The Team

John

Founder and owner

John M. Murphy, Jr., Esq. is the Founder and Owner of Safe Harbor Wills and Trusts. John founded the company to help families protect their home and life savings from catastrophic long-term care costs and other possible creditors.

In addition to running the company, John is on the faculty of the National Business Institute for which he writes legal content and teaches continuing education credits for attorneys and financial professionals.

John is also an adjunct teacher for Atticus Attorney, the premier coaching program for small and medium-sized law firms across the country.

John and his wife Janne have been married since 1992. They have 4 adult children and 2 dogs. In his off time, John enjoys golfing and traveling with his wife.

Michelle

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY

Michelle Olevano recently joined our team, bringing experience in estate planning, Asset Protection/Medicaid Planning, Estate Administration, and Guardianship proceedings. She graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy Politics and Law, and subsequently graduated with her Juris Doctor from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

After graduation, Michelle soon realized her love for our Syracuse community and decided to settle down long-term in the area. After working locally for several years and through practicing different areas of law, Michelle developed a desire to focus her practice on matters of significant importance to clients, such as planning for a client’s future, protecting their legacy, and giving clients and their families peace of mind.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys traveling to new places, the warm summer months, and spending time with friends and family.

Marie

Director of Operations and Case Manager

Marie is our Director of Operations. A software engineer by education, Marie’s real passion is to help others. She has volunteered in bereavement ministry, visiting the sick in hospitals, nursing homes and the homebound, as well as volunteering for Hospice and Hope for Bereaved.

In 2014 Marie came to work at Safe Harbor Wills and Trusts, hoping to continue her desire to help others. She enjoys the interaction with our clients as well as her co-workers.

While not at work, you can find Marie enjoying time with her family.

Tammy

Director of Medicaid Services and Case Manager

Tammy is our Director of Medicaid Services. She came to Syracuse after graduating from Penn State to work as a Software Engineer and to receive her master’s degree at Syracuse University. Tammy eventually left engineering to raise four kids while enjoying volunteering with her local church and the school’s PTA. She has been with our team since 2017.

Anne

Assistant to Director of Operations, Case Manager

Anne is the Assistant to the Director of Operations and one of our Case Managers. She is responsible for making sure that all of our clients move through our process smoothly and efficiently. In addition, she assists with accounts payable, accounts receivable, invoicing, and other accounting and administrative projects.

Before joining our team at Safe Harbor Wills and Trusts, Anne was a Legal Assistant for a Government Relations/Law Firm in Syracuse.

Outside of work, Anne enjoys family time and outdoor activities of any nature.

Lorraine

Paralegal

Lorraine is the paralegal in our Decedent Services department, working with probate, trust administration, and guardianship proceedings. Before joining the Safe Harbor team, she worked part-time in the field for almost 20 years while raising her three children.

Lorraine enjoys watching her children’s sporting events, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors.

Hannah

Administrative Assistant

Hannah is our Administrative Assistant. She deals with scheduling, deeds, and creating the Asset Alignment Trackers. She also helps prepare documents for meetings. Outside of work, Hannah likes to spend time with her friends.

Sherri

Medicaid Analyst

Sherri is one of the Medicaid Analysts in our firm. She came to Safe Harbor with much experience working in a Nursing Home setting.

When not at work, Sherri enjoys spending time with her family attending events from benefits to family-oriented activities within the community. Sherri and her family enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, and trips across the state of NY.

Brigid

RECEPTIONIST

Brigid is the first person you will see when you enter our office and the first voice you will hear when you call.

After graduating from The George Washington University, Brigid taught middle school in North Carolina for two years before moving back to New York to prepare for a career in law.

Outside of work Brigid enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.