We offer a curated collection of updates, insights, and practical tools designed to keep advisors and attorneys informed in a rapidly evolving fiduciary landscape. From changes in trust law and regulatory developments to best practices in administration and planning, this section provides clear, actionable information that supports your work and strengthens client outcomes.
There are different types of trustees. Over the next decade, trillions of dollars will be passed to future generations. Trusts have become a common strategy for estate planning. Naming the right trustee is crucially important. This should be a business decision, not an emotional one. The trustee has an array of responsibility and risks. Understanding […]
Delegated trust or directed trust? Everyone wants to know the pros and cons of each. Directed trusts are newish (e.g. last 30 years). Delegated trusts have been around since the 1300's. Neither a delegated nor directed trust should be defined as good or bad. This article describes the key differences affecting a trust, whether using […]
Trustee services are important to making sure your trust is administered correctly. It can be difficult to give up the control of your trust money to an outside company. The extra trustee fees gives people doubt. Often, individuals will hire friends or family members to serve as trustee for their trust. Sometimes this is a […]
A bank trust company is a corporation that acts as an agent, fiduciary, or trustee. It is a trust company within a bank. Almost every city has a bank trust company. Not all states have the same quality trust law. South Dakota trust law offers the most control and choice for everyone. Examples of a […]
Do you write your own blog? I do. Why? At my core, I am a geek/nerd who loves to learn, especially about why's and how's. Connecting the dots that are not obvious fascinates me. I always wanted to be a history professor. The Q&A below acts as a template anyone can ask themselves to start […]
Finding cost efficient trustee fees frustrates many people. Wealthy and affluent people find using trustee services daunting. Why? Nobody understands the process of how corporate trustee fees calculations. Nobody understands exactly what a trustee does. This 700 year old industry never had true external competition. No competition means no motivation for innovation. Until now... This […]
What is the Secure Act? In 2019, the House of Representatives passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, known as the Secure Act. The purpose could help Americans save for retirement. Unfortunately, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), 401(k)s, and Roth IRAs will have their value reduced. Waiting for Senate approval, the Secure Act […]
In the US Supreme Court trust case of Kaestner vs. North Carolina the justices ruled 9-0 in favor of the taxpayer. This trust case gives everyone clear rules on taxation of trusts when different parties are in different states. In nearly a century no other trust case such as the Kaestner vs. North Carolina holds […]
Wealthy families face difficult questions - giving it all away wisely. To quote the Notorious B.I.G., "I don't know what they want from me/It's like the more money we come across/The more problems we see." David Green provided a strong foundation to solve this issue. Any society throughout history gives different answers. What worked in […]
