We understand that wealth and families is very complex. As families try to transfer wealth it can be an incredible blessing or, if done improperly, can be incredibly destructive. Often times a neutral third party is needed to come alongside the family’s advisory team to provide guidance as families go through their wealth transition.
Our relational focus, and Open Architecture™ approach, helps families to successfully navigate through the complexities of wealth, family and trusts. We believe a family “legacy” is about more than just money.
Call to explore how we may be of service to you.
Steve Marken, J.D.
Founding Principal
Open Architecture Trustee Services
Responsive
Family Focus
Independent
Customized
Collaborative
We specialize exclusively in the delivery of trustee and estate fiduciary services.
Families
We understand the complex issues associated with meaningful wealth in families, and encourage families to structure their own, best in class solution to address the uniqueness of their family in the context of their wealth.
Professional Advisors
We believe families generationally benefit from the continued involvement of their professional advisory team and collaboratively work with financial advisors, attorneys and tax professionals across the country in this regard.
Foundations
We intimately understand the role and importance of philanthropy, and how such plays an integral role in legacy development and successful wealth transfer.
Our expertise and experience is in family wealth. In this regard, we serve in the following ways:
- Trustee (Trusts)
- Executor and Personal Representative (Will)
- Agent for Financial Affairs (Power of Attorney)
- Trust Protector
- Special Independent Trustee
- Consultant
- Expert Witness
Although attorneys may have their own special names for various trusts, we have experience with most all. Below is a listing of the general types of trusts on which we serve as trustee:
Family Trusts: Both revocable and irrevocable, where assets are held and dispersed in accordance with specific distribution provisions usually for the benefit of family.
Charitable Trusts: All types of charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts.
Family Foundations: Trusts designed to secure the philanthropic legacy of the founder and the founder’s family.
Life Insurance Trusts: Irrevocable trusts which own life insurance for the benefit of others.
Retirement Trusts: Specially designed trusts which facilitate the “stretch” of inherited IRA accounts while also coordinating distributions with the provisions of a family trust.
Special Needs Trusts: A specialized trust allowing a disabled beneficiary to receive income without reducing their eligibility for public assistance disability benefits.
Let’s explore how we can work together to meet the needs of your family or client.
We believe our client association should be based upon a trusted partnership as opposed to an imposed relationship. We put relationships first and the rest follows. Advisory teams and families have been counting on us for more than 10 years to support their unique needs.
Created to provide you with resources to help you find answers to your questions about planning for your future transfer of wealth.