by MATTHEW NASH
Sequim Gazette

Len Lewicki, 63, owner of Sequim’s Ameriprise Financial, received two separate honors last month for years of service and lots of planning.

 

Seattle Magazine announced he is one of a few 2011 Five Star wealth managers in the Seattle area after a detailed survey interviewed clientele.

 

His alma mater, University of Illinois College of Law, also awarded him a Distinguished Alumnus Award for his years serving in the law sector and its related fields.

 

Lewicki, who received a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate from the university, is a certified financial planner, chartered financial consultant, and chartered life underwriter.

 

“It’s humbling but gratifying, especially the five-star rating because only 5 percent of financial advisers in the Puget Sound area qualify for the award,” Lewicki said.

 

“I certainly feel proud. It’s rewarding that 38 years after graduation they are still looking at my career.”

 

Lewicki used both legal and planning expertise before buying his own business under Ameriprise Financial. He moved to Sequim in 2003 and opened an office in 2006. He spends three weeks here and one week each month in his Bellevue office. Between the two cities, he manages about $120 million in accounts with 270 clients.

 

Lewicki said what he does is said best by a 19-year client of his.

 

“We thought your value would be to help us find the next Microsoft, but you keep us from doing stupid things,” his client told him.

 

“I’m not trying to find the hottest trends. I seek what (clients) are trying to accomplish in the long-term,” Lewicki said.  

 

For his college, Lewicki has been an active member of the University of Illinois foundation by recently setting up a scholar fund along with previous scholarship donations and future support for the school’s Small Animal Clinic at the College of Veterinary Medicine.  

 

He serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council and was awarded the alumnus honor with three others including the general council for McDonald’s’ Corporation, and  the chief executive officer of All State Financial.

 

Lewicki said he at first didn’t understand why he was up for the award.

 

“They told me I was an example for our current students. “In today’s world, you show lawyers the path they might be taking. They’ll likely have two or three careers,” he said.

 

Currently, Lewicki sits on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula and is a past president.

 

For more information
on Lewicki, visit 224 W. Washington St., call 582-3168 or e-mail len.p.lewicki@ampf.com.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.