Jeff is responsible for developing trust planning strategies for wealthy individuals and families throughout the United States and abroad. He works closely with his clients’ legal, tax, and investment advisors to construct and implement appropriate trust structures that take advantage of the state of Delaware’s unique trust and tax laws.
Prior to joining Wilmington Trust in 2005, Jeff spent seven years in private legal practice as a member of the Estates and Trusts Practice Group of the Philadelphia-headquartered law firm of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP.
Jeff earned his J.D. (summa cum laude) and MBA (with honors) from Syracuse University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Northwestern University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Jeff is a frequent lecturer on topics involving the use of Delaware trusts for asset protection, state income tax minimization, and investment management for unique trust assets.
Jeff is admitted to the practice of law in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. He is a member of the Estates and Trusts Section of the Delaware State Bar Association, the Probate and Trust Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Estate Planning Council of Delaware.
Establish your trust in the right state, the First State. Recent changes in the federal tax laws have provided a renewed focus on state income taxes and strategies available to minimize these taxes. While personal trusts have been used most commonly as estate and gift tax planning vehicles, they now have increased importance as tools
Understanding the importance of working with a fiduciary. Fiduciaries are responsible for acting in the best interest of the individuals they serve, and are entrusted with a high standard of care. A corporate fiduciary provides experience and objectivity needed to manage family trusts for the long term. Establishing a trusted relationship with an experienced fiduciary
As trusts evolve, the need for a robust and experienced trustee is paramount. Over the past half-century, the role of trustees has evolved rapidly along with the trust industry itself. Increased complexity of trust investments and expansion of modern trust laws are just two elements of this evolution. Modern trusts require the services of robust
