As clients' estate planning needs become more sophisticated, registered investment advisors often seek ways to expand trust capabilities while continuing to prioritize client relationships. Outsourced trust services for RIAs allow advisory firms to collaborate with an independent trust company that manages fiduciary administration, allowing advisors to remain focused on financial planning, investment management, and ongoing client communication.

Many registered investment advisors help clients navigate trusts as part of a broader wealth and estate planning strategy. However, serving as a trustee is not the only way to support clients. Understanding how RIAs handle trust administration often begins with recognizing the value of partnering with a professional trustee.

Many people think of credit unions as a place for banking, lending, and savings. As members' financial needs become more complex, however, some credit unions also provide access to trust and fiduciary services through strategic partnerships.

As estate planning needs become more sophisticated, financial advisors often collaborate with specialized trust companies to support clients who require ongoing trust administration.

Welcome to “National Estate Planning Awareness Week”, a time to raise awareness about the importance of estate planning. Having an estate plan drafted is a very important step. However, the work doesn’t stop there.

The third week in October is designated as “National Estate Planning Awareness Week” to raise awareness about the importance of estate planning and creating wills and trusts. One common estate planning strategy for married couples is a Spousal Limited Access Trust (SLAT).

If you’re putting together an estate plan, there are a few key questions you’ll need to answer. Here are 10 of the most important questions to ask yourself (or your estate planning attorney) to ensure that your plan is complete and effective.

As you think about your future, it’s important to start thinking about your estate plan. This includes making decisions about your healthcare and who will make those decisions for you in the event of incapacity. A Healthcare Directive is an important document within an estate plan.

Trust and estate planning is an important part of ensuring the security of your family’s future. Unfortunately, many people make mistakes in estate planning that can have serious consequences down the line. To help you avoid these errors, here are five common trust and estate planning mistakes and how to prevent them.

For many people, estate planning can seem like a complex and intimidating process. With so many nuances in state and federal laws, it can be difficult to understand the tax implications associated with estate planning decisions.

Many people may not realize that charitable planning intersects with estate and business succession planning. Combining a charitable strategy and the sale of a business is a great way for owners to minimize taxes and provide equity for the next phase of their lives.

As the population ages, more and more people are finding themselves in need of long-term care. This care can be costly, so it’s important to have a plan in place to manage those costs. One way to do this is with insurance. Here are some strategies for using long-term care (LTC) insurance to manage long-term care costs.

A trust is a legal document that allows a third party, or trustee, to handle your assets in the event of death or incapacity. People set up trusts to help manage their assets during their lifetime and after death. In the event of death, trusts make sure that your beneficiaries receive your assets according to your wishes. They can assist you in caring for dependents that may struggle with financial inexperience, addiction, or illness. In the event of incapacity, they also ensure that you get the type of care you need.

When we think about wills, many of us assume they're only necessary for the wealthy. The reality, however, is that a will is an essential legal document for anyone who owns anything of value—whether that’s a car, a house, or even a prized art collection.

Many people use the terms “will” and “trust” interchangeably, but these documents are very different. In many cases, it’s wise to set up both a will and a trust as components of a comprehensive estate plan.