• What is a trust?
• Who needs a trust?
• Will or trust? Which is best?
• Why set up a trust?
• Who sets up a trust?
• What about fees?
• How are trust assets invested?
• Is a trust right for you?
• How does one choose a trustee?
• Why choose the Raymond James Trust Companies?

Not talking about them can be devastating. After working a lifetime to build an estate, it’s natural to want two things: the right to determine what happens to your assets and the right to protect them from unnecessary estate taxes. These are the two primary reasons for establishing trusts.

But how do you know if you need a trust? How do trusts work? How are trusts set up? How much does one cost? Who should serve as trustee? These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about trusts.

There’s absolutely no reason to feel uncomfortable about not understanding the terminology or technicalities of trusts. Few people understand them until they discover they need one ... and by then it may be too late. That’s the purpose of this booklet – to help you better understand the reasons for trusts and the process involved in establishing them.

A trust is a legal agreement between two parties, the person who creates the trust and the person, institution or independent trust company responsible for administering the trust, the trustee. The trustee manages the assets placed in the trust for the benefit of a third party, the beneficiary.

Not everyone needs a trust, but most people should consider one. Trusts aren’t just for the affluent. Setting up a trust is an excellent way to control what happens to your estate, regardless of its size, to possibly reduce estate taxes and protect against the expense and aggravation of probate.

More than two million U.S. taxpayers have established trusts. Those who benefit most are married couples with net estates exceeding $4 million and single people with net estates exceeding $2 million; however, under the current tax law, these amounts will increase over the next several years.

The net value of an estate can be determined by adding the market value of all assets, including real estate, personal property, businesses, bank accounts, investments, IRAs or other retirement benefits, and life insurance, then subtracting liabilities.

Unlike wills, trusts are not subject to probate and therefore allow you to keep your affairs private.

Most people need both. A big advantage of a trust is that it is generally the best strategy to avoid probate and protect financial privacy. Wills must be validated by probate court, a lengthy and expensive process that can take six months to two years and, in some cases, even longer. Probating a will may involve attorney’s fees, executor’s commissions, administrative and other court costs. Unlike wills, trusts are not subject to probate and therefore enable you to keep your affairs private and minimize settlement costs and estate taxes.

There are many reasons to set up trusts. Married couples often realign the ownership of their assets to save substantial federal estate taxes and pass more on to their heirs. Rather than owning assets jointly, they choose to own assets individually so that they can each take full advantage of the increasing unified credit amount. Preserving each spouse’s unified credit can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in estate taxes.

If the time comes that you are no longer able to handle your own affairs, trusts can ensure that there will be someone who is experienced and objective to “mind the store.” If there is a serious illness or disability, a trust ensures that a plan is in place to take care of your needs and those of your loved ones.

When the trust is managed by a full-service trust company, other professional services can be provided, such as bill paying.

Business owners can use trusts to save on estate taxes when passing along businesses to heirs.

Trusts are also useful for blended families with spouses or children from previous marriages. The trust can spell out exactly how marriage affects the inheritance of children or grandchildren from a first marriage.

Naming an independent trust company removes the emotional element often associated with friends or family members.

Usually, attorneys draft trusts.

Generally, fees for trust services are spelled out in the trust document. Under normal circumstances, they are calculated annually, based on the level of responsibility assumed by the trustee and the value of the assets in the trust. Fees are charged quarterly or monthly and a portion may be tax-deductible.

Ultimately, it is the purpose of the trust that determines how the assets are invested, and it is the responsibility of the trustee to see that the purpose is carried out. Often, the person who creates the trust will name a professional investment manager to work with the trustee and make investment recommendations based on the goals of the trust, the needs of the beneficiaries and the time horizon.

Even people of moderate means may be subject to estate taxes, which could be significantly higher than income taxes.

But saving on taxes isn’t the only reason for trusts. Some families want to plan for long-term care or education for their children or grandchildren. Others want to provide for a favorite charity. One thing is certain, if a trust is needed, the time to plan for it is now.

Many people prefer to name an independent trust company to handle their affairs. Trustees who don’t deal with trusts on a regular basis can be overwhelmed by the duties required of them. Also, naming an independent trust company removes the emotional element often associated with friends or family members and assures that your wishes are fulfilled exactly as they are spelled out in the trust.

Why Choose Raymond James Trust N.A.?

There are several advantages to naming Raymond James Trust as trustee. Unlike other providers of trust services, our skilled trust advisors deal exclusively with trust issues. The solutions our trust experts provide are never “one size fits all,” but are individually tailored to fit personal needs.

In addition, Raymond James Trust offers:

• Professional management by trained experts,
• Impartiality in making investment decisions and in dealing with beneficiaries,
• Dedication to Service 1st^SM, Raymond James’ commitment to placing our clients’ interests first and serving them with integrity, innovation, quality and hard work,
• State-of-the-art technology to serve clients better and faster, and
• The confidence that comes from knowing your trustee is subject to regular audits by external auditors and government regulators.

Raymond James Trust N.A. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF) which provides financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities.

Raymond James Trust N.A. began in 1991 as the Raymond James Trust Company in St. Petersburg, Florida. To better serve its clients outside of the southeastern U.S, the Raymond James Trust Company West was acquired (as Sound Trust Company) in 1993. Over the years, the two companies have grown to manage over $1.6 billion in assets in most of the 50 states and a number of foreign countries. In 2007, Raymond James Trust Company successfully completed the rigorous application process to gain a national trust charter and changed its name to Raymond James Trust N.A.

Under its federal charter, Raymond James Trust N.A. may act as trustee, custodian, personal representative or agent to the trustee in a wide variety of trust and estate situations in every state of the U.S.

Beneficiary
A beneficiary is the person, institution or organization that receives the proceeds from a trust or from an insurance policy when the insured dies.

Charitable Remainder Trust
A charitable remainder trust is an irrevocable trust that enables an investor to give highly appreciated assets to his or her favorite charity and still derive lifetime income and enjoy tax advantages.

Net Estate
Net estate is the sum of the market value of an individual’s assets, less liabilities. These assets may include real estate, personal property, businesses, bank accounts, investments, IRAs or other retirement benefits, and life insurance.

Life Insurance Trust
A life insurance trust allows the trustee to purchase a life insurance policy with the person who owns the estate as the insured and the trust as the owner. Usually, the trust is also the beneficiary of the policy. The proceeds from a life insurance trust are often used to pay taxes, legal fees, probate costs and other liabilities when the person who created the trust dies.

Revocable/Irrevocable Trusts
A revocable trust is one that can be revoked or amended by the person who creates it. An irrevocable trust may not be revoked or amended.

Trusts
A trust is a legal agreement between two parties – the person who creates the trust and the trustee, who may be a person, an institution or an independent trust company.

Trustee
A trustee is the person, institution or independent trust company managing the trust. A co-trustee manages a trust in cooperation with a family member or someone else.