Senior Trust Manager

About the Role

This position reports to the Trust Leader and focuses on managing the day-to-day administration of Trust Officers and Senior Trust Officers. The Senior Trust Manager ensures the adequacy of support for trust accounts, provides exceptional client service, and oversees the operational infrastructure. The role involves close collaboration with Consultants, Servicing Advisors, Writing Advisors, and other key client support partners.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on client service and sales support to Trust Officers, Business Development Officers, and other Forge team members, including pre-call planning.
• Coordinate fiduciary and administrative services for approximately 70–100 client relationships.
• Demonstrate sound decision-making skills, balancing business risk with client interests.
• Provide team members with timely, candid, and constructive performance feedback.
• Develop employees to their fullest potential through challenging career growth opportunities.
• Build a talent pool to ensure adequate bench strength and succession planning.
• Recognize and reward employees for accomplishments.
• Ensure annual administrative account reviews are completed.
• Ensure compliance with internal fiduciary policies and procedures for new business, asset acceptances, discretionary actions, and documentation.
• Work closely with Trust Tax Accountants to ensure proper tax reporting.

Responsibilities

• Ensure Trust Officers serve as trusted advisors by developing close, personal relationships with clients and their families, anticipating service needs.
• Administer trusts, including discretionary income and principal payments while managing financial risk.
• Execute the terms of documents where Advocacy Trust serves as Trustee, Executor, Personal Representative, Guardian, or Agent, often exercising broad discretion for beneficiaries with competing interests.
• Collaborate with Consultants, Servicing Advisors, or Writing Advisors to develop, interpret, and communicate complex planning matters as part of advice-based solutions.
• Provide training for team members on client service and manage project allocation and deadlines.
• Support Trust Officers as the primary fiduciary contact and resolve client-related issues.
• Challenge and collaborate with clients to articulate their goals, as needed.
• Work with the client’s advisors, including attorneys and accountants, to develop and implement comprehensive financial plans.
• Pursue company annual goals and core competencies through personal actions and leadership influence.
• Demonstrate sound complex decision-making skills, balancing business risk with client interests.
• Recommend enhancements to policies and procedures as appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge of current trends and changes in fiduciary matters (e.g., probate, estate, gift, income tax planning, guardianships, special needs trusts, state-specific laws).
• Develop subject matter expertise in a fiduciary-related area.
• Attend community and industry-specific forums, conferences, and meetings to broaden relationships and deepen knowledge of trends, practices, products, and competitors.
• Participate actively in community affairs and professional associations.

Requirements

• College degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated fiduciary client service success.
• Advanced knowledge and mastered skills in trust administration, special needs, estate planning, gift, and tax matters.
• Ability to operate effectively in an environment that stresses both individual accountability and team-based performance.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and attention to detail.
• Collaborative attitude and ability to lead others.
• Superior interpersonal, negotiation, verbal, and written communication and presentation skills.
• Effective leadership, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Professional presence within professional and community organizations.

Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access).
• Excellent communication skills for conferring with beneficiaries, clients, and attorneys.
• Focus on creating a great customer service experience.
• Strong leadership skills, including clear verbal and written communication.
• Significant knowledge of finance, legal, tax, investment, and compliance aspects of fiduciary administration.
• Comfort with operating multiple computer applications.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent analytical and logical thinking ability.
• Ability to interpret client needs and relay complex information understandably.
• Initiative and adaptability in a constantly changing environment.
• Positive attitude and strong team player skills.
• Comfortable serving in an advisory capacity to clients and families.
• Commitment to establishing and nurturing long-term client relationships.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Travel

Less than 5% of the time, with occasional travel required. Relocation assistance is available for candidates outside the Nashville, TN area.