Attorney Profile

Michele A. Tutoli has been assisting individuals with their legal and financial management needs for more than thirty-five years. She is now a member of the San Diego law firm of Armstrong, Fisch & Tutoli, concentrating on the practice of estate planning law.

Ms. Tutoli did her undergraduate work at George Washington University, the American College in Paris and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1978.

Before opening her own legal practice in 1988, Ms. Tutoli developed extensive experience in investments, taxes, trusts and estate administration with such companies as Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. of New York, Home Fed Trust of San Diego, IDS/American Express and the National Trust School of the American Bankers Association. She joined Armstrong & Fisch in 1995.

Ms. Tutoli is a member of the North County Estate Planning Council, the North County Bar Association, the Taxation Section of the California Bar Association, and has served on various committees of the American Bar Association, including Investments by Fiduciaries, Financial Planning, Ethics and Insurance, and the ABA’s Legal Financial Planning Committee. She is currently a Fellow of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. Ms. Tutoli is admitted to the bar in New York, New Jersey and California, and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Tax Court.

She has been certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization, as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law. In addition, she is a Certified Financial Planning© Professional and Registered Financial Consultant.  Check her out at BrokerCheck

In addition to her busy practice, Ms. Tutoli has been a consultant to the UCSD Financial Institution Management program and a guest speaker at the San Diego Adult Education Program at Mira Costa College. She has presented both professional and public seminars sponsored by the Small Business Administration and the Women’s Investor Club, and has appeared on several local television programs. Ms. Tutoli is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Resource Center as well as former chairman and member of the local Community Advisory Board and president of the Olivenhain Town Council.
She lives in Olivenhain with Steve Lord, her husband of over twenty years and their six children.

As an attorney in San Diego, Stephanie A. Lord provides extensive estate and tax planning services to individuals. Ms. Lord’s primary focus is protecting families from the devastating legal effects of disability and death, as well as ensuring the smooth transition of assets from one generation to the next while maintaining the family legacy throughout the trust administration process. Through proper planning, individuals and families can avoid probate, protect their assets, continue their legacies through strategic charitable giving, and provide for the security of their loved ones. She will take the time to get to know you as individuals, to learn about your life and values, and work closely with you through an ongoing relationship to ensure your personal and financial goals are met as your life and the laws change over the years.

EDUCATION

Stephanie A. Lord earned her Juris Doctor Degree from Pepperdine University. During law school, Ms. Lord worked closely with one of her law professors in researching the impact of post-mortem conception on Estate Planning. Also during law school, Ms. Lord became a member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and spent a semester studying abroad in London. Ms. Lord earned her B.A. Degree in Psychology from the University of California – San Diego. While attending UCSD, Ms. Lord was involved in volunteer work in the physical therapy department of a hospital.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ms. Lord’s professional experience began while she was in college working as a paralegal for an Estate Planning firm. The immense personal satisfaction she experienced while helping so many families triggered her decision to attend law school and focus on a career in Estate Planning. During law school she gained additional experience working for trust and probate specialists in the Los Angeles area. Prior to joining Armstrong, Fisch and Tutoli in 2007, Stephanie worked for several years as an attorney at a law firm in Los Angeles, meeting with clients and managing the trust administration department of the firm. She has been certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization, as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law

PERSONAL

Currently, Ms. Lord is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the North County Estate Planning Counsel. Ms. Lord resides in Carmel Valley and has earned her black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She also trains regularly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. In her spare time, Ms. Lord enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, and football. Ms. Lord is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Team Godfather Charitable Foundation.

As an attorney, Stacy Z. Chang is dedicated to providing the best possible service to her clients while assisting them plan for their future, protect their assets and leave a lasting legacy for their family. Ms. Chang’s approach is provide her clients with a comprehensive plan that will meet the client’s immediate needs and long-term goals. She also assists clients with trust and estate administration.

Stacy Z. Chang earned her Juris Doctor Degree from California Western School of Law. During law school, Ms. Chang was an associate editor and writer on law review. She served as Secretary of the Asian Pacific American Students Law Association and received the 2017 and 2018 Academic Merit Scholarship. Ms. Chang graduated in the top 5% of her class. She earned her B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from the California State University, Sacramento and received the Health and Human Services Award for Criminal Justice.

Ms. Chang is currently a member of the San Diego County Bar Association and a Fellow of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with her two cats.

Ms. Chang’s legal experience began when she was in college and worked as an undergraduate intern at the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office. Her experience with helping individuals inspired her decision to attend law school. During law school, Ms. Chang worked as an intern at an estate planning firm and recognized her true calling as an estate planning attorney.