Manager, Estate Settlement Advisor – Commerce Trust

Manager, Estate Settlement

The main purpose of this job is to be responsible for leading a team of Estate Settlement Advisors while serving as a senior advisor on complex estate settlement engagements involving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients and families. This role partners closely with Private Client Advisors, Portfolio Managers and other specialists to guide families through the estate settlement process while strengthening multigenerational relationships.

The Manager serves as both a subject matter expert and people leader, ensuring exceptional client service, fiduciary excellence, operational efficiency, and achievement of business objectives.

Essential Functions

• Manage a portfolio of highly complex estate settlement engagements involving significant family wealth, multiple entities, trusts, beneficiaries, tax considerations, and fiduciary relationships
• Serve as primary relationship lead during estate settlement engagements and provide guidance to beneficiaries, family members, co-fiduciaries, attorneys, accountants, and other professional advisors
• Develop and maintain relationships with next-generation family members and beneficiaries to support long-term client retention and future business opportunities
• Partner with Private Client Advisors and Wealth Management Consultants to identify opportunities for asset retention, relationship expansion, and new business development
• Participate in client and prospect meetings to demonstrate Commerce Trust's estate settlement expertise and fiduciary capabilities
• Lead due diligence efforts associated with trustee appointments, personal representative appointments, and agency relationships
• Interpret governing documents, applicable law, fiduciary obligations, and tax considerations to establish and administer estate settlement engagements
• Collaborate with internal partners to coordinate investment management, liquidity planning, trust administration, tax preparation, and beneficiary distributions
• Achieve assigned annual revenue goals through a combination of new fee generation, asset retention, and asset growth initiatives
• Partner with Private Client Advisors and Wealth Management Consultants to identify opportunities that deepen client relationships and expand Commerce Trust services
• Support business development activities through client presentations, center-of-influence meetings, educational events, and prospect engagements
• Lead, mentor and motivate team members to implement the department strategy and manage department workflow with guidance on departmental projects/issues, and provide coaching and development opportunities appropriate to each direct report's individual needs
• Perform all necessary management functions, including hiring, evaluations, annual increase allocations and disciplinary action as required
• Communicate decisions, priorities and relevant information to team members effectively
• Support budget management, planning and expenditure
• Perform other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Advanced knowledge of estate settlement, fiduciary administration, trust services, wealth transfer planning, taxation, and family wealth dynamics
• Proven ability to communicate complex fiduciary, legal, tax, and financial concepts to clients, beneficiaries, and professional advisors
• Demonstrated success building trusted relationships with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and relationship management skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex issues clearly and effectively to clients, family members, and professional advisors
• Strong presentation, business development, and consultative selling skills
• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to apply discretion and sound judgement to efficiently and effectively solve problems
• Ability to drive results and balance management of organizational risk and meeting goals of the business
• Strong leadership skills with ability to motivate team members and foster a positive team environment that gives way to collaboration and unified goals
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship building skills with the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the company, clearly expressing ideas and concepts both verbally and in writing
• Ability to remain adaptable and resilient to all situations with an optimistic outlook and cast a positive shadow that is aligned with our culture and Core Values
• Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams and Outlook

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required
• 7+ years of advancing experience in estate settlement, trust administration, fiduciary services, estate planning, private wealth management, or related disciplines required
• 3+ years leadership/supervisory experience required
• Experience working directly with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients and families required
• Demonstrated track record of business development, client…