FREE TOOL · TRUST ADMINISTRATION

Trustee Fee Comparison

Compare corporate trustee, boutique, directed trust, and private trust company (PTC) fees across AUM bands. From Chapter 25 of the Trust Administration Guide.

Inputs

Comparison

StructureAnnual costEffective bpsNotes

Reading the table

Bundled bank trustee. Single provider; investment management included; simplest structure. Fees from money-center banks, specialized trust banks (Northern Trust, Bessemer, US Bank, BNY, Wells), and full-service boutiques.

Boutique / private bank. Higher service intensity; smaller minimum relationship size; often relationship-discounted fees.

Directed trust company. Administrative-only trustee; investment authority separately delegated to the family's investment advisor. Total cost is the sum of directed trustee fee + investment advisor fee + distribution committee fee. Often the lowest total cost for $25M+ trusts.

Private Trust Company (PTC). Family-owned trust company; justified at $250M+ family AUM where economies of scale make the fixed PTC operating cost competitive. Below that AUM, PTC is rarely cost-justified.

Source: Trust Administration Guide Chapter 25, "Trustee Fees, Corporate Trustees, PTC Economics." Fee bands sourced from a survey of leading providers as of 2026; actual fees vary by relationship and provider.

Educational references and tools — not legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice, and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation. © 2026 The Baratelli Institute.

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