TIAA Trust Services
Transform a legacy into lasting impact
TIAA Trust, N.A. provides high-net-worth clients and institutions with comprehensive trust and investment management solutions. Our experienced team expertly administers personal trusts, settles estates, and offers specialized institutional trust services, ensuring your financial legacy is managed with care and professionalism.
Overview
What is a trust?
A trust is a legal entity that allows individuals and institutions to manage their assets efficiently and distribute them according to their wishes. It involves three key parties: the grantor, who creates the trust; the trustee, who manages the trust assets; and the beneficiaries, who receive the benefits from the trust.
A personal trust lets you transfer assets to a trustee to manage for your beneficiaries, offering financial security, asset protection, and tax advantages through various trust structures.
An institutional trust provides professional management of endowment and foundation assets through comprehensive investment oversight and administrative support.
Our services
TIAA Trust services
Personal Trust services
Designed to protect your legacy through expert trustee services that avoid the risks and family conflicts individual trustees face. We offer:
- Administration of your trust, investment management, and estate settlement services
- Alleviation of the burden on your family and friends during times of transition
- A commitment to create and preserve a lasting legacy for you and your loved ones
Our estate settlement services support families during the challenging time following a loved one’s passing. Leveraging our national profile, we provide:
- Fiduciary services in both trust and probate estates for seamless management
- Trusted guidance as we act as the trustee for your revocable and irrevocable trusts
- Executor or successor trustee services to ensure a smooth and respectful process
Institutional Trust services
Tailored investment management and custody solutions for endowments, foundations, and small employee benefit plans. Our team focuses on:
- Understanding your organization’s specific goals and objectives to meet your unique needs
- Maintaining effective communication and collaboration with key stakeholders
- Ensuring your board meets its fiduciary obligations while advancing the institution's mission
FAQ
What people ask us
Do I need a trust?
A trust can be a smart planning tool for managing assets, protecting loved ones, and ensuring your wishes are followed. Whether personal or institutional, the right trust can offer control, privacy, and peace of mind.
How does a trust work?
A trust is a legal arrangement where one party (the trustor) gives another party (the trustee) the right to hold assets for a third party (the beneficiary).
Key Components
- Trustor/Grantor/Settlor: Creates the trust and transfers assets into it
- Trustee: Manages trust assets according to the trust document
- Beneficiary: Receives benefits from the trust
- Trust document: Contains rules for how the trust operates
Basic Process
- A trust is created through a legal document
- Assets are transferred into the trust
- Trustee manages assets according to the instructions
- Beneficiaries receive distributions based on the trust terms
How much does it cost to set up a trust?
The cost to set up a trust varies significantly based on several factors including the complexity of the trust and the services required. It typically includes legal fees to draft the trust and, if using a corporate trustee, ongoing administration fees.
What's the difference between a trust and a will?
Generally speaking, a will is a legal document that coordinates the distribution of your assets after your death—and it must go through probate. A trust can take effect during someone’s lifetime, avoid probate, and offer more control over how and when assets are distributed.
A trust may be a better solution if you:
- Want to avoid probate
- Desire privacy
- Need incapacity planning
- Have complex distribution wishes
- Own property in multiple states
What are the benefits of naming a corporate trustee rather than an individual trustee?
Individual trustees might seem like a good option—after all, you know and trust them, and they usually have personal understanding of your family dynamics. But as non-professionals, individual trustees often don’t have the time, resources or knowledge to personally administer a trust. And if they’re unable to carry out all of their duties, they could inadvertently face serious legal and financial risks. A corporate trustee, meanwhile, is well-equipped to manage and administer trusts on an ongoing basis.
A few benefits of naming a corporate trustee like TIAA Trust are:
- Experience. We have decades of expertise in carrying out the duties of a trustee, from investment management and administration of your trust terms to professional and timely recordkeeping, preparation and filing of trust income tax returns.
- Objectivity. As a fiduciary, we handle your trust professionally and impartially, helping avoid potentially challenging family dynamics.
- Continuity. We can provide seamless, responsive trust administration and trust portfolio management for as long as your trust endures.
We’re here to help
Have questions about TIAA Trust services? Give us a call at
TIAA Trust, N.A. provides investment management, custody and trust services for a fee.
TIAA managed account services provide discretionary investment management services for a fee.
Investing involves risk and the value of your investments may gain or lose value and fluctuate over time. Investments in managed accounts should be considered in view of a larger, more diversified investment portfolio. Individuals should consult with an independent tax advisor, CPA and/or attorney for specific advice based on the individual's personal circumstances.
TIAA Trust, N.A. provides investment management, custody and trust services. Advisory services provided by Advice & Planning Services, a division of TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser.
This material is for informational or educational purposes only and is not fiduciary investment advice, or a securities, investment strategy, or insurance product recommendation. This material does not consider an individual’s own objectives or circumstances which should be the basis of any investment decision.
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