If you set up an irrevocable trust (like a charitable or life insurance trust) or you plan to make gifts in trust — strategies often used to save estate taxes by removing assets now from your taxable estate — you will probably need to name someone other than yourself as trustee for tax reasons. A corporate trustee is a natural choice to make sure your irrevocable trust is administered properly.

If you set up a revocable living trust — to avoid probate when you die and prevent court control of your assets at incapacity — you can be your own trustee. Even so, there are many benefits to having a corporate trustee involved. They can assist you in several ways…