Trust FAQs

Many of our clients choose trust arrangements because of the unique advantages they offer, but you're not required to create a trust. If you prefer, you can put us to work on a less formal basis. All it takes is a simple letter of instruction, designating us to act as your investment agent.

With a trust, you can not only draw on our broad investment capabilities but also arrange to have us perform any number of special services, now or in the future. These personalized services could range from making payments of estimated taxes while you're traveling abroad to providing full personal financial management in the event you suffer an incapacitating illness.

Also, you can name one or more beneficiaries to receive the assets of your trust at your death. These distributions avoid probate. Or you can have your trust continue beyond your lifetime, serving as a source of continuing income and support for your spouse, a child, or others whom you designate.

No. To put us to work as your trustee, you take two steps. You deliver the money and/or securities that you wish to place in trust, and you give us your written instructions in the form of a trust agreement. The agreement, drawn up by your attorney, is signed by you (as creator of the trust) and by us (as trustee). That's all there is to it.

Trusts of this type are often called living trusts to distinguish them from testamentary trusts (those established under the terms of a will). Living trusts created for the purpose of personal asset management are also known as revocable trusts. That's because the person who creates the trust reserves the right to cancel or revoke it.

Certainly. Usually our trust clients keep control in three ways: First, the trust agreement specifies that they may make withdrawals (or additions) at any time. Second, as just mentioned, they reserve the right to cancel the trust. Third, they reserve the right to give us new or different instructions by amending the trust agreement.

If you wish. Most of our clients look to us for objective, unbiased portfolio supervision because they lack the time or specialized knowledge to do all the necessary investment homework themselves. But you can delegate as much or as little investment responsibility as you want. After all, it's your trust.

For example, you might spell out your goals and requirements in some detail, then leave the selection of specific investments to us as trustee.

Or you might start out by asking us to submit each proposed investment change for your approval until you're satisfied that we're interpreting your requirements accurately.

Or you might ask us to submit recommendations while also researching some opportunities on your own.

Or...But by now you have the picture. With a trust, you make the rules.

No. Our fees are competitive with those charged by investment advisory firms (for services that may not include custodianship of securities, recordkeeping and other conveniences) or by mutual funds.

If you think of millions of dollars when you hear the word "trust," you're the victim of a widespread misconception. Today's trust institutions have developed ways to handle even relatively small trusts efficiently. In any case, we don't think in terms of fixed minimums. Instead we ask ourselves, "Is a trust the best way to meet this person's financial management needs?"

To find out whether a trust would be right for you, schedule an exploratory talk with a trust officer.

That depends on your goals—current income, long-term growth to offset inflation, or some balance of the two—and on ever-changing investment conditions.

Over roughly the past 75 years, diversified portfolios of good-quality stocks have produced a total annual return (dividends plus growth in principal value) averaging around 11%. Bonds have produced somewhat lower returns overall, but they offer a higher level of current income than stocks.

As trustee, our goal is to provide reasonably consistent returns over the years. We emphasize careful asset allocation, the selection of quality investments and constant vigilance.

Primarily, trust funds are invested in stocks, bonds or other income-producing assets. These trust investments are not bank deposits. Securities and other assets administered by a bank as trustee are held separate from the bank's own assets, under strict audit controls, and cannot be reached by the bank's creditors.

Therefore, the need for FDIC insurance is generally limited to uninvested trust cash, such as income awaiting distribution. Under FDIC regulations, uninvested funds held or deposited by the bank as trustee for a revocable trust are insured together with other deposits of the trust's owner, up to the FDIC limit.

That's easy. Our trust and investment pros will be glad to assemble further information for you, analyze your investment requirements and answer questions not covered here. Please email us or call our Asset Management and Trust Department at (916) 325-0050.

Investments not FDIC insured - May lose value - No bank guarantee