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Advisor-Friendly Trust Services

Your aging client base represents a looming threat to your business.
We help you avoid this threat.

Financial advisors today face uncertain industry dynamics that potentially threaten their books of business.

First — and foremost — the average advisor today is 59 years old and there aren’t enough new advisors coming into the business to potentially monetize their own book when they retire.

Second — as artificial intelligence and ease of online trading continues to proliferate, the potential need for financial advisors is decreasing.

Third — as advisors’ clients start reaching retirement age with nice nest eggs, advisors must work to ensure that they will manage the assets for the next generation.

“Only 20% of advisors keep their client’s assets after the death of the principle when a trust is not involved​” – Antony Joffe, President, Sterling Trustees

Without a plan, your business could be at risk.

These uncertainties raise two critical issues, of which many advisors are not fully aware.

First — if their client assets aren’t in trust when the client dies, the likelihood of holding onto the assets for the next generation is a very low 20%.

Second — if the assets are in trust and he is appointed investment advisor, how does the advisor ensure that he can maintain adequate control over the assets and not be forced to custody assets away at a large trust bank where assets can potentially be poached away by a trust officer working at the bank?

We can help your business avoid this potential pitfall.

At Sterling Trustees, we understand the challenges facing financial advisors and work hard to guide them successfully to solutions that protect their business and their clients’ interests—simultaneously. By partnering with Sterling Trustees, your collaborating with a team that will help ensure that your client’s legacy will continue under your watchful eye—and that your own book of business will continue to grow when your clients pass assets onto the next generation.

  • We are an independent trust company, that does not manage any assets.
  • We are custodian agnostic and therefore allow you to run your business and retain assets under management.
  • Acccounts stay on the advisors platform for seamless experience.
  • We provide exceptional customer service to advisors and beneficiaries.
  • We eliminate the inherent conflict of interest that exists at most trust companies by separating the investment advisor from the trustee
  • Chartered in South Dakota, we bring many advantages such as no state income or capital gains tax, no rule against perpetuities, asset protection and privacy to name a few.
  • We mitigate negative family dynamics typical when trustee is a family member.
  • Portability – We follow the advisor. If you change broker dealers or take your book of business to another firm, we will follow you.
  • We will never poach your clients!

Talk to us today. Learn how we can help your business too.

Contact Us
Spend 30 minutes with us and let us begin to show you how we work alongside financial planners to carefully guide them through a plan to insulate their businesses from the potential impact of their rapidly-aging client base–easy and powerful. Send us an email to get started.

Experience. Independence. Trust.

With no overlap or conflict of interest, we're your perfect partner.

Since Sterling Trustees is an independent trustee that doesn’t manage any assets, you remove the threat of assets being poached while still providing your client with a conflict-free trustee service. This “unbundling” of financial services allows both trustee and advisor to collaboratively provide comprehensive wealth management without losing control of the relationship or fees—a true win for both client and advisor.

Industry data shows that families in the high net worth and ultra-high net worth space are growing weary of the inflexibility, trust officer turnover and high fees charged by large institutional banks.

For these concerned family clients, Sterling is the trustworthy, unbiased, and very welcome answer.

Talk to us today. Learn how we can help your business too.

Contact Us
Spend 30 minutes with us and let us begin to show you how we work alongside financial planners to carefully guide them through a plan to insulate their businesses from the potential impact of their rapidly-aging client base–easy and powerful. Send us an email to get started.