September 1, 2010
Trustee Investing
Since the introduction of The trustee Act 2000, trustees now have particular duties relating to the services and administration of trust funds. The responsibility applies to lay and professional trustees. Still higher standards are expected from professional trustees.
A legal duty of care is applicable to the trustee investments that are held. For new or existing trusts, the trustees must take into account the trusts objectives and the suitability of the investment funds to be held.
Trustees have a responsibility to protect the value of the trust fund, whilst offering income for the beneficiaries. It is fundamental for trustees to think about the suitability of the investments in the trust, funding, the type of trust in place and the requirements of the beneficiaries.
A wide-ranging portfolio of assets should be used to meet the trusts unique objectives.
This type of approach can help to reduce the risks within the trust investment funds by placing across various asset classes. It is essential to take into account risk any particular requirements of the trustees. This could also include investing in an ethical or sociably responsible way.
Trustees have an administrative obligation to survey the assets held within the trust on a regular basis. This can be a time-consuming and protracted process, particularly if the trust decision makers are not knowledgeable investors.
Trusts and Independent Financial Advice.
It is fundamental to seek independent and unprejudiced advice on the assets held inside any form of trust agreement. We continually advise existing and new trustees on suitable asset allocation investment strategies.
Trustees often engage the investor services of a bank or stock-broker. Occasionally the service is not unique to the demands of the individual trust. A one size fits all philosophy may not take into consideration the personal needs of the trust. For example, the requirements of a large educational trust might be totally different to a small family trust.
The costs to administrate the investments are an all-important component. The admin charges charged by stockbrokers and banks for trust investment funds management can be high. This will have an affect on the investment returns the trust can achieve.
Our investment funds process takes into account the charges, as this is a well-known element when we recommend specific investment funds.
If as trustees you are deliberating about investing it is important to remember that the value of the trust investment and the income given might rise as well as fall. There is no guarantee you will get back more than you invested.
Consilium Asset Management are based in Chipping Sodbury and offer a unique Trustee investment management service.
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