The Living Trust
The Living Trust is a versatile estate-planning tool that is designed to evolve with your needs and responsibilities. It defines how finances will be managed during your lifetime and in case of a long illness or incapacitation. If you name your spouse to succeed you as primary beneficiary, he or she can continue to receive income from the trust until death.
It also allows assets to be passed to heirs without going through probate. The beneficiaries you designate receive an immediate source of income and uninterrupted investment management — which a trust created by Will cannot offer. With a Living Trust, you maintain control of assets and can change its terms, while gaining the assurance that you and your loved ones are fully protected.
Your Living Trust with Haverford
When you create a Living Trust that names Haverford as trustee or co-trustee, you gain professional, personalized investment management and give up the paperwork and hassle involved in handling securities. A Living Trust also provides an important element of financial protection in the event of illness or incapacitation for a prolonged period. In conjunction with your Living Trust, Haverford offers you:
Investment Management
Investing today is a 24×7 occupation that marches to the drumbeat of financial news, market data and a steady stream of new financial products. As your investment manager, we take care of the analysis, portfolio design and active management of your investments, whether you choose to make us fully responsible for investments or to approve recommendations that we make.
Privacy
Your will becomes a matter of public record when it enters probate, which can lead to unwelcome results. News that beneficiaries will receive a sizeable bequest may make them the target of investment promoters. Details concerning how shares in a family business will be distributed may prove useful to a rival company. A Living Trust is far less likely to attract public attention, because it is established by private agreement and generally remains confidential.
Freedom and Protection
With a Living Trust, you can authorize Haverford to act as your financial agent. If you look forward to traveling extensively, we can handle any number of special tasks here at home, from paying recurring bills to coordinating the preparation of tax returns. If you become incapacitated, we can continue to provide comprehensive management of your investments and take care of your financial life, from paying household expenses and taxes to retaining domestic assistance.
Tax Planning
Assets held in a Living Trust are classified as yours, which confers no special tax advantage. But a trust can be structured to shelter all or part of the assets from later tax upon death. Special planning is needed because the tax code is subject to change, and we recommend consultation with a qualified tax professional to determine your best options.
Convenience
As your trustee, Haverford can handle obligations related to the care and handling of investments, from buying and selling to record-keeping, financial reporting, redemption and conversion deadlines and tax filing.
Cost Effective
By sidestepping the probate process, a Living Trust may reduce the expenses of estate settlement, preserving assets for your heirs.
Common Types of Trusts and Their Uses
The Living Trust |
Charitable Remainder Trust |
Irrevocable Trust |
Special Needs Trust |
Wills/Estate Settlement |
|
| Ensures Investors’ Wishes | Primary | Primary | Benefit | Benefit | Primary |
| Protects Minor Children | Option | No | Option | Option | Option |
| Provides for Those with Special Needs | Option | No | Option | Primary | Option |
| Ensures Smooth Transition of Wealth | Primary | Benefit | Benefit | Option | Primary |
| Benefits Charities | Option | Primary | Option | No | Option |
| Tax Advantages | No | Primary | Option | No | Primary |
| Irrevocable | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
