This article will cover the Best Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) Advisors and their expertise, services, and key features. You’ll see how these advisors can help with charitable giving, trust administration, investment management and tax planning.
We will also compare their fees, fiduciary responsibilities and specialized services to help you find the best options for your financial and philanthropic goals.
What Is a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)?
The Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) is an irrevocable trust that pays income to one or more named beneficiaries for a period of time or for their lifetimes, then the remainder of the trust goes to one or more named charities.
Donors may use eligible assets, such as appreciated investments, to fund CRTs. Tax advantages can be available through CRTs, depending on the trust’s structure and the individual’s situation, and they can support charitable goals and long-term financial planning.
Selecting The right Best Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) Advisors
- Select an advisor whose track record aligns with your charitable and financial objectives.
- Decide whether you need an adviser, trustee or both.
- Ask about CRAT and CRUT experience
- understand investment management responsibilities and distribution requirements
– Consider the up-front costs, ongoing fees and termination costs. - Make sure you are in sync with your attorney and tax advisor.
- Review fiduciary duties, regulatory disclosures and potential conflicts.
Key Points & Best Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) Advisors
| Best Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) Advisor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Mercer Advisors | Provides comprehensive wealth management, charitable planning, and trust strategies for high-net-worth individuals. |
| EP Wealth Advisors | Offers personalized financial planning, investment management, and charitable giving strategies for clients. |
| IEQ Capital | Delivers customized wealth management solutions supporting tax-efficient investing and philanthropic planning goals. |
| Pathview Wealth Advisors | Helps clients integrate financial planning, charitable intentions, and long-term wealth preservation strategies. |
| Dunham & Associates | Provides investment management solutions that may complement charitable trust and estate planning needs. |
| Raymond James Trust Companies | Offers fiduciary trust administration, estate planning support, and charitable giving coordination services. |
| The Private Trust Company (PTC) | Provides customized fiduciary services, trust administration, and wealth transfer planning for families. |
| Ren (RenInc) | Supports charitable giving through innovative technology designed to simplify donor-advised and legacy giving. |
| Charitable Solutions, LLC | Specializes in charitable gift planning, complex asset donations, and philanthropic strategy consulting services. |
| Dechomai Foundation / Dechomai Trust Services | Facilitates charitable trust administration and planned giving solutions for donors and nonprofit organizations. |
10 Best Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) Advisors
1. Mercer Advisors
Mercer Advisors is a wealth management firm that specializes in incorporating charitable giving into comprehensive financial planning. CRT Expertise: Provides guidance on Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT) and Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT).
Services Clients are supported in trust selection, estate planning, investment management and charitable beneficiary decisions. Trust: The firm assists clients in determining appropriate trustee arrangements. Tax Planning Strategies may include appreciated assets, capital gains, or possible charitable deductions.
Asset Management: Investment planning can help income and long-term charitable goals. Fees and Costs: Ask for a fee breakdown customized for you. Fiduciary Responsibility: Examine relevant duties and agreements.
Mercer Advisors Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Wealth Planning | Integrates charitable giving with retirement, estate, and financial planning. |
| Investment Management | Develops investment strategies aligned with long-term financial and charitable objectives. |
| Estate Planning Coordination | Helps coordinate wealth transfer goals with qualified legal and tax professionals. |
| Personalized Advice | Tailors financial recommendations to clients’ circumstances, priorities, and philanthropic goals. |
2. EP Wealth Advisors
EP Wealth Advisors At EP Wealth Advisors, charitable giving is integrated into the overall financial and estate planning. CRT Expertise: In particular, published services include charitable remainder trusts and related philanthropy strategies.
Services Offered The firm collaborates with attorneys, CPAs and other professionals to coordinate financial planning in support of charitable and legacy goals. Trust: Advisors can help clients review CRT structures and beneficiary arrangements. Tax Planning: Planning includes the potential for charitable deductions and tax-efficient gifting opportunities.
Asset Management Investment decisions can be adjusted to suit income requirements and long-term goals. Fees and Costs: Review advisory and any separate trust administration fees. Fiduciary Responsibility: The firm describes its advisory approach as fiduciary.
EP Wealth Advisors Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Charitable Planning | Helps clients incorporate philanthropic goals into broader financial strategies. |
| Financial Planning | Connects charitable intentions with retirement and long-term wealth planning. |
| Professional Coordination | Works with attorneys and tax professionals on complex planning needs. |
| Investment Strategies | Aligns portfolio decisions with clients’ financial goals and income requirements. |
3. IEQ Capital
IEQ Capital offers wealth management and family office services to clients with complex financial needs. CRT Expertise: The publicly available information describes charitable giving and estate planning assistance. Verify specific CRT services directly.
Services Offered The firm provides investment research support, wealth architecture, liquidity planning and coordination with outside professionals. Trust Clients may be assisted in coordinating estate and trust specialists. Family office services for tax planning include help with investment tax strategy and wealth transfer planning.
Asset Management: It can manage diversified public-market and private-investment portfolios. Fees and Costs. Be sure you obtain a written fee schedule for both your advisory and external professional fees. Fiduciary Duty: Review its advisory disclosures and terms of engagement
IEQ Capital Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Family Office Services | Supports families managing complex wealth and financial planning requirements. |
| Investment Research | Uses investment analysis to support portfolio construction and management decisions. |
| Wealth Planning | Helps coordinate wealth preservation and long-term financial objectives. |
| Tax-Aware Strategies | Considers tax implications when developing investment and wealth transfer plans. |
4. Pathview Wealth Advisors
Pathview Wealth Advisors specializes in tax-aware investment management, financial planning and legacy planning. CRT Expertise: Published materials discuss charitable planning, but dedicated CRT administration should be verified. Services Offered The advisory team combines investment advice, tax preparation and financial planning in the firm.
Trust Explain how its advisors work with attorneys to set up a charitable irrevocable trust. Tax Planning: Charitable giving, tax-efficient investing are strategies. Asset Management: The firm focuses on diversified portfolios and disciplined asset allocation.
Fees and Expenses Tax prep may be an additional fee, but its publicized wealth management schedule includes tiered asset-based fees. Fiduciary Responsibility Pathview describes itself as a fee-only fiduciary firm
Pathview Wealth Advisors Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Tax-Focused Planning | Integrates tax considerations into financial and charitable planning decisions. |
| Investment Management | Develops portfolio strategies based on individual financial objectives and risk tolerance. |
| Legacy Planning | Helps clients coordinate wealth transfer intentions with broader financial plans. |
| Fiduciary Approach | Emphasizes client interests through its stated fee-only advisory model. |
5. Dunham & Associates
Dunham & Associates Dunham offers investment-related services and trust solutions that may complement broader estate and charitable planning needs. CRT Expertise: Verify if the specific Dunham entity is actively managing charitable remainder trusts.
Services Provided Services include estate planning assistance, trust administration and wealth preservation techniques, all of which are trust-oriented. Trust: Ask about the trustee’s availability, responsibilities for distributions, and working with legal counsel.
Tax Planning Learn how to incorporate trust strategies into a comprehensive tax-efficient financial plan. Asset Management: Investment services can help align portfolios with financial objectives. Fees and Expenses Ask separately about investment management and trust administration. Fiduciary Responsibility: Confirm legal entity, trustee capacity, and fiduciary duties prior to engagement.
Dunham & Associates Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Investment Solutions | Provides investment-related services that may complement broader wealth planning. |
| Wealth Preservation | Supports financial strategies designed around long-term asset management objectives. |
| Trust Planning Coordination | Clients should confirm the availability of direct CRT-related services. |
| Financial Strategy | Helps investors evaluate investment options according to their financial circumstances. |
6. Raymond James Trust Companies
Raymond James Trust Companies offers trust services that can be used to complement estate planning and charitable giving. CRT Expertise Charitable remainder trusts are one of Raymond James’ charitable trust solutions. Services offered: Charitable trust structures may be considered by clients as part of estate planning and wealth management.
Trust: Will the relevant trust company act as trustee and administer the trust on an ongoing basis? Tax Planning: Talk to qualified tax professionals to discuss potential deduction and capital gains implications.
Asset Management. Manage investments consistent with distribution requirements of the trust and charitable intent Fees and Expenses. Ask for written information on trustee, investment, custody and administrative fees. Fiduciary Responsibility: Review the duties of the appointed trustee and governing trust agreement
Raymond James Trust Companies
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Trust Administration | Provides fiduciary trust services through relevant Raymond James trust entities. |
| Charitable Trust Planning | Helps clients explore charitable trust arrangements and philanthropic objectives. |
| Estate Planning Support | Coordinates trust strategies with estate and wealth transfer considerations. |
| Investment Coordination | Connects trust-related financial needs with appropriate investment management services. |
7. The Private Trust Company (PTC)
The Private Trust Company provides professional trust administration to families, financial advisors and other wealth professionals. CRT Expertise: Its published products are directly aimed at charitable remainder trusts. Services Provided: Services may include trust administration, fiduciary reporting and coordination with financial advisors and tax professionals.
Trust PTC may act as a professional trustee for eligible charitable trust arrangements. Tax Planning: Its management features include fiduciary tax reporting, with personal tax advice to be separately verified.
Asset Management: External investment advisor can be coordinated by PTC with the administration of trusts. Fees & Costs: Request a customized quote for fees. Fiduciary Duty: Review trustee duties, accountabilities and contract before appointment.
The Private Trust Company (PTC) Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Professional Trusteeship | Provides trust-related services for eligible families and wealth management professionals. |
| Trust Administration | Supports fiduciary administration and ongoing trust management requirements. |
| Reporting and Coordination | Coordinates trust information with relevant advisors and professional service providers. |
| Customized Solutions | Evaluates trust arrangements according to family objectives and administrative needs. |
8. Ren (RenInc)
Ren (RenInc) Ren offers charitable giving technology and support services for donors, financial advisors and charities. CRT Expertise: Its published trust services include administrative support for charitable remainder trusts, especially for institutional clients.
Services Provided: Services may include distribution processing, recordkeeping, tax reporting assistance and trust accounting. Trust: Are you to be the Trustor? Is Ren to be the Trustor? Is there to be a separate institution to be the Trustee? Tax Planning Its administrative services are for reporting purposes but should not be confused with individualized tax advice.
Asset Management: Confirm if investment management is included or provided by another provider. Fees and Costs: Contact the institution for pricing. Fiduciary Duty: Identify who is legally responsible as trustee under the arrangement
Ren (RenInc) Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Charitable Giving Technology | Uses technology to support charitable giving and related administrative workflows. |
| Trust Administration Support | Offers services that may include charitable trust administration and recordkeeping. |
| Distribution Processing | Supports operational processes associated with charitable distributions and trust payments. |
| Reporting Support | Helps organize relevant records and tax-related reporting information. |
9. Charitable Solutions, LLC
Charitable Solutions, LLC Charitable Solutions, LLC specializes in planned giving, noncash donations and charitable gift risk management. CRT expertise: Dechomai Foundation offers its CRT service platform, which can act as trustee for trusts funded with liquid and illiquid assets. Services Offered: Trustee services, administration, tax reporting, and support for complex asset donations are available models.
Trust: The relevant service model is identified based on the donor’s assets and the charity’s needs. Tax Planning: Consult qualified legal and tax professionals to ensure tax treatment is coordinated. Asset Management: Check investment responsibilities under the chosen model. Fees and Costs: Request current schedule. Fiduciary Responsibility: Check if Dechomai or someone else will be the trustee.
Charitable Solutions, LLC Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Planned Giving Expertise | Specializes in charitable gift planning and complex philanthropic arrangements. |
| Noncash Asset Donations | Helps organizations address donations involving assets beyond cash contributions. |
| Charitable Trust Solutions | Supports CRT-related services through its associated Dechomai platform. |
| Gift Risk Management | Helps charities evaluate administrative and practical considerations surrounding complex gifts. |
10. Dechomai Foundation / Dechomai Trust Services
Dechomai Foundation Helps donors and charities administer noncash gifts and charitable remainder trusts. CRT Expertise: Published services include CRT trustee and administration for both qualifying liquid and illiquid assets. Services Offered: Services offered include trust administration, investment management and accounting/tax reporting, if applicable.
Trust The written procedure requires the donor’s attorney to establish the trust and appoint Dechomai as trustee. Tax Planning: Have qualified professionals review potential tax implications of the trust. Asset Management: Investment guidelines are dictated by the trust’s structure and the assets being funded.
Pricing Liquid-trust pricing is published and starts at 2% for the first $1 million, with declining marginal rates for subsequent assets; check current terms. Trustee Agreement: Review the trustee agreement and applicable duties. Fiduciary Duty
Dechomai Foundation / Dechomai Trust Services Feature
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| CRT Trusteeship | Provides charitable remainder trust trustee services for qualifying arrangements. |
| Trust Administration | Supports ongoing administration, accounting, and related reporting requirements. |
| Complex Asset Support | Works with eligible trust arrangements involving liquid and certain illiquid assets. |
| Charitable Distribution Planning | Supports administration of trust assets intended for future charitable beneficiaries. |
Conclusion
The Bottom Line Choosing the proper Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) advisor means looking at the trust’s experience, investment management, tax planning, fees and fiduciary responsibilities. Mercer Advisors, EP Wealth Advisors and Raymond James Trust Companies and specialized charitable trust providers offer different planning capabilities.
Check out their accredited services, trustee arrangements and costs closely. Consult qualified legal and tax professionals to make sure your charitable giving strategy is consistent with your financial objectives.
FAQ
How do I choose the best CRT advisor?
Compare CRT expertise, trustee services, fees, investment management, and fiduciary responsibilities.
What services do CRT advisors typically provide?
Services may include trust planning, investment guidance, tax coordination, and charitable beneficiary planning.
What is the difference between a CRT advisor and trustee?
Advisors provide guidance, while trustees manage trust assets and fulfill fiduciary duties.
How much does a CRT advisor charge?
Fees vary by provider, trust complexity, asset value, and administration requirements.
