Posts by Northwest Trustee
Perspectives on Inheritance – Part 1 of 3
Stephen Trefts, President
“Wealth never creates wisdom. Wisdom may create wealth. If you pass wisdom to your children, you probably can pass wealth to them. If they have enough wisdom, then they may not need your wealth.” In this newsletter, we pose 4 questions to help in the process of passing down your wisdom along with your wealth
Read MoreWhy Appoint a Professional for Probate and Estate Settlement
Sandy Calbreath, Trust Officer
The task of taking an estate through probate and estate settlement is often more than you might expect.
Read MoreThe Duties of a Fiduciary
Cam McGilivray, Trust Officer
Entering a fiduciary relationship carries serious responsibilities. In Washington, trustees are guided by both the terms of the trust document and by statutes pertaining to trusts. This article outlines what can happen if there is a breach of fiduciary duty, as well a highlight some of the laws.
Read MoreThe Effects of ‘Do-It-Yourself’ Estate Planning
Sandy Calbreath, Trust Officer
After spending a lifetime building your estate, a “do-it-yourself” attempt at estate planning can result in a legacy of confusion. This is a brief story of one of our clients who left just such a legacy.
Read MoreReal Examples of Financial Exploitation
Stephen Trefts, President
Financial exploitation is often financially and emotionally devastating to the exploited individual. The following true stories illustrate the complexity of the problem, and highlight some ways to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Read MoreMeeting the Needs of our Beneficiaries Through All Life Stages
Stephen Trefts, President
This story of Margaret shows how we walk alongside our beneficiaries to ensure their needs are met through all the stages of life.
Read MoreManaging Personal Residence to Meet the Needs of the Beneficiary
Sandy Calbreath, Trust Officer
Many of our trusts include the residence of the beneficiary. The following summary explains how we manage property within our trusts.
Read MoreHousing Decisions for Senior Adults
Sandy Calbreath, Trust Officer
Where a person lives out the remainder of his or her life is a very important decision. As trustee, we understand that each individual’s needs are different and find the living arrangement that will best meet those needs.
Read MoreMaking Trust Payout Decisions
Stephen Trefts, President
The language of the trust document determines how we make trust payout decision. This article addresses the nuances of several common distribution types to take into consideration when creating trust documents.
Read MoreMaking Discretionary Decisions
Stephen Trefts, President
Discretionary decision making is a big part of being a trustee, and one that effects beneficiaries greatly. While there is no mechanical formula that can be used, this article identifies certain land marks we look for on the road to the right decision.
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