Trust Administration

dedicated trust administration & management services

Meet the Trust Administration Team

From our Geneva office, with Twenty20 Trustees SA, we specialize in personalized trust administration and management services that meet the unique needs of our ultra-high net worth clients. Whether we’re acting as a Swiss corporate FINMA regulated trustee or establishing a private trust company, our intention is to create tailored governance solutions that align with the long term goals of the families we serve.

We can assist in establishing various types of international trusts in a wide range of jurisdictions including Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar or England.

The services we offer include:

  • Trust formation
  • Acting as professional trustee
  • Administration, accounting and management of trust property
We specialize in the establishment and administration of a Swiss Private Trust Company (“PTC”) or a Dedicated Trust Company (“DTC”) and its underlying structures in conjunction with the family’s professional advisors.”
What is a trust?

A trust is established when a person (the settlor) transfers some or all of his assets to trustees. The trustees become the legal owners of the assets and they are responsible for managing those assets in accordance with the terms of the trust deed (the terms of which are agreed between the settlor and the trustees) and for the benefit of beneficiaries (who are named or identified in the trust deed – often the settlor’s family and heirs).

WHY SET UP A PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY « PTC » ?
Whilst most settlors use an existing professional trust company as the trustee, many ultra-high net worth individuals prefer to entrust their assets to a Private Trust Company, which are established with the sole purpose of acting as trustee for their and their family’s wealth.

Every family has its own reasons for establishing a Private Trust Company, but some of the primary advantages include:

  • Asset ownership, management, administration and reporting consolidation (convergence of domestic and/or internationally diverse assets)
  • Succession/inheritance planning and wealth protection. They can also assist with inheritance restrictions that may arise on the death of the settlor. Trusts are therefore useful vehicles for the efficient transfer of the settlor’s wealth to chosen beneficiaries.
  • For family business (especially for second / third generation family business with diverse ownership)
  • Asset protection purposes. Settlors living in countries suffering from political unrest or instability can protect their assets by putting them into a trust. In such cases, the trustee will be located, and the assets held, in a stable jurisdiction (for example, Switzerland).
  • Protection of inheritance for young children (whilst protecting spouse/partner)
  • Provision for vulnerable relatives who are unlikely to be able to look after their own affairs
  • Charitable Trusts
  • Twenty20 works closely with a number of advisors (tax, legal and investment) to ensure client optimal structures.

The PTC can be owned directly by the members of the family or by the trustee of a purpose trust. The purpose trust is usually managed by a professional trustee. The Settlor and his family members or advisors could be appointed as protectors.

WHY SET UP A DEDICATED TRUST COMPANY « DTC » ?
A Dedicated Trust Company is a variant of a PTC. A DTC is owned and operated by a regulated and licensed professional Trust Company in its corporate capacity, therefore, its ownership is independent from the Settlor’s and its family members.

They are focused on one family, acting as Trustee for multiple trusts established by the same Settlor or benefiting members of the family related back to the Settlor. A family can influence control over the DTC indirectly by holding position on Advisory Committees to the underlying trusts for example.

SWISS REGULATION ON PTC AND DTC

Trustees’ activity is regulated in accordance with the Swiss Financial Institutions Act (“FinlA”). This regulation requires that the professional exercise of trustees’ activities are licensed by FINMA. FinlA and its Ordinance provide an exemption for PTCs which exclusively deal with trusts for which beneficiaries have family ties with its shareholders notably.

As for the DTCs which exclusively act as trustee for trusts established by the same person or in favour of the same family and held by a professional trustee duly licensed, the latter may fall outside the direct scope of FinIA being under the aegis of the licensed Trust Company.

Protect your wealth now, and into the future

We actively engage with key stakeholders such as families, their advisors, family offices, and banking institutions, both domestically in Switzerland and internationally. Our role extends beyond routine collaboration—we guide clients through the strategic restructuring of their groups and structures. This involves the implementation of long-term dynastic trusts to optimise asset ownership, facilitate comprehensive estate planning, and fortify wealth protection. Additionally, we collaborate closely with families to establish charitable trusts, tailoring our approach to their specific needs and aspirations.

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