TRUST FUNDING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM™
Step 1: DISCOVER
Build the family's asset picture.
Help the family identify the assets and accounts that may need review. Record what is known, what the records show, and what remains uncertain.
At this stage, gather information. Do not change ownership, registrations, or beneficiaries.
Use your Master Asset Inventory™ to create one organized picture of the assets and accounts that may need to be reviewed during the Trust Funding Assistance process.
Your Master Asset Inventory™ will help you record:
- Asset / Account
- Institution / Record Keeper
- Last 4 Digits
- Current Owner
- Beneficiary?
- Notes
- DISCOVER Complete?
- Next Step
Use the Master Asset Inventory™
Work with relevant statements, property records, insurance information, retirement-account records, and
business-ownership information where applicable.
Record the institution or record keeper, current ownership, available beneficiary information, supporting record, and questions needing follow-up. Use only the identifying details needed for the task.
YOUR WORKING TOOL
MASTER ASSET INVENTORY™
Build Your Master Asset Inventory™
Ask before assuming
“What instructions were you given after your trust was completed?”
“Which steps do you remember taking?”
“What records do you have that might help us confirm that?”
If the family is unsure, record the uncertainty. An unanswered question is a starting point, not proof that
something is wrong.
Practice: Maria and James
Create one fictional inventory entry for their joint bank account. Record that they are unsure about prior registration steps. Identify the current account record and any prior instructions as information to obtain or review.
Do not label the account funded or unfunded.
Help the Family Gather Relevant Records
Depending on the assets involved, ask the family to locate:
• Recent bank and investment account statements
• Retirement account statements
• Life insurance information
• Current deeds or property records
• Business ownership information, if applicable
• Information about other significant assets they own
The family does not need every record before beginning. Start with what is available, note what is missing, and identify how to obtain it.
For the Maria and James exercise, use fictional information only.