I’ve been concerned about the emotional and relational impact of trusts since I had a professionally jarring encounter in 2001 with a beneficiary of an irrevocable trust established by her grandfather. The dependency, disempowerment and entitlement I witnessed led me to ask, “Is there a better way?”
There’s a better way to think about the purpose and meaning of trusts that still honors the legal roles and responsibilities but lifts the influence of the trust to the point it becomes a generative (positive) influence in the lives of beneficiaries. The generative trust and generative trustee are that better way.