Chapter 7

Trustees

Many times family leaders ask us, “Whom should I choose as a trustee for my family’s trusts?” The choice is a critical one. As we will discuss more in Chapter 11, family trusts can have an immense impact—positive or negative—on a family’s long-term flourishing. As the overseer of those entities—and a crucial link in the cycle of the gift—good trustee(s) can make all the difference.

The Choice of Trustee

As important as the choice of trustee is, proceeding in a mindful way requires stepping back and considering some preliminary questions. The first is not Whom should be chosen? but rather Who is doing the choosing?

Perhaps your initial reaction to the question of who will choose the trustee is, “Well, I will, of course!” This ...

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