Family Trusts: A Guide for Beneficiaries, Trustees, Trust Protectors, and Trust Creators

"The Anglo–American trust is an ancient principles–based regime that will survive into the 21st century only so long as it is administered by persons of principle. As a practical matter, what does that mean? Family Trusts does an admirable job of answering that question, and in prose that will be readily understandable not only to the trust professional but also to the family member new to the ′trustscape.′"

CHARLES E. ROUNDS, Jr., Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School, and co–author of Loring and Rounds: A Trustee′s Handbook

Is Your Trust a Gift of Love?

Family Trusts provides a hands–on primer aimed at fostering positive relationships and structuring trusts for the wide variety of unique situations and people involved. This is a practical, step–by–step guide for anyone who wants to develop independent beneficiaries rather than "trust–fund babies."

Family Trusts tackles difficult topics head on, from the first beneficiary meeting, to dealing with beneficiaries with addictions, to managing trusts within the context of blended families, and more. Written by a team of experts in family wealth, this timely treatment shows you how to avoid the pitfalls of trusts that can tear families apart by:

Carefully considering what type of person or institution would make the best trustee for your family Detailing steps to educate beneficiaries about their responsibilities Proposing specific mechanisms and structures that can help your family manage its trusts most effectively

Pass on wealth in a way that enriches the lives of beneficiaries with Family Trusts.

HARTLEY GOLDSTONE, JD, MBA, works with institutional and individual trustees, family offices, and beneficiaries in all stages of life to identify and then achieve positive possibilities in the relationship between beneficiary and trustee. A Research Fellow with Wise Counsel Research, Hartley is the co–author of TrustWorthy: New Angles on Trusts from Beneficiaries and Trustees, and a popular speaker about flourishing "trustscapes."

JAMES (Jay) E. HUGHES, JR., is the author of the acclaimed classics Family Wealth and Family: The Compact Among Generations, and the co–author of The Cycle of the Gift: Family Wealth and Wisdom and The Voice of the Rising Generation. He has also written numerous articles on family governance and wealth preservation. A Research Fellow with Wise Counsel Research, Jay is a frequent speaker at symposia on the growth of families′ human, intellectual, social, spiritual, and financial capital.

DR. KEITH WHITAKER is founding president of Wise Counsel Research, a think tank devoted to studying wealth and philanthropy. Keith has many years′ experience helping enterprising families communicate around estate planning and charitable giving. His writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the Financial Times. Keith is the co–author of The Cycle of the Gift: Family Wealth and Wisdom, The Voice of the Rising Generation: Family Wealth & Wisdom, and Wealth and the Will of God.