Naming a trustee - It's one of the most important decisoins of your life

One of the major decisions that need to be made when establishing a trust is who will act as trustee. This article talks about the responsibilities of the position as well as the qualities (such as prudence, impartiality and tax knowledge) that make a good trustee. It mentions that many people name a financial institution or professional advisor, rather than a friend or family member.

Naming a trustee

It’s one of the most important decisions of your life

Trusts are appealing for many reasons. They can enable you to hold and transfer assets for beneficiaries, avoid probate and reduce estate tax exposure. But they can be complicated to set up. One of the major decisions you’ll need to make when establishing a trust is who will act as your trustee. As the name implies, this individual or financial institution must be above reproach. But that’s just one quality of many that your trustee requires.

Duties both mundane and significant

Trustees have significant legal responsibilities, primarily related to administering the trust for the benefit of beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust document. But the role can require many different types of tasks. For example, even if a tax expert is engaged to prepare tax returns, the trustee is responsible for ensuring that they’re completed and filed correctly and on time.

One of the more challenging trustee duties is to accurately account for investments and distributions. When funds are distributed to cover a beneficiary’s education expenses, for example, the trustee should record both the distribution and the expenses covered by it. Beneficiaries are allowed to request an accounting of the transactions at any time.

The trustee needs to invest assets within the trust reasonably, prudently and for the long-term benefit of beneficiaries. And trustees must avoid conflicts of interest — that is, they can’t act for personal gain when managing the trust. For instance, trustees typically can’t purchase assets from the trust. The trustee probably would prefer a lower purchase price, which would run counter to the best interests of the trust’s beneficiaries.

Finally, trustees must be impartial. They may need to decide between competing interests, while still acting within the terms of the trust document. An example of competing interests might be when a trust is designed to provide current income to a first beneficiary during his or her lifetime, after which the assets pass to a second beneficiary. Although the first beneficiary would probably prefer that the trust’s assets be invested in income-producing securities, the second would likely prefer growth investments.

A tall order

Several qualities help make someone an effective trustee, including:

· A solid understanding of tax and trust law,

· Investment management experience,

· Bookkeeping skills,

· Integrity and honesty, and

· The ability to work with all beneficiaries objectively and impartially.

And because some trusts continue for generations, trustees may need to be available for an extended period. For this reason, many people name a financial institution or professional advisor, rather than a friend or family member, as trustee.

Naming a friend or family member as a trustee may seem appealing because it appears to be a way to reduce or avoid the fees associated with an institutional trustee. But it’s important to recognize that taking on the responsibilities of a trustee requires an investment of time, energy and expertise, and that trustees deserve compensation. Even if trust documents don’t provide a fee for the trustee, many states allow for a “reasonable fee.” Before engaging a trustee, make sure you understand what services are included in the fee. But it’s generally not a good idea to try to avoid paying a trustee fee.

Ask for suggestions

If you feel that none of your friends or family members are qualified to be named your trustee, ask your professional advisors, such as your attorney, accountant or insurance agent, for help. They may be able to serve or recommend individuals or institutions with the proper expertise and experience.

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