Trustee Investments
Since the introduction of The trustee Act 2000, trustees now have particular duties concerning the serving and administration of trust funds. The responsibility is applicable to professional and lay trustees. Still higher standards are expected from professional trustees.
A legal duty of care is applicable to the trustee investment funds that are held. For new or existing trusts, the trustees must take into account the trusts objectives and the suitableness of the investment funds to be held.
Trustees have an obligation to protect the asset value of the trust fund, whilst providing income for the beneficiaries. It is important for trustees to take into account the suitableness of the investment funds in the trust, funding, the type of trust arrangement and the demands of the beneficiaries.
A diversified portfolio of assets should be used to meet the trusts special objectives.
This type of approach can help to limit the risks within the trust investment funds by placing across various asset classes. It is important to take into account risk any unique prerequisites of the trustees. This could also include vesting in an ethical or sociably responsible way.
Trustees have an administrative responsibility to review the assets held within the trust on a regular basis. This can be a prolonged and protracted process, specially if the trust administrators are not experienced investors.
Trusts and Independent Financial Advice.
It is essential to seek unbiased and impartial advice on the assets held inside any form of trust arrangement. We regularly advise new and existing trustees on acceptable asset allocation investment strategies.
Trustees frequently engage the investor functions 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. E.g., the prerequisites of a large educational trust could be totally different to a small family trust.
The costs to administrate the investment funds are an all-important factor. The admin charges charged by stockbrokers and banks for trust investment funds advice can be high. This could impact on the investment returns the trust can accomplish.
Our investment procedure takes into account the charges, as this is a recognized component when we recommend particular investment funds.
If as trustees you are deliberating about investing it is critical to remember that the value of the trust investment and the income given could 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.