An APT is a trust vehicle that holds an individual's assets with the purpose of shielding them from creditors. APTs offer the strongest protection from creditors, lawsuits, or any judgements against your estate.

A blind trust is established by the owner giving another party full control of the trust. The trustee has full discretion over the assets and investments while being charged with managing them and any income generated in the trust.

A charitable remainder trust is an irrevocable, tax exempt, "split-interest" giving vehicle that enables people to pursue philanthropic goals while still generating income.

A CRUT is an irrevocable, tax-exempt trust that generates income and provides donations to a chosen charity. They are often used to reduce taxable income, avoid capital gains taxes, and take an immediate partial income tax deduction.

CSTs are designed to allow affluent couples to reduce or avoid estate taxes when passing assets to heirs. CSTs are created upon a married individual's death and funded through the estate

A GST is a legally binding trust agreement in which the assets are passed down to the grantor's grandchildren. By passing over the grantor's children, the assets avoid estate taxes that would apply had the grantor's children inherited the assets.

A grantor is an individual or other entity that creates a trust and legally transfers control of those assets to a trustee who manages it for one or more beneficiaries.

An ILIT is an irrevocable trust set up with a life insurance policy as the asset, allowing the grantor of the policy to exempt assets away from their taxable estate.

An irrevocable trust is one that cannot be modified, amended, or terminated without the permission of the grantor's beneficiary. With an irrevocable trust, the assets are moved from the grantor's control and name to that of the beneficiary.

A living trust is a legal arrangement established by the individual during their lifetime to protect their assets and create specific asset distribution plans for when the individual dies.

A QTIP trust enables the grantor to provide for a surviving spouse and maintain control of how the trust's assets are distributed once the surviving spouse dies. Income generated from the trust, and sometime the principal, is given to surviving spouse to ensure that the spouse is taken care of for the rest of their life.

The provisions within a revocable trust may be altered or canceled depending on the wishes of the grantor or the originator of the trust. During the life of the trust, income earned is distributed to the grantor, and only after death does property transfer to the beneficiaries.

A special needs trust is a legal arrangement and fiduciary relationship that allows a disabled or chronically ill person to receive income without reducing their eligibility for SSI or Medicaid.

A testamentary trust is one that is established in accordance with the instructions contained in a last will and testament. These trusts provide instructions for the distribution of assets within a decendent's estate.

A trustee is a person or firm that holds and administers property or assets for the benefit of a third party. A trustee may be appointed for various purposes, such as bankruptcy, certain types of retirement plans, or to manage assets for somone.