Put your trust in us TRUST COMPANY
Mission At D.A. Davidson Trust Company, we offer straightforward advice, personalized solutions, and industry expertise. We are dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals both in realizing aspirations of today and in shaping their legacy for the future. To that end, we pledge a commitment of care and integrity to our communities, reflected by our knowledgeable staff of trust professionals.
Services D.A. Davidson Trust Company is a full-service trust company offering a holistic approach that includes wealth planning, retirement planning, investment management and personal trust services for individuals, families, businesses, foundations and institutional clients. Personal Wealth Planning We provide complimentary wealth planning; only when assets come under our management are fees involved. As planners, we add value to your financial equation by supplementing and coordinating services you receive from other advisors. Considering all your resources and choices, we offer a big picture perspective. Whether your wealth plan has been developed by our firm or others, changes of mind and in circumstance necessitate regular updates. Both developing new plans and reviewing preexisting plans are benefits of our service to clients and an important element of any plan. For business owners, we clarify the separate concerns of family and business, planning to ensure the success of both. Thoughtful, prudent business succession planning is important for both the succession of the business and the sanctity of family relationships. We consider the use of trusts in all estate planning. For many clients, trusts are a powerful and flexible tool for current and future wealth management. Trusts can prevent impulsive decisions, reduce taxes and probate costs, and are difficult to contest.
Retirement Planning Services Retirement plans are a key benefit offered to employees and play a critical role in an employer s ability to attract and retain talent. As the directed trustee and custodian of a retirement plan, we work directly with other advisors involved in the big picture planning process; this allows the owner to focus on his or her business success while we focus on the success of the retirement plan program. Providing educational resources, assistance in selecting the investment most complementary to your retirement plan, and enhancing your comprehensive planning approach is your D.A. Davidson/Crowell Weedon Financial Advisor. D.A. Davidson Trust Company works collaboratively with your Financial Advisor to facilitate a positive transition from employment to retirement and estate planning. Asset Management Carrying out your wealth plans, D.A. Davidson Trust Company can manage all your investment and non-investment holdings. Simply select the services you need from equity investing, to property management, to safekeeping of valuables. Portfolio Management We can manage portfolios of stocks, bonds and cash in conjunction with Davidson Investment Advisors or your D.A. Davidson/Crowell Weedon Financial Advisor. Investments under our management are influenced by a number of factors: the type of trust, your income and growth needs, risk tolerance and strategy preferences. We construct and monitor diverse portfolios, revising them as your needs change. Mutual Fund Investment D.A. Davidson Trust Company s Trust Mutual Fund Investments Program (TMFI) was designed to help us chart prudent long-term strategies using a choice of asset allocations based on your investment objectives, time horizon and risk profile.
Property and Lease Management As needed, we manage farm, residential and commercial properties, oil and gas leases, contracts for deeds and clientheld mortgages. Management duties range from payment collection and property inspection to lease development and problem resolution. Safekeeping Services Safekeeping of valuables such as art, jewelry, and stock and bond certificates is another service we offer clients. Providing planning assistance for the present while developing and executing complementary planning for clients vision of the future is our passion and our purpose. Together, we can anticipate your investment needs and those of generations to come. Trusts are Our Specialty While we offer a wide array of wealth planning services, trusts are our specialty. D.A. Davidson Trust Company offers complete, comprehensive trust services tailored to help you meet your specific goals. Determining if a Trust is Right for You Trusts can provide many advantages; however, they may not be the appropriate solution for everyone. Based on your personal objectives, our experienced, professionally certified trust officers can work with you to determine whether a trust is a suitable tool to employ in your planning process. Choosing a Trust The trust you choose must be tailored to meet your unique needs; one size does not fit all. D.A. Davidson Trust Company is here to help you choose the most appropriate trust (or trusts) for you. Fully informed and exceptionally knowledgeable about the wide range of new and traditional trusts allowed by law, we facilitate and administer the trust of your choosing. Accompanying legal work is completed by your choice of attorney.
Choosing a Trustee After you have chosen the type of trust most suitable to your objectives, you will need to locate or name someone to administer and manage the trust: the trustee. Most often we think of a trustee as a person sometimes a close friend or relative. However, trustees can also be institutions, referred to as corporate trustees. While there are some situations appropriate to name an individual as trustee, often an individual may not want the responsibility - both legal and personal - of acting as a trustee. For this reason, careful consideration and discussion should be a priority when naming an individual as a trustee. Legal Responsibility for Trustee Functions Trustees must perform a variety of functions in the management of a trust: safekeeping of securities keeping custody of personal items, managing assets, controlling and monitoring discretionary distributions, record keeping, accounting, making principal and income decisions, staying informed of a beneficiary s tax situation, coordinating preparation and filing of tax returns, bill paying, and notifying and responding to beneficiaries. Most individual trustees lack experience in performing some or all of these functions. The extent to which an individual lacks experience in some, or all, of these areas is the extent to which an individual is exposed to legal liability. Hiring a corporate trustee may help individuals avoid mistakes for which they could ultimately be held liable. Personal Responsibility for Trustee Functions Relationships between family and finances can be sensitive and, in some cases, divisive. When considering a potential trustee, it is important to examine their desire and ability to manage family conflicts. Sometimes, a trustee caring for a loved one without capacity can face considerable resistance
from family members with little or no discretion over the trustee s decisions. For example, when making a final distribution, it may befall the designated trustee to determine how a long-held, sentimental vacation home is used in the future. Taking personal responsibility for difficult decisions is not easy, and if someone wants to lead his or her current life without added stress or strife, declining a request to be an individual trustee may be the best decision to make. Acting as an Individual Trustee Despite legal liabilities and personal difficulties involved when acting as an individual trustee, some ultimately elect to shoulder the burden of responsibility. If so, an individual should know that he or she does not have to go at it alone; D. A. Davidson Trust Company, or a corporate trust organization, may act as an agent for an individual trustee, enabling an individual to hire a corporate organization to execute trustee work. In this situation, the individual trustee can have absolute confidence that the trust work is handled professionally, while freeing the individual from the immediate and mundane responsibilities of serving as trustee. For most individual trustees, employing a corporate organization as an agent is a wise decision. Investment Management A corporate trustee is experienced in a wide variety of asset management techniques, bolstered by the many investment vehicles and resources available to meet the goals and objectives of a trust. Conversely, an individual trustee may lack the necessary time or resources to make suitable trust investment decisions. Even if you currently have a trust with an individual trustee, you may wish to consider naming a corporate trustee as an agent or successor trustee.
D.A. Davidson Trust Company as Corporate Trustee For over 40 years, D.A. Davidson Trust Company has been helping clients by serving in the capacity of corporate trustee. As the administrator or trustee of a trust, we set up, administer and manage your account to meet the objectives set forth in your trust document while objectively serving beneficiaries best interests. Our duties as trustee include managing trust investments and safekeeping assets, coordinating preparation and filing of trust tax returns, paying bills, and controlling and monitoring discretionary distributions. We can serve alone in this capacity or as a co-trustee. Whatever our role, for the life of your assets we adhere to the directives of trust documents. Benefits of a Corporate Trustee A corporate trustee is simply an institution serving as trustee rather than an individual. Building, managing, and protecting wealth is a trustee s primary duty. When setting up a trust, it is important to consider to whom you wish to delegate control over your assets and trust, and their ability to execute decisions outlined in your trust agreement. While you can choose anyone you like, there are many good reasons to consider a corporate trustee. Even if you decide to name yourself or a family member trustee, it is advisable to consider naming a corporate trustee as a successor trustee. Perhaps you feel there are no family members you are comfortable naming as your trustee. In this case, you may consider naming a corporate co-trustee should you ever need to relinquish these responsibilities. Perhaps you feel you could handle the responsibilities of acting as trustee yourself, but would like advice or assistance on your investment decisions. In this scenario, you may name a trust corporation as an investment agent for the trustee and decide how much responsibility you wish to delegate.
The following are reasons for naming a corporate trustee as acting trustee, co-trustee, successor trustee, or as an agent for the trustee: Experience in the trust area Administration of accounts; including safekeeping assets, controlling and monitoring discretionary distributions, record keeping, accounting, coordinating preparation and filing of tax returns and bill paying. A corporate trustee is well versed in these duties and will accurately carry out the wishes of the grantor and meet all requirements. These duties can easily become a burden to an individual. Investment management The corporate trustee is experienced in a wide variety of assets and has the necessary investment vehicles available to meet the goals and objectives of the grantor. Dividends and interest are swept daily to our money market funds, which normally have higher returns than passbook savings accounts. Many people hold checks for months, preventing financial growth. Objectivity A corporate trustee will follow trust instructions included in the agreement objectively and faithfully. A corporate outside party is handling the trust to take care of the grantors, survivor of the grantors, and named beneficiaries. This avoids conflicts of interest between family members. Regulated D.A. Davidson Trust Company is a federally chartered savings bank and is subject to all banking, fiduciary, and trust rules and regulations. Examiners and independent auditors visit our office and review accounts on a regular basis and expect higher standards from corporate trustees than individual trustees.
Corporation A corporate trustee is ongoing; it is not hindered by illness, tragedy, or death as individual trustees may be. Two account administrators are assigned to each account, keeping current on all activities in the account. Minimize family problems Money can change attitudes and behavior. Occasionally, jealousies can ripen if one family member is principally responsible in assisting parents or siblings; others tend to wonder where money is being funneled. Leaving one member with the many burdens that befall trustees may not be fair or reasonable. Peace of mind Relinquishing the worry of record keeping, investment decisions, tax returns, and an organized estate plan can yield peace of mind for individuals. The services of a corporate trustee are generally worth the expense. Burdensome tasks are handled by an experienced, objective, regulated corporation and the benefits are retained by the grantor. The D.A. Davidson Companies Family Headquartered in Great Falls, Montana, D.A. Davidson Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of D.A. Davidson Companies. D.A. Davidson Companies is unique because we remain an employee-owned group of firms, meaning we are invested in you and in doing what is right. We listen to you. Then, and only then, do we start seeking the best financial solutions for you. When you combine that personal touch with our strong expertise, you get the clientcentered focus that makes D.A. Davidson Companies uniquely capable of serving as your financial partner.
The Team Approach Because of our strong, cooperative spirit, we work closely with D.A. Davidson & Co./Crowell Weedon and Davidson Investment Advisors, our sister companies, to provide the customized attention you need. If you have a relationship with a D.A. Davidson or Crowell Weedon Financial Advisor, not only can you continue that relationship, but together we can also deliver to you a full range of services. Additionally, we make professional money management available to you through Davidson Investment Advisors. Our team is not limited to D.A. Davidson Companies professionals; we willingly work with your trusted outside advisors, such as attorneys, accountants and insurance consultants, to best address your needs. Whatever your situation, our team pools its knowledge and expertise to provide you with full-service wealth planning solutions. At D.A. Davidson Trust Company, you benefit from working with a full team of advisors, from trust officers and employee benefits specialists to estate planning professionals. Our team s niche is in our ability to think beyond traditional wealth management boundaries, meaning we can suggest more options to you. Our goal is your satisfaction. We look forward to helping you put your trust in us!
For more information regarding D.A. Davidson Trust Company, please refer to our website at www.davidsoncompanies.com/dtc/ Billings, MT 888.218.9885 Great Falls, MT 800.634.5526 Lake Oswego, OR 855.694.5257 Los Angeles, CA 855.694.5256 Missoula, MT 888.218.9884 Seattle, WA 888.389.8001 Spokane, WA 800.676.8323 TRUST COMPANY D.A. Davidson & Co. member SIPC Crowell, Weedon & Co. a division of D.A. Davidson & Co. www.davidsoncompanies.com 5/15