Interested in joining our team?
We are always on the lookout for passionate people that possess IQ and EQ to join our growing team.
We are the premier provider of independent professional trustee services.
As a state chartered, non-depositary trust company (NDTC) with operating offices in both New Hampshire and South Dakota, we provide premier trust administration and family office services for both domestic and international families and structures. With over $8.5 billion in assets under administration, we serve as trustee of 850+ trusts for 250+ families.
We offer administrative trustee and family office services to high- and ultra-high-net-worth families from all over the world, providing them access to the well-established advantages of New Hampshire and South Dakota’s trust and tax laws. We are equally adept at serving both domestic and international families and can accommodate any trust governance structure to serve the strategic goals of our clients.
The combination of our unbundled services model, our industry expertise and our a la carte fee structure allows families to choose only the services they need, without disturbing existing relationships with financial managers and other trusted advisers.
Under a multi-participant trust arrangement, we carry out the administration of the trust as directed by the family and/or its advisors. The family retains control of the trust’s investment decisions – either selecting the types of investment assets (equities, real estate, private businesses etc.) or the investment professionals who manage them.
Regarding discretionary distributions to trust beneficiaries, we may also be directed by an independent trustee, chosen by the family. While we can serve as distribution trustee for many trusts, some families prefer to have an extended family member or other associate determine the amounts and the timing of the discretionary distributions.
Our business practices and attention to detail maintain that the integrity of your estate plan. Our multi-participant trustee model supports a collaborative, team-based approach to multi-generational wealth planning – we complement your existing advisors, we never compete with them.
Useful links:
South Dakota Trust Association
Open architecture trust design: The emergence of “Multi-Participant” trusts and frameworks to support them
What is a directed trust and how does it work?
Structures: we can accommodate a diverse range of private wealth structures
We understand that the traditional options for selecting a trustee are often too limiting for many families.
While an individual “family” trustee may be more flexible with respect to investments or be better equipped to handle family dynamics, he or she often lacks accounting expertise, focus and a good back-up plan. On the other hand, a corporate or “bank” trustee may be better equipped to manage trust operations for the long run, but some families find these depository banks expensive and too conservative when it comes to investment strategies or beneficiary distributions. Some families try to mix the two options – appointing a family member and a bank to work together as co-trustees. Unfortunately, that approach often falls short because, under traditional law, co-trustees are responsible for one another’s actions and that often leads to conflict.
Our unique directed-trustee model aims to strike a healthy balance between individual flexibility and company oversight. Enabled by the modern trust laws in New Hampshire and South Dakota, we allow families to maintain control over investment decisions but rely on a professional trust company for “back office” administrative trustee services. This bifurcation of roles and responsibilities assures our clients that we will never exert pressure or angle to overtake all trustee functions, especially wealth management. Our business practices and attention to detail maintain that the integrity of your carefully constructed estate plan, and our multi-participant, directed trustee model supports a collaborative, team-based approach to multi-generational wealth planning.
- One dedicated team
- Unrivalled technical expertise
- Committed service delivery
We understand that personal touch is essential in building strong relationships with our clients. That’s why we focus on both IQ and EQ, providing you with the customized support you need to achieve your investment objectives.
With an integrated, global approach, we can provide consistent and reliable trust services across the U.S.
While well-drafted documents, governing law and management structure are key components of a successful multi-generational wealth plan, nothing is more important to the long-term success of a family trust than the team of professionals working on your behalf. Our team provides you with first hand, in-depth expertise in the broad range of interjurisdictional, professional trustee and family office services. Our team works together with you and your trusted advisors to provide unmatched service levels and proven professional services.