September 4, 2010
Trustee Investment
Since the introduction of The trustee Act 2000, trustees now have unique obligations concerning the servicing and administration of trust funds. The duty of care applies to professional and lay trustees. However higher standards are expected from professional trustees.
A statutory duty of care is applicable to the trustee investment funds that are held. For existing and new trusts, the trustees must take into consideration the trusts aims and the suitableness of the investment funds to be held.
Trustees have a duty to protect the asset value of the trust fund, whilst offering income for the beneficiaries. It is essential for trustees to consider the suitability of the investments in the trust, funding, the type of trust in place and the demands of the beneficiaries.
A wide-ranging portfolio of assets should be used to meet the trusts specific targets.
This approach can help to reduce the risks within the trust investment by putting across several asset categories. It is important to take into account risk any special prerequisites of the trustees. This could also include placing investments in an ethical or sociably responsible manner.
Trustees have an administrative obligation to survey the assets contained within the trust on a regular basis. This can be a time-consuming and protracted process, specially if the trust administrators are not practiced investors.
Trusts and Financial Advice
It is fundamental to seek independent and unprejudiced advice on the assets held inside any form of trust agreement. We continually advise new and existing trustees on suitable asset allocation investment strategies.
Trustees frequently engage the investor functions of a bank or stock-broker. Sometimes the service is not specific to the demands of the individual trust. A one size fits all philosophy may not take into consideration the individual needs of the trust. E.g., the requirements of a large educational trust should be totally different to a small family trust.
The costs to administrate the investment funds are an important component. The admin costs charged by banks and stockbrokers for trust investment advice can be high. This can have an affect on the returns the trust can accomplish.
Our investing process takes into account the costs, as this is a recognized component when we recommend special investment funds.
If as trustees you are considering vesting it is important to remember that the value of the trust investment and the income generated could possibly fall as well as rise. There is no guarantee you will get back more than you vested.
Consilium Asset Management are based in Chipping Sodbury and offer a unique Trustee investment management service.
Filed by admin at 9:23 pm under Commerce, Finance + Capital, Help, Markets
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