If you're concerned with the management of your property during your lifetime or after your death, consider setting up a trust. The trustee you select should be able to provide continuous, comprehensive management with both administrative and investment expertise.

What is a trust? It's created by a document that lets you transfer property to a trustee so that the property may be administered for the benefit of yourself or others.  The trust would be:

• For some or all of your assets
• Now or at any time in the future
• To accomplish your stated objectives
• Under whatever terms you choose
• Subject to your investment discretion.

There are two basic types of trusts: A Testamentary Trust is created by a Will and takes effect after the executor has completed the administration of the estate. A Living Trust, on the other hand, is created by an agreement during a person's lifetime. If it is subject to amendment and termination, it is revocable; if not, it is irrevocable.

Trusts offer you flexibility and confidentiality. You can fund a trust with almost any kind of asset: cash, securities, income-producing real estate, or insurance proceeds. You may retain or give your trustee as much control as you desire. You can specify how and to whom the income will be paid, for what purposes and the method of distribution. In short, you can design a trust to do whatever is necessary to meet your needs.