With decades of experience, the Fletcher Tilton Trust Administration Practice has earned a reputation as a well-respected and reliable advisor to generations of individuals and families. Each trust attorney who serves as a trustee has demonstrated seasoned and time-tested capabilities serving in a fiduciary role. Collectively, these trustees administer approximately $1 billion in total assets. More than $500 million of those trust assets are actively managed and invested by the trustees with the balance being invested in collaboration with external professional advisors.
A crucial function in a trust administration practice is establishing and maintaining a strong and respectful relationship with each trust beneficiary. Fletcher Tilton Trustees are committed to working with each beneficiary in an informed and responsive fashion. This work is supported by the work of Trust Officers who, along with the Trustees, maintain regular and timely communication with trust beneficiaries. The Trustee and Trust Officer work together in performing the array of functions that properly fulfill their fiduciary obligations.
Some examples of these fiduciary functions are:
- Prudent investment of trust assets;
- Accurate financial accounting of trust activity;
- Timely and accurate payments to and/or on behalf of beneficiaries;
- Timely and responsive processing of discretionary distribution requests;
- Regular communication with beneficiaries and relevant family members;
- Distribution of financial accounts; and
- Filing of fiduciary tax returns.
In collaboration with the Fletcher Tilton Special Needs Practice Group, Trustees and Trust Officers offer unique capabilities in administering supplemental needs trusts for the benefit of individuals with disabilities. The administration of a supplemental needs trust provides an individualized approach to enhance the quality of life for the beneficiary as well as maximize eligibility of critically important means-tested government benefits. For parents who have a son or daughter with a disability, the professional administration of a supplemental needs trust funded upon the death of the parents is an effective strategy to protect family assets and safeguard the interests of a son or daughter with a disability in the future.
Fletcher Tilton’s commitment to prudent trust administration is exemplified by the ongoing work of the Fletcher Tilton Investment Committee. This committee comprises Trustees, Trust Officers and relevant Fletcher Tilton personnel. Committee members meet with the firm’s designated professional investment advisors on a regular basis and receive financial and economic updates as well as recommendations with respect to investment decisions. Committee meetings also provide its members with the opportunity to discuss specific investment strategies and to collaborate on a range of trust administration matters.
