Trustee Investment
Posted by admin on 16 Aug 2010 | Tagged as: Better Business, Briefings, Finance Resources
Since the introduction of The trustee Act 2000, trustees now have particular responsibilities relating to the services and administration of trust funds. The responsibility applies to professional and lay trustees. Yet higher standards are expected from professional trustees.
A legal duty of care is applicable to the trustee investment funds that are contained within the trust. For existing and new trusts, the trustees must take into account the trusts objectives and the suitableness of the investments to be held.
Trustees have a responsibility to protect the asset value of the trust fund, whilst providing income for the beneficiaries. It is critical for trustees to take into account the suitability of the investments in the trust, funding, the type of trust arrangement and the demands of the beneficiaries.
A varied portfolio of assets should be used to meet the trusts particular aims.
This approach can help to reduce the risks within the trust investment funds by putting across several asset classes. It is fundamental to take into account risk any unique requirements of the trustees. This could also include investing in an ethical or sociably responsible style.
Trustees have an administrative obligation to re-examine the assets contained within the trust on a regular basis. This can be a drawn-out and lengthy process, particularly if the trust administrators are not experienced investors.
Trusts and Financial Advice
It is important to seek unbiased and impartial advice on the assets held inside any form of trust agreement. We continually advise existing and new trustees on acceptable asset allocation investment strategies.
Trustees frequently engage the investor services of a bank or stock-broker. Occasionally the service is not unique to the needs of the individual trust. A one size fits all philosophy may not take into account the personal needs of the trust. For Instance, the demands of a large educational trust would be different to a small family trust.
The costs to administer the investments are an all-important element. The admin fees charged by stockbrokers and banks for trust investment management can be high. This could have an affect on the investment returns the trust can achieve.
Our investment process takes into account the fee, as this is a known element when we advocate specific 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 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 Sodburychipping Sodbury and offer a unique Trustee investment management service for individual and corporate trusts.
Comments Off