Modern Trust Basics for the Financial Adviser

Modern trust planning is very different than the simple traditional trust that named Aunt Jane as trustee and distributed all assets to the kids by age 30. Modern trusts offer a tremendous number of robust planning options for clients of all income and wealth levels. Advisers need to understand the mechanisms used in order to provide proper planning advice, determine asset location decisions, assure that their clients are protected and much more. Directed trusts are a common tool in the modern trust planning arsenal and an essential tool if advisers want to retain family assets and relationships after the patriarch or matriarch dies leaving assets to trusts. Modern trusts after the 2017 Tax Act are more varied and can present a number of income tax planning options relevant to all wealth levels of clients. Advisers need to understand the basics of trust options to understand and implement this planning. This program will build a foundation on which a more advanced trust planning program, tailored specifically to the financial adviser, will be presented at NAPFAs annual convention in Philadelphia on October 16, 2018.