Trusteeship in Transition: Serving the Next Generation
By Maxine Bodden Robinson, Founder, IMG Trust Company
Introduction
When I began my career in law, trust structures were often built in the image of the founding patriarch, figuratively, and frequently literally. They were designed to preserve wealth, exercise control, and operate discreetly.
The trustee’s role was clear: implement, protect, maintain a healthy distance.
Today, those same structures are being inherited by a generation with entirely different expectations.
The second generation, “Gen 2”, as we refer to them, are not simply passive recipients of wealth. They are tech founders, global citizens, and impact-driven investors. Many are building their own enterprises. Others are reimagining how family capital should serve wider societal or environmental goals. Almost all of them want a say in how their family wealth is governed, and that changes everything.
A More Personal Kind of Trust
At IMG Trust, we’re seeing more Gen 2 engagement, and in many cases, they are initiating contact themselves – sometimes even before the founding generation has stepped back.
The Role of the Conflict-Capable Trustee
Gen 2’s rise often coincides with moments of friction – generational differences, unclear expectations, or outdated governance models. In some cases, these tensions are long-simmering; in others, they’ve already spilled into litigation.
This is where the value of a conflict-capable trustee becomes clear. At IMG, we’re often brought into these situations not because everything is running smoothly, but because it isn’t.
A conflict-capable trustee understands the legal, personal, and reputational stakes. They bring structure to uncertainty, and calm to emotion. They can work alongside litigators, family offices and other professionals, while remaining focused on the best interests of the trust.
They also know when to listen. Gen 2 beneficiaries are articulate, often well-advised, and expect to be heard. Trustees who dismiss their concerns, even with the best of intentions, risk creating long-term breakdowns in trust.
Purpose, Alignment and the Modern Trustee
What sets many Gen 2 clients apart is a deep sense of purpose. They are not just inheriting capital, they’re inheriting responsibility. Whether it’s philanthropic giving or creating sustainable legacies, their decision-making is often values-driven.
These individuals expect clarity, transparency, and a meaningful relationship with their trustee. The notion of a distant fiduciary figure who reports quarterly and rarely engages simply doesn’t fit their worldview. They want to be consulted. They want to understand how and why decisions are made. And they expect a trustee to be not just a gatekeeper, but a guide.
This requires a different kind of trustee relationship. More collaborative. More communicative. Still independent, but not invisible.
Tech, Transparency and the New Gatekeepers
Another shift we can’t ignore is the way Gen 2 finds and evaluates their advisors. This generation uses AI tools to compare service providers, asks ChatGPT for recommendations, and reads peer reviews with the same rigour previous generations applied to their solicitor’s advice.
This presents a challenge – but also an opportunity. Trustees must ensure that what’s discoverable online accurately reflects who they are. That means investing in clear messaging, sharing thoughtful content, and showing up authentically across digital platforms.
It also means being fluent in the tools and language of today’s clients. A trustee doesn’t need to be a blockchain expert, but they do need to be comfortable navigating Web3 terminology and engaging on topics that matter to the next generation.
“Trustees must ensure that what’s discoverable online accurately reflects who they are.”
At IMG, this resonates deeply. As a boutique firm with independent ownership, we’re not constrained by institutional pressures. That means we can work closely with families to help their structures reflect what truly matters – not just tax efficiency or asset protection, but long-term purpose and intention. Whether it’s establishing a family charter, supporting charitable ambitions, or helping bridge generational values, we believe that trust structures should serve the family’s vision, not the other way around.
Beyond the Founder
The post-patriarchal wealth landscape isn’t just about passing assets, it’s about transitioning values, responsibilities, and relationships. We’re seeing families prioritise inclusion, stewardship, and legacy in new ways. In some cases, this means restructuring trusts altogether to better reflect the realities of a global, multi-generational family.
For trustees, this is a moment to evolve, not retreat. We must be willing to step into more nuanced roles, balancing technical acumen with emotional intelligence, and legacy thinking with digital fluency.
At IMG Trust, we believe the trustee of the future isn’t just a fiduciary, they’re a family’s long-term partner. And that means building bridges, not barriers, between the generations. We approach our trustee relationships through this lens and welcome the opportunity to discuss it further.
View Maxine’s Leaders List profile here.
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Read more:
Insurance Can Be Used to Complement a Trust Strategy | Citywealth News
Digital Assets and PPLI Explained | Citywealth News
Private Placement Life Insurance | Citywealth News
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