Benjamin Trujillo is an expert resource in matters of corporate and partnership taxation, estate planning, estate and gift tax planning, estate and trust administration, business continuation and business transfers.
“With high-net worth clients, estate issues tend to be some of the most important matters they face,” Ben said. “Especially with respect to a family business – transferring ownership to the next generation, or having a liquidity event if they sell a business. My expertise lends itself to helping clients better understand the process they are facing and to plan for the event in the most tax efficient way possible. I will also work to ensure those assets are used in a way to meet their long-term goals.”
For more than twenty years Ben has specialized in advising entrepreneurial clients in managing, selling, or transferring their businesses to the next generation. With extensive experience in drafting and reviewing a wide range of tax and estate planning documents, he enjoys seeing how clients benefit from a well-conceived, implemented and executed plan. “People usually handle estate planning in one of two ways; either planning or reacting,” said Ben. “I prefer planning to reacting. People often do not think about planning for a sale or transfer. They are running their business and that is their focus. Then when they sell their business the tax ramifications may not have been adequately considered.”
By reviewing buy-sell agreements, corporate articles, partnership operating agreements, durable powers, wills, trusts, private foundations and family limited partnerships, Ben makes sure the estate will be implemented in a way that it is going to benefit the family the most. “I love it when I am able to help simplify things for clients,” he explained. “This way they are not faced with even more difficult choices later when someone is sick, or after someone has passed away.”
It takes a special person and skill set to spend countless hours reviewing estate and tax documents, but for Ben distilling those documents down and explaining them to clients is what he enjoys most.
“I take to heart always doing what is right and best for my clients – this is what drives and motivates me. I am not concerned about how my work makes things better for me, I’m much more concerned with how my work makes things better for my client.” Outside of the office, Ben is an avid long-distance swimmer and Scotch enthusiast. Ben and his wife, AJ, are active in the St. Louis animal rescue community, volunteering at Stray Rescue of St. Louis and working closely with Tenth Life Cat Rescue.
EDUCATION
- B.S., Political Science, B.A., History, Texas Christian University
- Juris Doctor, Georgetown University
- LL.M., Taxation, Washington University in St. Louis
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- The Missouri Bar
- Licensed Investment Advisor Representative (series 66)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Volunteer
- Tenth Life Cat Rescue, Board Member
NEWS & PUBLICATIONS
