The Southern California Institute (SCI) was created in 2002 by a group of advisors in order to be able to offer education in a collaborative environment where the goal was about understanding how to implement as opposed to the prior education in their lives which did not include client interaction and implementation.

SCI provides high-quality, collaborative educational and informative events, relying on active professional experts. This collaboration enables the Institute to consistently present materials in a team-teaching environment. As a result, participants are able to gather the best facts, opinions, judgments, and perceptions from diverse, reliable sources.

SCI strives to improve the lives of our Institute Members and Fellows through continuous education and collaboration. Our mission focuses on assisting professionals to grow their practices, build their confidence, enhance their credibility, and solidify their relationships with clients and colleagues.

Meet the Founders

Joe Strazzeri

Professional Background & Personal Information

Admitted to the California State Bar. Courts Admitted to: California Supreme Court; United States District Court, Southern District of California.

Education
J.D., Western State University, San Diego, CA; Undergraduate Study in Civil Engineering, Business Administration and Architecture at, respectively, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA; University of San Diego, San Diego, CA; and New School of Architecture, San Diego, CA. A Fellow at the Esperti Peterson Institute, a Laureate in Wealth Strategies at the Laureate Center for Wealth Advisors, and a Fellow at the Southern California Institute.

 
Memberships
Wealth Counsel; American Bar Association; California State Bar Association; San Diego County Bar Association; Consumer Attorneys of San Diego; Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Section of San Diego County Bar Association; Planned Giving Round Table of San Diego; National Committee on Planned Giving; and Associate of the Offshore Institute.

Positions
Joe Strazzeri, Strazzeri Mancini Law FirmPrincipal and Founder, Strazzeri Mancini LLP, practicing in Estate Planning, Business Succession, Charitable Planning, Asset Protection and Retirement Issues; Former Partner, Law Office of N. Munro Merrick; Principal of The Founders Group, a Business Strategies Collaborative; Former Mediator for ARBITRATIONWORKS (A.W.), a California Dispute Resolution Corporation; Level II Arbitrator for State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, Contractor State License Board through A.W.; Chair for the Sharp Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors; California B-licensed General Contractor; and Real Estate Developer.

Educator
Approved provider for Continuing Education through the State of California Department of Insurance. Speaker for Continuing Education for financial professionals including Certified Public Accountants, Attorneys, Fiduciaries, and Financial Planners. Former Adjunct Faculty Member of the Estate and Wealth Strategies Institute at Michigan State University. Fellow at the Southern California Institute. Instructor for Estate and Trust Education Resources—Exam Prep Course for the State Bar of California Certified Specialist Exam in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.

Publications
Co-author, “Generations — Planning Your Legacy,” 1999; Co-author, “Strictly Business — Planning Strategies for Privately Owned Businesses,” 2002; Co-author, “Giving — Philanthropy for Everyone.” 2002; Co-author, “For California Doctors – A Guide to Asset Protection, Tax and Estate Planning,” 2009; Co-author, “Business Succession Planning – Strategies for California Estate Planners and Business Attorneys,” CEB 2010. Course Manuals for State of California Department of Insurance for approved Continuing Education: Trust Fiduciaries; Basic Estate Planning; Family Limited Partnerships; Advanced Estate Planning, Charitable Remainder Trusts and Asset Protection—Offshore Planning. Course materials on Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts for the Academy of Multidisciplinary Practice, accredited by the Estate and Wealth Strategies Institute at Michigan State University.

Community Service

Personal
Joseph has structured his practice to allow him and his wife Antonietta to enjoy time with their family and to be active in their community.

Steve Mancini

Professional Background & Personal Information

The California State Bar; California Supreme Court; United States Tax Court; United States District Court; and Southern District Court of California. Certified Specialist: Wills, Trusts & Probate, the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Education
A Laureate in Wealth Strategies at the Southern California Institute; Fellow of the Esperti Peterson Institute; Post Graduate Legal Diploma in Taxation, University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, California (1980); J. D., University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, California (1979); and B.A., Chaminade University, Honolulu, Hawaii (1976).

 
 
Memberships
Wealth Counsel; American Bar Association; California State Bar Association; San Diego County Bar Association; Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Section; and Esperti Peterson Institute.

Positions
Former Partner Stacer & Mancini. Principal of the Founders Group, a Business Strategies Collaborative. Principal and Founder, Law Office of Stephen J. Mancini, APC, specializing in Estate Planning, Business Succession, Charitable Planning, Asset Protection and Retirement Issues. Principal & Founder: Law Firm of Strazzeri Mancini LLP.

Educator
Instructor for the Academy of Multidisciplinary Practices, courses accredited by the Estate and Wealth Strategies Institute at Michigan State University; Instructor, Paralegal Courses; Speaker for Continuing Education for Financial Professionals, including Certified Public Accountants, Attorneys, and Financial Planners.

Publications
Co-author “Giving — Philanthropy for Everyone” published by Quantum Press; Co-author, “Active Monitoring: An Alternative Strategy to Improve Alternate Valuation Results”, CCH Journal of Practical Estate Planning; Co-author, “The Uniform Acts: What Are They? What am I Supposed to Do with Them? Why Should I Bother?”, National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys; and Course materials on Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts for the Academy of Multidisciplinary Practices, courses accredited by the Estate and Wealth Strategies Institute at Michigan State University.

Community Service
Member: Palomar Pomerado Health Foundation — Planned Giving Advisory Council; former member: Rancho Penasquitos Town Council; and President of the Lions Club.

Personal
Happily married to Carol Mancini since 1972. Veteran of the Viet Nam War, 1968-1972. Honorably discharged from the U. S. Navy in 1972. In his free time, Steve enjoys fly fishing and other outdoor activities.

The Southern California Institute helps Wealth Advisors and clients through Successful Family and Business Owner Events, Wealth Advisor Education Programs, Wealth Advisor Partnering Programs, and Speakers Bureaus.