- Institutional Knowledge & Expertise
GSS Trust has had the same ownership since its founding in 1985. Ten of our staff members have been with GSS for more than 10 years, and several have been with GSS over 15 years. That depth of institutional knowledge is invaluable as a fiduciary, as it makes us better prepared to provide solutions and adapt to a much wider array of clients and their challenges.
In addition, GSS has built relationships with attorneys, wealth advisors, care providers, and other specialized professionals in the community that help us serve our clients. Our staff have experience solving real-world client problems, and we use our expertise and network to provide specialized resources and services.
Our management team has been developed internally by GSS’s co-founders over decades, providing multiple generations of experience all aligned to carry out GSS’s core mission to serve clients. GSS’s original co-founders remain on our Board of Directors.
By The Numbers
Founders Still On The Board
- Flexibility
GSS Trust does not have an asset minimum, although we will advise you if we believe the cost of our services is not economical for a given situation. We are happy to work alongside your existing professionals, such as wealth advisors and CPAs, rather than replace them. GSS is flexible on the roles, level of involvement, and scope of services for which you wish to engage us.
We will consult with your estate planning attorney to ensure we can administer the documents they’ve drafted according to your wishes and our policies and procedures.
We have specialized staff that can handle a variety of situations:
- Financial Managers & Operations Staff: Handle bill-paying, budgeting, financial reporting, and responsive communication with clients.
- Care Managers: Coordinate with you, your family, and your medical team.
- Tax Department: Handle all income tax return preparation and filings, or collaborate with your existing CPA. Multiple CPAs and IRS Enrolled Agents on staff.
- Property Managers: Assist with all real estate matters — sales, purchases, repairs, improvements, and long-term property management.
- Investment Department: Experienced with collaborating with a wide variety of outside wealth advisors, so your advisor can continue to serve your family after GSS is appointed.
Whether you need us for one specific role or several, GSS Trust is available to step in on the terms that make sense for your situation. While other trust companies may seek to bring your investment assets in-house or offer limited services with inflexible conditions, we are available to fit into the role you need us for. GSS is available to consult to see if our services can be of benefit, or can provide you with resources to other professionals. Please call us at 206-284-6225 or email us at info@gsstrustco.com to speak with an experienced professional about our services.
- Responsiveness & Reliability
Each GSS Trust client is assigned a dedicated staff member, who serves as the main point of contact for all matters related to the account or engagement. GSS staff are expected to return calls and emails same day or within 24 hours, and senior management is available to respond rapidly to escalated issues. GSS’s robust staff roster means a peer staff member is assigned to cover any absences or vacations.
In addition, GSS has an after-hour answering service so it can respond to emergencies for clients for which GSS has a healthcare oversight role.
- Regulations, Oversight & Controls
GSS Trust is a Washington State chartered trust company, regulated by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). DFI is the same regulatory body that oversees state-chartered banks, and GSS is subject to regular DFI examinations every 18 months.
In addition, GSS receives an annual independent audit of its client accounts by a CPA firm. GSS’s management reports to a Board of Directors which has two independent professional directors with no ownership or family connections to the company. While GSS is sufficiently nimble to tailor services to meet a client’s individualized needs, it also has rigorous internal controls in place for financial transactions.
Our company culture of strict adherence to systems for financial management and leadership’s emphasis on constant improvement of processes sets GSS apart from its competitors of similar size.
Regulatory Profile
- Washington State Chartered Trust Company
- Regulated by the WA Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
- DFI examination every 18 months
- Annual independent audit by outside CPA firm
- Board of Directors with two independent professional directors
- Dual authorization required on all financial transactions
- Certified Professional Guardianship Conservatorship Agency
- Our Diverse Staff
GSS Trust prides itself on its experienced and well-rounded roster of professionals. With 30-plus team members, our team reflects the diversity of clients we serve, across generations, backgrounds, and languages. Younger staff members bring real-world lived perspectives that resonate with the trust beneficiaries we work with, while our older staff have the experience and wisdom to handle a variety of situations. GSS also has multilingual members, including Spanish-speaking staff, that ensure that we can serve a broad range of clients.