HOW A PROFESSIONAL TRUSTEE HELPS ADVISORS STRENGTHEN CLIENT RELATIONSHIP AND SUPPORT MULTI-GENERATIONAL WEALTH

For many families, financial advisors are the first point of contact when they begin thinking about long-term financial planning, estate strategies, and whether a trust is appropriate. Advisors help define goals, organize assets, and guide clients through decisions that shape their family’s future. But once a trust is created, the advisor’s work can become more complicated if the trustee is difficult to reach, slow to act, or unfamiliar with the advisor’s role in the planning process.

Research from the wealth management industry shows that nearly 70 percent of heirs switch financial advisors after receiving an inheritance. One of the most common reasons is a lack of continuity or collaboration between trustees and advisors. This is exactly where working with a professional, independent trustee can make a significant impact.

Our responsibility is to work alongside advisors in a way that strengthens client relationships, supports the advisor’s financial strategy, and ensures the trust operates smoothly.

Clear communication leads to better outcomes

One of the biggest frustrations advisors face is slow or inconsistent communication from corporate trustee departments. Layers of committees, rigid procedures, and high caseloads often delay even routine responses.

We take a different approach. Advisors work directly with the person serving as trustee, without navigating multiple departments or approval channels. This structure allows us to:

• Provide faster, clearer answers

  
  

• Resolve issues more efficiently

  
  

• Keep the advisor informed at every stage

  
  

This direct access improves the client experience and minimizes the delays that often disrupt long-term planning.

Independence allows advisors to stay central to the financial plan

Independence means we do not sell investment products, promote proprietary strategies, or operate under internal quotas. This is an important distinction. It gives advisors complete freedom to stay involved in:

• Investment management

  
  

• Long-term financial planning

  
  

• Tax and estate planning discussions

  
  

• Relationship building with beneficiaries

  
  

Industry surveys show that clients are significantly more satisfied when their advisor remains actively engaged after a trust is established. Yet, many advisors struggle to maintain that involvement because of restrictive corporate trustee policies. Our collaborative model eliminates those barriers.

Support that extends across generations

One of the biggest challenges for advisors is retaining relationships when wealth transitions from one generation to the next. Studies indicate that more than two-thirds of beneficiaries hire a new advisor after inheriting assets, often because they never formed a direct connection with their family’s existing financial professional.

As a trustee, we maintain open communication with beneficiaries and provide transparency around how the trust is managed. Because we work side by side with the advisor, the advisor remains part of these ongoing conversations. This continuity helps advisors remain connected to the next generation and positions them as a trusted resource during major life transitions.

Protection from the risks of serving as a trustee

By partnering with a professional trustee, advisors can stay deeply involved in the planning process without assuming legal responsibility. This keeps the advisor-client relationship strong while protecting the advisor’s practice.

A trustee partnership that enhances the advisor’s value

When a trust is administered with clarity and consistency, it reflects positively on the advisor who guided the family through the planning process. Beneficiaries see professionalism, fairness, and a well-organized approach, which reinforces confidence in both the trustee and the advisor.

At inTRUST Counsel, we work with advisors to provide a level of fiduciary support that enhances client satisfaction and protects long-term financial plans. Our goal is simple: to offer reliable administration, clear communication, and a collaborative relationship that helps advisors deliver exceptional service to every generation of the families they serve. Contact us today to learn more.