partner for the firm for about 10 years through the 90s,” he says. “But then my client load became too large to allow me the time to fulfill that role.”
In addition to advising estate clients, Chris’s expertise focuses on high net-worth individuals (business management and consulting), tax preparation, manufacturing entities, real estate lessors and developers, retail stores, and restaurants.
Chris’ thoroughness and attention to detail at SPS are traits he developed by following his detail-oriented passion for restoring old cars.
His first project was his father’s 1962 Triumph Tr4. Just 15 years old, Chris began restoring parts of the car, using books and workshop manuals to help in the process. He enjoyed taking a small component off, cleaning, polishing, and refurbishing it. Pretty soon, the car was ready to go.
“You get an old car that’s worn and weathered, but you can still see the beauty hidden underneath,” he remarks. “My favorites are British cars from the 50s and 60s because they have great detail and character.”
Take the 1957 MGA Coupe where Chris installed copper cooling pipes and even a polished brass plate on the engine with the firing order of the cylinders and the valve clearance engraved on it.
He is also working on a 1966 Jaguar E-Type two-seat coupe, which is a continuing project.
“Each car has its’ own character,” he says. “I enjoy researching the details and restoring cars to their original condition, just as the manufacturer built them. When you drive them, you get a real feel for what the cars were like to drive back when they were the ‘latest’.”
But Chris isn’t an elitist when it comes to restoring cars. “With some work,” he says, “even the lowliest of these cars can be very pleasing to the eye.”
BEYOND THE OFFICE
- Lives in Pacific Palisades with his wife, Denise. Has three grown daughters.
- Chairman: Corpus Christi Church and School Finance Committees
- Member: Audit committee – St. John’s Health Center Foundation
- Member: Los Angeles Country Club
DEGREES, CERTIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Bachelor of Science in Economics, University of California, Los Angeles
- Masters of Science in Taxation, Golden Gate University
- Certified Public Accountant, 1980
- Member: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Member: California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
- Member: CalCPA Committee on Taxation
APPOINTMENTS
- Accountant with large Los Angeles firm in 1980
- Joined Sobul, Primes & Schenkel in 1981
- Shareholder in 1989
Specialties Include: Estate and Gift Taxation, Manufacturing, Restaurant Industry, Family Businesses
