Frequently Asked Questions

A trust is a fiduciary arrangement that allows a third party (trustee) to hold and manage assets on behalf of beneficiaries. The person creating the trust (grantor) establishes terms that dictate how assets are managed and distributed. Trusts offer flexibility in estate planning, potential tax benefits, and can provide asset protection and privacy that wills alone cannot.

We administer a wide range of trusts including revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts (CRTs and CLTs), special needs trusts, dynasty trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs), and IRA/beneficiary retirement plan trusts. Our team has expertise across all major trust structures.

A corporate trustee like BlackRock Trust offers professional administration, investment expertise, continuity across generations, and impartial decision-making free from family dynamics. Individual trustees (family members or friends) may lack specialized expertise and can face challenges with objectivity, administrative burden, and succession planning.

Our trust administration fees are typically based on a percentage of assets under administration, with fee schedules that decrease as asset levels increase. Fees are transparent and disclosed in advance. We also offer flat-fee arrangements for certain trust structures. All fee structures are compliant with applicable state regulations.

An estate plan ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes, minimizes tax exposure, protects your beneficiaries from creditors, provides for minor or special needs children, and can reduce the burden of probate. Without a plan, state intestacy laws determine distribution, which may not align with your intentions.

We recommend reviewing your estate plan every three to five years, or whenever you experience a significant life event such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child or grandchild, death of a beneficiary, relocation to another state, substantial change in net worth, or changes in tax laws.

A dynasty trust is designed to transfer wealth across multiple generations while minimizing estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. It can remain in effect for centuries in jurisdictions that have abolished the rule against perpetuities. Dynasty trusts are particularly suitable for families with significant wealth who want to ensure long-term asset protection and multi-generational stewardship.

We collaborate closely with your existing legal counsel. Your attorney handles the drafting of legal documents, while we provide technical expertise on trust structures, tax strategies, and fiduciary administration. We consider ourselves part of your broader advisory team and are committed to seamless coordination with all your professional advisors.

Our investment philosophy is grounded in capital preservation, global diversification, and disciplined long-term thinking. We construct portfolios designed to withstand market cycles while generating sustainable growth. Our approach combines rigorous fundamental research with sophisticated risk management, always aligned with our clients' unique goals and values.

Risk management is integrated into every aspect of our investment process. We employ strategic asset allocation, diversification across asset classes and geographies, rigorous manager due diligence, stress testing, scenario analysis, and ongoing liquidity monitoring. We also conduct regular rebalancing to maintain target risk levels.

Yes. We offer customized ESG-integrated investment strategies that align your portfolio with your values. This can include negative screening (excluding certain industries), positive screening (favoring companies with strong ESG practices), impact investing (targeting measurable social or environmental outcomes), and shareholder engagement.

Our investment management services are generally available for families with $5 million or more in investable assets. However, we evaluate each potential relationship holistically and may make exceptions based on the complexity of the client's needs or the potential for a long-term multi-generational relationship.

A single-family office serves one ultra-high-net-worth family and can cost $1 million or more annually to operate. A multi-family office like BlackRock Trust serves multiple families, sharing infrastructure and expertise across clients, which provides institutional-grade capabilities at a fraction of the cost of a single-family office.

Families typically benefit from family office services when their financial lives become sufficiently complex that managing investments, trusts, tax planning, philanthropy, and lifestyle services across multiple institutions and advisors becomes overwhelming. Common triggers include significant liquidity events, business sales, multi-jurisdictional complexity, or a desire to engage the next generation.

Absolutely. We view ourselves as the hub of your family's financial ecosystem, coordinating seamlessly with your existing attorneys, accountants, insurance advisors, bankers, and other professionals. We handle the complexity so you can focus on family and legacy.

The first step is to schedule a consultation with our team. During this initial meeting, we will learn about your family's financial situation, goals, and concerns. We will discuss how our services might address your needs and outline next steps. There is no obligation, and all initial consultations are confidential.

BlackRock Trust Company, N.A. is a national bank and trust company. Deposits held in our custody are FDIC insured to the extent permitted by law. Investment products are not FDIC insured, not bank guaranteed, and may lose value. Please see our disclosures for complete information.

We employ comprehensive security measures to protect client information, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, secure data centers, employee training, and strict access controls. We maintain a robust information security program that is regularly audited and updated to address emerging threats.